In the summer of 1927 Curtis, along with his daughter Beth Curtis Magnuson, set sail for Alaska in what would turn out to be one of Curtis' most dangerous and exhausting expeditions. Upon reaching Nome, Curtis purchased a forty foot boat and began the treacherous voyage through the Bering Sea to Nunivak, three hundred miles away. Curtis had estimated a three-day voyage but after many weather-related setbacks they finally reached Nome in twelve days. The material for the final volume was obtained at a terrible cost to Curtis' health. By now fifty-nine years old, he returned to Los Angeles and commenced work on the text for Volumes XIX and XX. Published in 1930, these final two volumes completed the North American Indian project.
Click to continue