About NAGPRA
New to NAGPRA? Learn more about the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation
Act here.
Puyallup School District – Karshner Museum
PRA has provided technical NAGPRA compliance support for a small education-oriented
museum with limited staffing. PRA has assisted with consultation and repatriation visits,
and prepared draft correspondence and Notices of Inventory Completion for the museum.
Since 2007, PRA has assisted with five successful repatriations.
Walla Walla District US Army Corps of Engineers
PRA assessed the status of the District’s NAGPRA compliance for archaeological
collections from over 1,000 sites within its land management areas. We reviewed
published reports (repository inventories, site forms, survey reports, etc.) and
compiled our findings into a database. Each entry was ranked with a confidence scale
for available information to evaluate accuracy.
University of Puget Sound – Slater Museum
PRA assisted the Slater Museum with NAGPRA compliance. PRA researched the cultural
affiliation of three collections and evaluated evidence submitted to the Museum in
support of competing NAGPRA claims. We submitted a detailed report of our findings
and drafted Notices of Inventory Completion for the Museum to publish in the Federal
Register. This resulted in three successful repatriations, some of which were joint claims.
Wyoming State Museum & Wyoming State Archives
PRA conducted a facilities assessment for three collections storage locations in use
by the Wyoming State Museum & Wyoming State Archives. The assessment included interviews
with staff regarding facility systems and storage equipment as well as estimating collections
growth for the next 25 years. Our report was submitted to the State Building Commission to
aid in evaluating options for planning new or renovated facilities.
Cedar River Watershed Educational Center
Heritage Library and Gale Archives
The Center’s Library and Archives house historic records, photographs,
and archaeological collections related to the Cedar River – the source of Seattle’s water
supply. Some of these items are subject to federal curation standards (36 CFR Part 79).
PRA evaluated the Center
s space as well as the procedures manual including guidelines for environmental conditions, fire
detection and suppression, security, and integrated pest management. We provided detailed
and prioritized recommendations for improvements.
Texas A&M University Anthropology Department Repository
PRA conducted a Preservation Needs Assessment with funding from a National Endowment
for the Humanities Preservation Assistance Grant. The TAMU Repository houses collections
from Hinds Cave, a 9,000 year old rock shelter site with remarkable preservation of fibers
and coprolites. Our report detailed specific short-term and long-term priorities to
assist with implementing improvements.
Vashon-Maury Island Heritage Association
PRA visited VMIHA to provide a basic facility and collections assessment to help
prioritize future collections care and facility improvements. Our report provided a
foundation for strategic future grant applications. This project was funded in part by a
Humanities Washington Quick Grant.
Pacific Science Center
PRA has provided exhibit assistance for two large-scale traveling exhibits at the Pacific Science Center: Discovering
the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Lucy’s Legacy. Working alongside staff from the Israeli Antiquities
Authority and the National Museum of Ethiopia, we completed condition reports as the exhibitions
were installed, provided monthly condition monitoring while on exhibit, and provided assistance
with condition reporting during deinstallation and preparation for shipment to the next venue. We recently assisted PSC with the Harry Potter exhibition.
Samish Indian Nation Archaeological Repository
Under an IMLS-funded grant, PRA trained Tribal staff to rehouse, catalog, and exhibit
archaeological collections within its repository. Collections are now curated in archival
storage materials, and were cataloged, photographed, and presented for exhibit with assistance from
PRA staff. Training provided by PRA prepared Tribal staff to process future collections
independently.
Shanaman Sports Museum
PRA provided annual contract-based curation services to the Shanaman Sports Museum, a
volunteer-run organization. During periodic visits to the museum, staff performed standard
tasks such as accessioning, cataloging, preparing loan paperwork, upgrading storage and exhibit
conditions, as well as identifying potential grant opportunities.
About Policy Development
Not sure what 36 CFR Part 79 is?
Learn more here [pdf].
Chelan County PUD
PRA assisted the Chelan County PUD coordinate the development of a provisional Memorandum of
Agreement with the Colville Confederated Tribes to store PUD-managed collections at the CCT’s
archaeological repository. The MOA was developed to comply with the national curation standards
for federally-owned archaeological collections (36 CFR Part 79).
Western Heritage Museum, Uintah County, UT
PRA provided expertise in updating the Western Heritage Museum’s existing policies as well
as assessing their facility for its level of collections care. With funding from an IMLS grant,
the project resulted in new provisional policies including a rights and reproductions policy and
a policy for the treatment of Native American collections. These were presented to the newly-formed
board with recommendations for collections care improvements.
Colville Confederated Tribes
PRA prepared a provisional collections management policies and procedures manual for the CCT’s
archaeological repository. The provisional manual was written to comply with 36 CFR Part 79,
existing repository procedures, and tribal requirements. The manual also included guidelines for
preparing archaeological collections for storage at the repository.
