After this he received a salary as chief of the Bureau of Ethnology in which office he remained till his death.

The widely known extensive series of valuable volumes published by the Bureau, constituting a mine of information, attest the efficacy of his supervision.

He contributed much to these and also wrote numerous papers on anthropological subjects and made many addresses.

His labours as a pioneer in and organiser of the science of ethnology have been recognised by learned institutions and societies throughout the world.
The results of his direction of the Geological Survey are seen in the maps, reports, bulletins, and monographs, constituting an imperishable monument to his ability as an organiser and administrator.
He delivered many lectures and once, when he appeared on the platform at the University of Michigan, an incident occurred which illustrates his tact and his faculty for seizing means at hand to accomplish his end.

At this time it was the habit of the students at public lectures to guy the speaker, even Charles Sumner having been a victim.