Caring for American Indian Objects: A Practical and Cultural Guide

by Sherelyn Ogden (Editor)

American Indian cultural objects, like most objects, deteriorate over time. Precious and irreplaceable pieces of a people's heritage can turn to dust, either slowly or rapidly, depending upon their composition and the ways in which they are stored and handled.

This practical guide, with over 100 color and black-and-white photos, offers Indian and non-Indian caregivers, conservators, and collectors helpful information on standard museum practice to aid them in making decisions to slow deterioration.

Genres: Museums, Museology, Read For School, Anthropology, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2004

Reviews

[Gretta]

Caring for American Indian Objects is a must read for anyone interested in preservation, decolonization or museum studies. This manual outlines preventative maintenance and care for materials common in American Indian material culture. That being said the book states before every chapter that it’s advice is supplementary to traditional methods used by creators and indigenous care givers. There are several essays at the beginning by naive activists/ historians that put everything in perspective. The epilogue by Nokomis Paiz about her trip to the Pitt Rivers museum is moving and highlights the need for native curators and museums to bring material home. An insightful read for anyone in the cultural sphere.