It is believed that these tusk, tooth, and bone carvings came from Muir’s trips to Alaska and likely given to his sister Sarah Galloway or her daughter Anna.

In 1899, Muir was part of the Harriman Expedition to Alaska that included many leading scientists of the day. This passage from Muir's June-July 1899, Harriman Expedition to Alaska, Part II Journal he notes the lively trading for goods such as the "carved ivory."