Official Smithsonian Replies to Inquiries Concerning the 1909 Arizona Gazette Story of Egyptian Artifacts in the Grand Canyon Below is a verbatim email I had sent the Smithsonian in 1999. Other researchers have mailed/emailed the Smithsonian with similar questions about the 1909 story. The responses are generally similar and always state that the story is "untrue" a "myth" a "hoax" or similar characterizations. I have always wondered how the Smithsonian makes such blanket judgements about the story. What set of facts are they using to make such a definitive all encompassing statement? It appears that they base the claim on the simple fact that they have no record of Kincaid or Jordan as "employees." I wonder how accurate their employee records are back to 1909? I wonder if the employee records list contract workers? The letter below states: "These two names appear in an article published in the Phoenix Gazette on April 5, 1909 that alleges that G.E. Kincaid and S.A. Jordan were Smithsonian employees responsible for locating Egyptian temples in the Grand Canyon." This is innacurate information. The 1909 article never sates that Kincaid or Jordan were "Smithsonian employees responsible for locating Egyptian temples in the Grand Canyon". It staes that Kincaid was "thirty years in the service of the Smithsonian" (he may well have been a freelance contractor and not on the payroll) and "under the direction of Professor Jordan the Smithsonian is now prosecuting the most thorough examinations" It simply says here that Jordan was "directing", never that he was a Smithsonian employee. He may have been brought to the project from outside the Smithsonian to "direct" investigations. This shows that the Smithsonian's limited research (if any) into this story, amounts to not much more than a skim read of the 1909 article with a skeptical and biased eye. There are those who suggest the Smithsonian may have other reasons for claiming the story is false. It has been speculated that the Smithsonian may know full well of this story and may have actual artifacts from this "cave" secreted away in the "weird artifacts" room where such artifacts lie for years because they do not align with accepted theories about the origins of native Americans" or the cherished theories of who visited North America where and when. - Jack Andrews Smithsonian Explorer - Reply Subject: Smithsonian Explorer - Reply Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 09:09:36 -0400 From: "Smithsonian Information" <info@info.si.edu> To: vrartist@gci-net.com Jack Andrews Your online inquiry of May 17 has been received in this office for response. Staff in our Office of Smithsonian Archives advise that neither G.E. Kincaid nor S. A. Jordan were ever employed by the Smithsonian. Further, they have no proof that these people ever existed. These two names appear in an article published in the Phoenix Gazette on April 5, 1909 that alleges that G.E. Kincaid and S.A. Jordan were Smithsonian employees responsible for locating Egyptian temples in the Grand Canyon. Please note, however, that this story is untrue. The only records of G. E. Kincaid and S.A. Jordan in the Smithsonian Archives are the 1909 Phoenix Gazette newspaper article, from which this myth appears to have originated, inquiries regarding the story, and the Smithsonian Institution responses to those letters. Your interest in the Smithsonian Institution is appreciated. 3/95/ >>> Jack Andrews. <vrartist@gci-net.com> 05/17/99 03:09am >>> Hi, I am looking into a story about an explorer from Idaho, in about 1909, who allegedly worked for the Smithsonian Institution. His name was G. E. Kincaid, (only initials) and the story says that he was employed by the Smithsonian for over 30 years. It also claims that Kincaid "was the first white child born in Idaho" (their words quoted) The only other information I have on him, is that he was possibly associated with a Professor S. A. Jordan, also of the Smithsonian and an archeologist. Would you be able to point me in a direction where I might find more information on Mr. Kincaid? or Professor Jordan? Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. Thank You, Jack Andrews 1 of 1 11/6/99 1:10 PM