Notice of Intended Repatriation Published in the Federal Register

A Notice of Intended Repatriation of Cultural Items has been published in the Federal Register.  

To request repatriation on the above notice, we have provided template request for repatriation/claim letters below for your convenience. Please contact the Megon Noble, Repatriation Coodinator ([email protected]) if you have any questions.

Template Repatriation/Claim Letter

The Notice includes the following:

A total of one cultural item has been requested for repatriation. The object of cultural patrimony is a basket. The University is unaware of any specific treatment of the individual object of cultural patrimony with pesticides, preservatives, or other substances that represent a potential hazard to the objects or to persons handling the objects. However, records located in the Department of Anthropology Museum indicate that approximately 1/3 of the Merriam collection had been treated with Berlou, a dry mothproofing substance used as an insecticide, in 1964. It is unknown which baskets were treated.

The object of cultural patrimony, CHM 103, was purchased by Merriam from a weaver at Blue Lake, Humboldt County, California. The weaver was most likely Laura Stevens. Her married name was possibly Laura Taggert/Taggard according to the claimant Tribe. Merriam took a photo of her and her father, John Stevens, on the same day he purchased the baskets, indicating she is likely the weaver related to this object of cultural patrimony.