Census Instructions and Help

The census data is recorded in a spreadsheet form for ease of access and sorting. The default view is by the number originally assigned to a set, but the order may be rearranged by clicking on any column heading. Records may also be searched or filtered as desired. To learn more about the purpose of the census, please click here.

 

The records are color-coded for ease of viewing. A green bar next to the set number indicates that a set with this number has been confirmed to exist. A red bar next to the set number indicates that a set with this number was reported in historical records, but the set has not been confirmed to exist. Sets with a red bar are thought to exist because of previous documentation, but they have not been located at this time. It possible that some of these sets were planned but never published or that the existing documentation is inaccurate.

 

The following is a brief description of each of the fields in the database:

 

• Set - The original book set number assigned by Edward Curtis or his associates. The publication was planned to be an edition of 500 copies, but it’s estimated that no more than 300 were actually printed. Some sets were distributed without a number; these are indicated in the database with “NN” (no number) in the Set field.

 

• Existence Confirmed - Indicates if a set is known to exist or was simply listed in a historical record. Some documents list set numbers for potential subscribers, but it’s possible those sets were never published or that the list contains errors. A set or volume will not be confirmed until it is known to be in a library, museum, private collection, or has been listed in an auction record. 

 

• Unique Number - Indicates if this is the only set known by this number or if there are one or more others with the same number. A few set numbers were inadvertently used more than once.

 

• Current Location - If known, where this set is currently located.

• City - The city in which the set or volume is currently located.

• State - The state or province in which the set or volume is currently located.

• Country - The country in which the set or volume is currently located.

 

• Set Origin - Indicates if this set was bound under Curtis' direction or if it was bound later.

 

• Books Known Historically - Lists which volumes of this set number were documented in original subscription agreements or other historical records.

 

• Books Known Currently - List which volumes of this set number have been confirmed to exist recently.

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• Portfolios Known Historically - Lists which portfolios of this set number were documented in original subscription agreements or other historical records.

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• Portfolios Known Currently - List which portfolios of this set number have been confirmed to exist recently.

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• Current Location - Where the set or volume(s) are now known to be located.

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• Book Paper - The type of paper used in the books in this set. 

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• Book Binding - The type of binding use for the books in this set.

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• Book Notes - Any relevant information specific to the books in this set.

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• Portfolios - The known number of complete portfolios in a particular set.

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• Portfolios Paper - The type of paper used in this portfolio.

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• Portfolios Binding - The type of binding used for this portfolio.

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• Book Notes - Any relevant information specific to the portfolio in this set.

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• Curtis Signed - Indicates if Edward Curtis signed volume 1 of this set.

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• Curtis Signature Type - Indicates if Curtis, signed, signed & dated, or inscribed this set.

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• Roosevelt Signed - Indicates if Theodore Roosevelt signed volume 1 of this set.

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• Other Signed - Indicates if any other person signed volume 1 of this set.

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• Ephemera - Indicates if any photos, documents, or related materials are included with this set.

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• Lauriat Number - Indicates if this set has a number assigned to it by the Lauriat Company.

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• Lauriat List Name - The name associated with a particular set by the Lauriat Company.

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• Lauriat Date - A date associated with a particular set by the Lauriat Company (thought to be the sale date).

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• Subc. Form - Indicates if there is an original subscription form for this set.

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• Original Subscriber - The name, if known, of the person who signed the original subscription agreement for this set. 

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• Subscription Date - The date the original subscription agreement was signed. Some agreements are not dated.

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• Documentation - A list of all documentation that the Census has received about this set.

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• General Notes - Comments about the set, its condition, owners, or other relevant information.

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• Provenance - Information about the past and current owners of this set. 

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• Confirmation - Information about how a particular set's existence was confirmed. For each confirmation, the census administrator has either a copy of the online library catalog record or a copy of an email from a librarian or auction house confirming the books’ existence.