This is a photograph of one of Elmer Grimm's display cases taken from a slide dated Nov. 1960. I have a closeup of this and other display cases. I prefer to share these with collectors who own pieces from Elmer's Collection. Contact me at jamesbarnett1@hotmail.com for more info. I get a lot of satisfaction from being able to help collectors prove their relic is from Elmer's collection. I know that if you can prove that an item was collected a long time ago, it adds to the probability that it is real.
Advice From The John Painter Book
This week I read the book, American Indian Artifacts: The John Painter Collection, by John W. Painter. Anyone who has read his book knows that John Painter's collection was one of the best documented collections in the United States. Provenance means authenticity and authenticity equals greater enjoyment for the collector and thus a greater dollar value for the collectible. In his book, John Painter described the lengths he went to to determine the origin and provenance of a pair of moccasins. He had documented the dates of each phone call he made and letter he wrote to a museum and the dealer he purchased the artifact from. I was impressed with his desire to keep provenance with each of his artifacts. This is a desire that Elmer Grimm also had. John painter described how artifacts frequently come onto the market and change hands a number of times before finding a final resting place in a more permanent collection. He talks about the shame it is that provenance is not kept with the artifacts through all these transactions. Many times provenance is not obtained from the original seller of the artifact.
The Need to Share Information
I expressed a desire to write a book on the Elmer Grimm collection to Elmer's wife. She was excited about the idea. She allowed me to search her house, attic and Elmer's old files. She gave me about 5 boxes of Elmer's files, paperwork, notes, photographs, slides and negatives. I was allowed to take any and all paperwork related to artifacts. I also went to collector friends who had some of his records and digitally copied all of their records. I purchased about every Ohio Archaeologist from 1950-1999. Elmer wrote many articles and his artifacts are pictured many times over the course of those 50 years.
After getting this mountain of paperwork home and scanning it to my computer, I realized I had a daunting task and an enormous responsibility. I am the only one who has this information and Elmer's wife has given it to me freely. I need to share it with Elmer's collector friends and his family.
I started the project of writing this book in Nov. 2009. From Nov. 2009 to April 5th 2010 I dedicated free time to scanning information to my computer, organizing pictures, developing negatives, and scanning slide photographs. On April 5th, 2010 I began writing the first chapter of the book, The Elmer Grimm Collection. I’m sure there will be many editions, because hopefully new information will continue to come to me about his collection. I hope to never stop learning about this amazing collection. I've printed a preliminary copy for Elmer's wife that consists of about 400 pages.
I'm finding that I don't have all the information Elmer had. Some of the information went with the artifacts that are no longer around. This information will be important for me to obtain. I also know that there are many artifacts that have come onto the market that lack much of the provenance Elmer fought so hard to obtain. In the spirit of Elmer Grimm, John Painter and other collectors who appreciate solid provenance for their artifacts I offer my assistance to any collector seeking more information for their Elmer Grimm artifacts.
If you have artifacts from the Elmer Grimm Collection I would love an e-mail. I'm sure I have something to share with you. jamesbarnett1@hotmail.com
Examples of Provenance I have for Elmer Grimm Artifacts
Indian holding branding iron Elmer purchased (slide dated 1968).
Name of Indian will not be mentioned here.
Elmer's son holding museum sign describing brand shown above (slide dated 1968).
Raw hide Indian saddle.
Elmer took a photo of the Indian he got this saddle from. His first name is tattooed on his left arm.
The picture is dated Jan 1972.
Elmer made a card describing details of the purchase and the provenance of the saddle.
Elmer Grimm put numbers on most of his artifacts. I have his original notes with the key to know what each number means. In the case of numbers with an "S" before them, they are from the Arthur George Smith collection. I have a notebook full of pages just like the ones shown above. The pages contain tracings of different small artifacts from "Sarge Smith's" collection as well as a Arthur Smith's description of each. I would be happy to provide copies to collectors who have Ex: Arthur Smith flint, slate, pipes, etc. If you have a number on your artifact, I can tell you what it means and get you the information associated with that number.
Old photograph of birdstone Elmer Grimm purchased from LaDow Johnston.
Pictured in Ohio Archaeologist Vol. 4, #3, Jul. 1954, Pg. 26.
Sketch Elmer made of "Doc Johnston" birdstone
Elmer Grimm's notes about the provenance of this birdstone. I have similar sketches and notes for a number of other birdstones from his collection as well as numerous photos of his birdstones in his display cases.
I see some frames of flint like this one from the Donkin Collection of Hinkley, OH that have been split up and sold off. Sometimes pieces are attributed to Elmer and sometimes not. Sometimes they say they are from a specific farm and I know they are from another, because I have a photo of the original frame. Most original frames from Elmer's collection have tags like the one seen above, with cursive type.
I have been very closely associated with the Elmer Grimm collection and would love to be of assistance to any collector. My goal is to learn more about Elmer's Collection and help his fellow collectors enjoy their artifacts more fully.
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