Collections Management Intern - St. Lawrence University, Anthropology Department

Throughout the 2024 Summer season, I worked as a collections management intern under the direction of Dr. Mindy Pitre, Chair of St. Lawrence University’s Anthropology Department. My internship involved re-cataloging and researching a series of Alaskan artifacts from a collection donated to the university in 1978 by James and Ione Couch. 

The primary concern regarding the Couch collection was whether artifacts fell under the stipulations of The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). My internship consisted of collecting and cataloging metadata for all 104 Alaskan artifacts in the Couch collection and then researching the authenticity, cultural origin, and approximate date of production/purchase for each object. 

The results of my research suggest that the majority of Alaskan objects in the collection were produced between the early to mid-20th century for tourist sale and are not subject to NAGPRA regulations. Five items do not appear to have been produced for tourist sale and may fall under NAGPRA, however, confirmation from experts is required before any further steps may be taken. Although the majority of objects do not fall under NAGPRA regulations, many of the objects were created by indigenous craftspeople and may be of interest to indigenous Alaskan cultural institutes.    

This internship was an enriching experience that provided me with the opportunity to work directly in the field I hope to pursue. I am incredibly grateful for the support of donors and the guidance provided to me by my mentor. I would not have been able to participate in this internship without said support.