Carrie's Anthropology 196m Blog

Well, this week has been crazy! I spent most of last week getting ready for SWAA and my presentation, and then we spent Thursday night-Sunday up in Reno. I had a blast, and I hope I get to go again! Paul (my fiance) had a good time too, he even seemed to enjoy the few presentation that he was able to see! =)

Anyways, I was finally able to spend some time working on my objects last night. I spent about 2.5 hours filling out what I could on the inventory worksheet. I also started my research. It looks like finding information for the Pomo baby cradle will be relatively simple, but I ran into trouble with the padded Pomo headdress and the household basket from Eel River.

I know from Mr. Shanks that the basket was made for the art market, so maybe I'll have some luck finding a match in an art catalog. I discovered that the Athapaskan groups lived along Eel River and include the Wailaki, Lassik, Nongatl, Sinkyone (thanks wikipedia). Page 112 of the Shanks book says that the Wailaki were known for their twined baskets so I thought I would start my research there and see what I can find. I fear I may be going on a wild goose chase though.

As for the padded Pomo headdress, I haven't found anything yet. I am hoping that maybe if I can find a book on Pomo rituals and dances that I will be able to find something. The SSC card says it could be used in a Sqaw (Squaw?) dance. It was certainly new or nearly new when Cotton bought it in 1924, since it uses so many non-native materials (cotton, steel wire, plastic buttons).

Since we aren't holding class today, I've decided to visit the Yolo county library here in Davis so I don't have to travel all the way to campus this morning. I have leads on three books/catalogs that I will go pick up this morning. I anticipate that taking 3o minutes, but I will verify that later.

I also spent about 30 minutes reading blogs and writing this blog post.

Total hours: 3, with potential 30 minutes more.

"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).

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.