Documentation is the key, you are right. As an archaeologist, I gather data from many sources: Museum pieces archaeological collections, and private collections (such as the subscribers on this list).
The Native American family lore for this particular skillet holds up in a couple of areas. There is a map that Capt. William Clark drafted that had a burn mark from the lid of a cook pot. I deducted that since it was a burn mark not a food stain, it may have come from the lid of a bake skillet that had coals heating it up enough to give it the capacity to burn a piece of paper. So, I asked myself, how many bake skillets have those same measurements? Unknown, since no one has responded.
Lack of data means no data, hence I am soliciting data. Even if I get data from 100 skillets that fit the parameters (a skillet with three legs and low placed handle without a hang hole) and say, 10 percent fit the skillet lid measurements, it is not proof, but it can be interesting to the question at hand: namely was this skillet such a common size that it could not possibly be determined that this particular skillet belonged to Lewis and Clark. What if measurements for 1000 skillets come in, and only 1% fit Old Johns skillet. That would be very compelling evidence that the skillet at hand belonged to Lewis and Clark.
Either no one on the list has a skillet with three legs/no hang hole/ low handle etc. or they haven't responded yet. So, I am at a data dead-end. This is normal for archaeological research, and so this question cannot be addressed by the body of existing skillets from the pre-1840 era, because either these skillets aren't in the CI collections of the list members, or the skillets don't exist anymore except in a couple of museums (and one I saw on ebay). So, if anyone has a skillet with three legs, a low handle and no hang hole, please just measure the diameter of the top rim and send it to me. outer edge to outer edge. If you have any provenience data, that would be good to know.
Thanks,
Melissa
