A grant from the Alaska State Museum has allowed SHI to
offer a collections management internship to Kelsey Potdevin, a Ph.D. student
in History at University of Iowa with a museum background. Potdevin has spent time
at various museums in the United States, most recently at the Indian Arts
Research Center in Santa Fe, and offers a wealth of experience and
professionalism to SHI's collections. The 2013 Grant-in-Aid award
will allow Kelsey to assist SHI in caring for and preserving its ethnographic
collection.
Photo Credit; Kelsey Potdevin working on the Raven hat of the
late Nancy Jackson (1925-2012), recently donated to SHI. Photo by Zachary R.
Jones.
When asked about her work at SHI Kelsey stated "I’m grateful for the opportunity to work as an SHI intern this summer.
After spending the winter learning valuable collections care skills at the
Indian Arts Research Center in Santa Fe, NM I was ready to put my new skills to
use within my home community. Here at SHI, my projects have included recording
new objects in the accession registry, working within the museum database,
rehousing objects in archival storage boxes, and constructing mounts. Recently,
I carved a foam mount designed to support the delicate elements of a copper
trimmed sheep’s horn ladle, an object that was probably carved over 150 years
ago. I also had the opportunity to examine the condition of some recently
acquired works of the celebrated Jim Schoppert. The
latest project that has come my way has been to adapt costume boxes to house
the Raven Dance Regalia of the recently passed Nancy Jackson. I’m thankful for
the chance to contribute to the safekeeping of Jackson’s cherished performance
piece until it can again be shared publicly in the newly erected
Walter Soboleff Center."
Sealaska Heritage Institute was founded
in 1980 to promote cultural diversity and cross-cultural understanding. The
institute is governed by a Board of Trustees and guided by a Council of
Traditional Scholars. Its mission is to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida,
and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska.
This project is supported by a Grant-in Aid from the Alaska State Museum.
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