Ayer Ojibwa Collection from Minnesota

MN People
Ayer Ojibwa Collection from Minnesota
By Minnesota Historical Society
Jun 4, 2006, 08:45 PST

The Ayer Ojibwa Collection

This is a great way to see some of the ceremonial and everyday items created by the Ojibwa tribe in Minnesota. There is an online search form which allows you to look for items based on keywords of your choice.(Don't let the sign in page throw you off. If you're not from the area, simply click on the GUEST button at the bottom of the page.)

Ojibwa Headdress Courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society

Here is a description of the collection from the Minnesota Historical Society:

"Jeannette O. and Harry D. Ayer donated their large collection of Ojibwa arts and crafts to the Minnesota Historical Society in 1959. For many years, the Ayers acquired items made by members of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwa for their personal collection and for resale at their trading post. The collection contains many excellent examples of traditional Ojibwa objects such as bandolier bags, moccasins, belts and bands.

The objects from the Ayer Ojibwa Collection currently housed at the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post represent a sample of the broad spectrum of items that will be available and are now accessible via the Society's library catalog. Each description contains a link to an image of the object.

The Ceremonial category includes objects associated with a number of American Indian activities that may or may not have other associations as well. In discussions with the Society's Indian Advisory Committee and through collections viewings by spiritual and sacred leaders, Curatorial staff has identified object types or categories that may be sacred or sensitive. These objects are not listed in the Society's library catalog, and physical access to them is restricted."

Source: Minnesota Historical Society