 He is known as a specialist in Algonquian languages, particularly known for his extensive collection of Algonquian texts.In 1908 while employed as an assistant curator at the Field Museum he went to the Philippines to do fieldwork.He was killed on March 29, 1909 at Dumobato on the east side of Luzon in an altercation with some of the Ilongot among whom he was engaged in fieldwork.