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 102, 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. Merriam took a photo of her and her father, John Stevens, on the same day he purchased this basket and one other basket, indicating she is likely the weaver related to this object of cultural patrimony.