Carrie's Anthropology 196m Blog

I spent about 1.5 hours working on the repatriation assignment and so far I've spent about an half hour reading over others blogs (I hope to finish reading them today).

2 hours total =(

"Notice of Intent to Repatriate a Cultural Iten in the Possession of the American Museum of Natural History, New York City, NY (October 30, 1998): In 1901, the museum purchased a string of white and purple wampum beads from a collector who acquired it from anthropologist M. R. Harrington. Harrington obtained the wampum from Dan Webster of Oneida, NY. According the museum records, the wampum string is “said to represent the office of a chief in the [Oneida] Turtle Clan.” The museum concurred that the beads met NAGPRA's definition of an "object of cultural patrimony" --something that has "ongoing historical, traditional, and cultural importance central to the Tribe itself, and could not have been alienated, appropriated, or conveyed by any individual" -- and agreed to repatriate them to the Oneida Nation of New York." (American Indian Art, Vol. 25(1):102, Winter 1999).

“Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in the Possession of the Fowler Museum of Cultural History, University of California – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA (November 25, 1998): Between 1966 and 1984, the museum obtained through donation and purchase seventeen Hopi objects: “twelve katsinas” (presumably katsina dolls), three rattles, a “dance wand,” and a drum and beater (which accession records say “were used in Hipi kiva ceremonies”). Representatives of the Hopi Tribe and Katsimomngwit (traditional religious leaders) identified these items as “sacred objects used by them in the Hipi villages for the practice of traditional Hopi religion.” Having met NAGPRA’s definition of a “sacred object,” the collection was scheduled for repatriation to the Hopi Tribe.” (American Indian Art, Vol. 25(1):102, Winter 1999).

Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items in Possession of the Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (March 2, 1999): The museum possessed thirty-eight Yaqui Chapayeka masks made of hide, paper and paint, as well as twelve Chapayeka spears, swords, and daggers made of wood and paint. One mast was purchased by the museum at Old Pascua in 1932, some were donated, other were purchased and three were made for a “School Loan Kit program.” It was decided that these pieces were “objects of cultural patrimony” as defined under NAGPRA and should be given to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. Some of the items came from Sonora, Mexico, and these were “claimed by the Pascua Yaqui tribe on behalf of the Sonoran Yaqui communities.” (American Indian Art, Vol. 25(1):102, Winter 1999).

I spent about 1.5 hours catching up on my blog reading. I really enjoyed everyone's museum job posts. I also spent about 3o minutes finding my catalog for this weeks assignment, and about an hour reading over it. I found a really interesting one on Barry Goldwater's collection of Kachinas--I had no idea he was a collector.

3 hours

p.s. the lecture last week was fantastic, I really enjoyed the detailed history.

I spent 3 hours (10:00-1) helping get everything ready the morning of the opening reception, and other than that, i kinda took the week off a bit. Hopefully more hours next week as I start researching my objects

1. I have interned/volunteered at a museum, but have never had a paid job. I first begun as an intern at the UC Davis Anthropology Museum in 2005. I heard of the opportunity from a friend who was an intern and then applied (number 1 in Burcaw's list). Later, when my internship was complete, they asked if I would continue working there as a volunteer, which I did until 2008. My main responsibilities were in the cataloging, conservation, and care of archaeological collections. I helped enter objects into the museum catalog and database, created archival quality storage, and learned about pest management issues. After I gained some knowledge of human osteology, I began assisting with the care of human remains as required by NAGPRA. As a part of that duty, I helped inventory the skeletal remains and wrote first drafts of the public announcements that are required by NAGPRA.

2. (job from the Western Museum Association Job Listings)
Collections Manager with conservation training – The San Diego Museum of Man
The San Diego Museum of Man is seeking a collections manager with experience as a conservation technician who will manage, catalog and store the permanent collection. Candidate will have strong organizational skills with an attention to detail; strong communication skills; knowledge and skills in the management of anthropological collections; ability to manage multiple projects; supervisory skills. A related degree or experience in collections management-oriented museum work is required. For full job description, go to the Museum’s website at www.museumofman.org/employment. Salary range: $32,000-36,000 For more information or to apply, contact mbrooksgonyer@museumofman.org. (posted 03/09/2010) .

full job description from the museum website:
The San Diego Museum of Man is seeking a collections manager. Experience as a conservation technician is preferred. The collections manager works under moderate supervision to manage, preserve, catalog and store the permanent collection. This position is also responsible for assessing conservation of the Museum’s collections. The primary responsibilities of the collections manager are to generate and implement comprehensive collection management procedures; assist in the development and administration of a prioritized collection conservation assessment and treatment plan to improve the physical condition of the Museum’s permanent collection; build mounts and storage containers for various material types, sizes and conditions; monitor objects for damage and/or deterioration, evaluating major repairs and make minor repairs to those objects; perform cyclical cleaning of objects located within storage; administer a regular schedule of maintenance, which incorporates standards of safety and conservation for collection storage; monitor environmental conditions within the collection storage spaces; plan, design and control the ultimate high-density, compact storage solutions for the Museum’s collection. The collections manager will be responsible for assisting with facilitating care and control of collections on site; initiating, developing and implementing collections policies; overseeing object movement, internal and external; developing departmental and special project/program budgets; contracting for outside services as needed, such as: conservation, rigging, packing, crating, shipping, photography, etc.

The qualifications that I would highlight would be

• My experience managing permanent collections. I have experience working with catalogs, and can quickly adapt my understanding to their needs, I know how to build archival storage, and how to take steps at protecting the collections from pests, and other causes of damage (and what I don't know, I know where to find the proper information)
• I am very detail oriented, which my work at both the UC Davis Museum and my current employment at NRCS shows (At NRCS I am creating an archival filing system and catalog of all our ecological data that has been collected since the 1950s).
• I am very good working independently and can work on multiple tasks efficiently.
  

1 hour making final edits/finishing touches to the flier...and that's it! But I will be at the museum today a 10:00 to help out ^_^

P.S. I think everyone did a fantastic job, the exhibit is going to be a big hit I think!