Rick Karl
This blog post was written by Rick Karl, assisted by Shannon Twilling, of Arizona State Museum’s archaeological records office. This office has a state mandate to maintain cultural resource records in perpetuity. Data from an average of 600 projects a year pour in to this office requiring very specific processing in order to be relevant and accessible to researchers, archaeological professionals, and interested members of the public. The office also manages AZSITE, a database using GIS to record cultural resource sites around the state. Neither the office of archaeological records nor AZSITE receives any state funding, despite their legislative mandate.
I manage Arizona State Museum’s archaeological records office. Last year I faced a staffing dilemma. Receiving absolutely no state funding for personnel, I had no hope of hiring full-time professional help to tackle an ever-growing backlog of data (dating back to 2004!). … » Read more »
This blog post was written by Morgan Abercrombie an intern in ASM’s education office. Originally from San Diego, CA, she came to the desert to attend the University of Arizona. She graduates this summer with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Anthropology. Her experience at ASM inspired her: Morgan would like to pursue a career in museum education.
I have always loved museums. They fascinated me. The history that could be contained in one building was always amazing to me. Yet coming into the museum as a new interpreter [ASM’s term for a school program guide], I was very overwhelmed. I have had no previous experience teaching in an anthropological setting. My background was in teaching at zoos about animals, but never in a museum about Native cultures. How was I going to teach about people? … » Read more »
In past blogs my colleagues and I have spoken about the power of objects—the lives people live and how objects can tell their stories, hidden stories revealed through family conversations and found stories revealed in display of objects at museums.
In a blog entry from the Western Museums Association, Dewey Blanton (of the American Association of Museums) shares author Amy Tan’s feeling about museums’ display of objects and how the exhibits affect her writing. She says: … » Read more »
In December, Arizona State Museum collaborated with the Consulate of Mexico in Tucson to host the exhibition Mexico, the Revolution and Beyond: The Casasola Archives 1900-1940. The exhibition has traveled on to other venues, but we recorded the panel presentations related to it and have made them into podcasts. These, along with transcripts, are now available on our website and through iTunes. Many thanks to the Arizona Humanities Council
for making this possible. … » Read more »
Today’s guest blogger is Dr. Beth Grindell, director of Arizona State Museum. She has worked at ASM for more than 17 years and served as director for 1.5 years.
“What if I throw a party and no one comes?” It’s every hostess’s worst nightmare. Then her very next thought is “Have I got enough food?”
Every museum curator’s worst nightmare is “Suppose I put on a program and people just yawn?” On opening day, we start to worry that it might prove controversial. Will people be mad?
ASM faced both these contradictions on December 3rd, when we opened the photo exhibit, Mexico, the Revolution and Beyond: The Casasola Archives, 1900–1940. … » Read more »
Today’s blog is written by Candace Begody, who wears many hats, or shall I say, crowns. She is a member of the Navajo Nation from Cross Canyon, Arizona; a senior majoring in journalism and minoring in Native American studies at the University of Arizona; a fieldtrip guide at the Arizona State Museum; founder/president of the UofA student chapter of the Native American Journalists Association, editor of “Native Perspectives: Giving Voice to Indigenous Peoples of Arizona” (a twice yearly student-produced publication); and this year she is also Miss Native American University of Arizona. This honorary position has existed since 1980 and serves to promote the importance of pursuing a college education while maintaining and practicing Native American traditions.
With journalistic eyes and ears, I dove into my reign as Miss Native American University of Arizona 2009-2010. As one might guess, I took on this role to serve and represent the Native American community at the UA and in Tucson. Subconsciously I wondered if this was mainly a figurehead position showcasing a beautiful woman with a crown atop her head, or would I be able to make a real difference through my work at Miss Native American UofA? Answering this question steered me on my road. … » Read more »
Creativity. Something we all admire. Something that makes us sparkle. The ah-ha moment. The inspired awe. … » Read more »
Chuck Adams with ASM archaeologist Rich Lange
Today’s blog is written by ASM archaeologist Dr. E. Charles Adams. Dr. Adams runs the Homol’ovi Research Program.
My favorite object story begins on a typical summer day in northeastern Arizona at the ancient Hopi village of Homol’ovi II, just outside Winslow. Homol’ovi is the Hopi word used to describe the Winslow area and means place of small hills or buttes. The ASM archaeology crew had been working at Homol’ovi II for three years … » Read more »
Today’s blog is written by ASM’s bioarchaeologist Dr. James Watson.
I was recently asked by archaeologists at the Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia Sonora (INAH: National Institute of Anthropology and History) to come to Hermosillo to analyze several prehistoric human skeletons that had been recently recovered from several archaeological investigations throughout the state. Skeletal analysis is an important part of my job as a bioarchaeologist because it can tell us a great deal about the lives of past people.
We effectively ‘read’ the variation present in the human skeleton to estimate things like … » Read more »
It’s a busy time again at the University and at the Arizona State Museum. Students are back on campus, classes are underway, and fall events are being planned. Everyone is doing multiple tasks at once. At the museum one program we are working on is an Open House for students in the Anthropology Department.
At a student meeting last spring one of my colleagues was asked, “What does one do with an Anthro degree?” She mentioned museum work and quickly realized that many of these students had not only never … » Read more »
