A Mandan-Hidatsa-Arikara Nation Buckskin and Quillwork Outfit, a Nez Perce Woman’S Buckskin Dress, a Ramos Polychrome Jar, and a Navajo Man’S Military Style-Jacket
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OBJECT BIOGRPAHIES: A Mandan-Hidatsa-Arikara Nation Buckskin and Quillwork Outfit, a Nez Perce Woman’s Buckskin Dress, a Ramos Polychrome Jar, and a Navajo Man’s Military Style-Jacket by KAYLA KRAMER B.A., Beloit College, 2011 A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Colorado in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science Museum and Field Studies Interdisciplinary Program 2013 This thesis entitled: Object Biographies: A Mandan-Hidatsa-Arikara Nation Buckskin and Quillwork Outfit, a Nez Perce Woman’s Buckskin Dress, a Ramos Polychrome Jar, and a Navajo Man’s Military Style- Jacket written by Kayla Kramer has been approved for the Museum and Field Studies Interdisciplinary Program (Jennifer Shannon, Curator & Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology) (Stephen Lekson, Curator & Professor of Anthropology) (Christina Cain, Anthropology Collections Manager) Date The final copy of this thesis has been examined by the signatories, and we Find that both the content and the form meet acceptable presentation standards Of scholarly work in the above mentioned discipline. iii Kramer, Kayla (M.S., Museum and Field Studies) Object Biographies: A Mandan-Hidatsa-Arikara Nation Buckskin and Quillwork Outfit, a Nez Perce Woman’s Buckskin Dress, a Ramos Polychrome Jar, and a Navajo Man’s Military Style- Jacket Thesis directed by Curator & Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology Jen Shannon, Ph.D. The objects and collections held in museums have larger histories, contexts, and meanings outside of their stewardship within these institutions. They have life histories, which can be traced and documented by creating biographies spanning from their creation and use to museum acquisition and life within the museum. As a type of restorative justice, the life history approach illustrates an example of decolonizing museum practice and the changing responsibilities of best practice standards. Creating a full life history for museum artifacts is much more than recuperating facts and events or filling archives with object documentation. Creating an object biography is about responsible stewardship and curation, engaging communities and creating new contacts, and ultimately connecting objects, stories, and people. The following biographies of four ethnographic objects in Anthropology Section of the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History illustrate changing practices of museum collections acquisition and care and emphasize the utility of the life history approach in contributing to current best practices of museum stewardship. iv Acknowledgements: I would like to express the deepest gratitude to my advisor and committee chair Jen Shannon, as well as Steve Lekson, and Christie Cain, who together served as my committee, Without their guidance and support, this thesis would not have been possible. I am also deeply grateful for their work as mentors and role models to me during my time in the program and as a Graduate Assistant for the Anthropology Section. In addition, I would like to thank Mrs. Elyce Moschella, my high school Latin teacher and mentor, who suggested that I might find museums a good place to pursue to interests in objects and artifacts. This guidance had a lasting effect on where I am today. I would also like to acknowledge the guidance and encouragement I received from my professors and mentors at Beloit College, who helped prepare me to pursue a career as a museum professional. I would finally like to thank my parents and my boyfriend John Lutz, who supported and encouraged me with their love, kind words, and best wishes. v TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 Introduction............................................................................................................... 1 University of Colorado Museum of Natural History – Anthropology Collections ................. 3 History of Collecting in Western Museums and Subsequent Changes ................................... 4 Life History Concept: Biography, History, Patina, Palimpsest ............................................... 8 Application and Utility of the Life History Concept ............................................................... 9 CHAPTER 2 Methodology ........................................................................................................... 13 Institutional Files ................................................................................................................... 14 Reading the Object ................................................................................................................ 14 Outside Research: People and Comparative Examples ......................................................... 17 CHAPTER 3 A Man’s Buckskin and Qullwork Outfit – UCM 9936a-c ..................................... 19 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 19 Object Properties ................................................................................................................... 22 Manufacture and Materials .................................................................................................... 29 Fort Berthold Area History: ‘Before’ of Collecting .............................................................. 39 Garrison Dam, Relocation and Hardship: The ‘Scene’ of Collecting ................................... 44 Life in the Museum................................................................................................................ 49 CHAPTER 4 A Woman’s Buckskin Dress – UCM 16245........................................................... 52 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 52 Object Properties ................................................................................................................... 55 Manufacture and Materials .................................................................................................... 58 Nez Perce War of 1877: ‘Before’ of Collecting .................................................................... 62 After Clearwater, Looting Caches for War Booty: ‘Scene of Collecting’ ............................ 67 Life in the Museum................................................................................................................ 71 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 74 CHAPTER 5 A Ramos Polychrome Jar ....................................................................................... 75 Introduction: Issues of Fakes in Museums ............................................................................ 75 Object Properties ................................................................................................................... 80 ‘Before’ of Collecting: Archaeology and Forgeries .............................................................. 84 Life after Acquisition: Detecting Fakes................................................................................. 93 vi Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 96 CHAPTER 6 A Man’s Military Style-Jacket – UCM 25132 ....................................................... 98 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 98 Object Properties ................................................................................................................. 100 Manufacture and Materials .................................................................................................. 105 ‘Before’ of Collecting .......................................................................................................... 115 The ‘Scene’ of Collecting and Life in the Museum ............................................................ 116 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 118 CHAPTER 7 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 120 BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................................... 126 vii FIGURES Figure 1. Coat................................................................................................................................ 23 Figure 2. Coat................................................................................................................................ 24 Figure 3. Leggings ........................................................................................................................ 25 Figure 4. Gloves ............................................................................................................................ 26 Figure 5. Gloves ............................................................................................................................ 27 Figure 6. One-thread, one-quill sewing ........................................................................................ 27 Figure 7. Two-thread, one-quill sewing ........................................................................................ 27 Figure 8. Jacket ............................................................................................................................