James G. Swan

Watercolor by Swan depicting the Klallam people of Port Townsend, with one of chief Chetzemoka's wives distributing potlatch.

Portrait of James G. Swan, 1883

James Gilchrist Swan (January 11, 1818 – May 18, 1900) was an American Indian agent in what is now Washington state, U.S.A., who is known for his work collecting artifacts and for writing the first ethnography of the Makah tribal group, among whom he lived.

Sources

• Doig, Ivan (1980) Winter Brothers: A Season at the Edge of America. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
• McDonald, Lucile (1972) Swan among the Indians: Life of James G. Swan, 1818–1900. Portland, Oregon: Binfords and Mort.

Writings

• Swan, James Gilchrist (1870). The Indians of Cape Flattery : at the entrance to the Strait of Fuca, Washington Territory (DJVU). Smithsonian Institution. OCLC 3602788. 
• Swan, James Gilchrist (1857). The Northwest coast, or, Three years' residence in Washington Territory (DJVU). Harper. OCLC 55630405. 

External links

• "Swan, James G. (1818–1900)". By Kit Oldham. HistoryLink.org. January 9, 2003.
• James G. Swan at Find a Grave