Lab Hours

And the total for this week is.... How is this possible??!!
Well it's possible when you sit on your fanny and spend hours and hours in what you think would be all the helpful sections of the library flipping through book after book and catalogue after catalogue and find nothing of exactly what you need for hours on end.
5 hours on the 7th
2 & later 1.5 on the 8th
3.5 on the 9th
2 on the 10th
5 on the 11th
and 4 on the 12th.
Which adds up to be 23 hours (if I did the math correctly) of research and working on the worksheets.
Seriously madness.
It was fun... but
I think I'm gonna take a nap now...
 ok not really, I'm going to write papers for other classes now.

AAA Style Guide Website

Here's the AAA style guide PDF from their website incase you need any pointers with references (as I know I did!)
http://www.aaanet.org/publications/style_guide.pdf

"Fish throat teeth - Samoa" - This is amazing guys!!!

How in the WORLD do you find out what species of fish your random teeth specimen belong too? out of the millions/billions/I can't even imagine number of fish in the world and probably the thousands near Samoa?! After searching every key words imaginable associated with my description of this guy and getting NO WHERE. Well I got stubborn last night... Even though every practical molecule in me was telling me this was impossible... I googled through most of the night (I think you hit a point where you're so tired that the part of your brain that was telling you to go to sleep even shuts down)... and somehow, by happen-chance... I came across this. And I think it's it. I really think I have carved out portions of the teeth of a Skate fish, carved and glued together in as an ornamental horn-shaped specimen backed by a little piece of wood. Tell me what you think. Because I think, somehow, miraculously, I found it......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My object (notice the little teeth on there and the shape of them)

When you look at it closely you can see
that the edges look cut and shaped as
if it's just a portion of something bigger.

And then here are some of the sources that have me convinced.

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/bigskate/bigskate.html

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-static/obl4he/vertebratepalaeo/11_dipturus_batis.html

http://www.gma.org/fogm/raja_laevis.htm

https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/fpsr/tooth.htm

Look at all those little teeth on here that are exactly the same shape and size as on my specimen (though of course the actual jaw is quite large on a Skate).

These websites talk about different places where the Skate can be found, suggesting that different species live in different areas. They seem to be in the Atlantic as well as the Pacific and other places. I will need to do further research (hopefully no more all nighters :p) because the teeth may just be from something similar. But I think this is pretty convincing. What do you think?

Asian Art

Even though I didn't find my jar/vase, if you have an object from anywhere in Asia, this seems like a neat site where you can search key words and perhaps something similar to your object is in their collection.
http://searchcollection.asianart.org/

Ceramics

For all of you researching ceramics, all of the books/catalogues I could find that are related to Asian ceramics/pottery/porcelain were on the 3rd floor of the library, North, NK 4000ish.

Lab Hours

All together this throughout this week I have spent about 5 hours (and still hardly made a dent!) on rereading through the accession sheets to double check my object info, researching my objects, and working on my catalogue inventory sheets.

Asian Vase Update & Items for Sale Question

       

(1)

    So far I've been looking online and have been finding some information that has been helpful, such as now knowing that my little white vase/pedestal with missing lid (1) may have been a spice jar, but I also was wondering, because I've found 3 websites where there are similar objects as mine, but they are for sale. Would I not be able to use these as sources because of that? I found one on ebay (2), one on an online auction (3), and one on Etsy (4).

  

           (2)

(4)

(3)

Lab Hours

4.5 Hours Total
2 Hours (12-2) Docenting with Fiona and Seya last Wednesday.
Approximately 2 hours working on the NAGPRA project.
Approximately 1/2 hour trying to figure out assignments and updates (as usual :p) and browsing others blogs.

Slow afternoon docenting with these two lovely ladies.
However, the 3 guests we had were very excited and interested. 

Repatriation

1.

     “Notice of Intent to Repatriate Cultural Items: Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (February 25, 2008). The museum agreed that 100 shell beads legally excavated in 1958 from a burial at mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson were unassociated funerary objects and should be given to the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation and the Tohono O’odham Nation, all in Arizona.”

(American Indian Art, Vol. 34(3):88, Summer 2009)

2. 

October 1^st, 2012:

“Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: Stanford

University Archaeology Center, Stanford, CA

"...Sometime prior to 1905, 44 cultural items were removed from an 

unknown location in Tulare County, CA. Stanford University's cofounder,

Mrs. Jane Stanford, donated the cultural items to the Stanford Museum

before her death in 1905. The sacred objects are 44 stone objects.

Representatives from the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa

Rancheria, California, identified the 44 stone objects as sacred

objects during a consultation visit to Stanford University in August

2011.

    The Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria,

California, has provided additional information regarding these

cultural items to establish cultural affiliation to the Yokut tribes.

Based on the site location and in accordance with the information

received in the consultation process, the sacred objects are culturally

affiliated with the Yokut communities represented by the present-day

tribes of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California;

Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, California;

Table Mountain Rancheria of California; and the Tule River Indian Tribe

of the Tule River Reservation, California.”

(Federal Notice)

3.  

June 17^th, 2013

 “Notice of Intent To Repatriate Cultural Items: University of

Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, Eugene, OR

"...In 1938, seven cultural items were removed from Courthouse Rock,

near Antelope, in Wasco County, OR, during legally authorized

excavations by archeologists from the University of Oregon. The

cultural items were found in direct association with a burial pit

exhibiting signs of cremation. Two burial pits were excavated, but

human remains were only removed from Pit 2. The human remains

and associated funerary objects from Pit 2 are the subject of

a separate Notice of Inventory Completion published in the Federal

Register. The seven unassociated funerary objects from Pit 1

are two points, four scrapers, and one yellow pigment sample.

    Based on archeological context, the cultural items described above

are determined to be Native American. Based on provenience, the

cultural items are reasonably believed to be affiliated with the Tenino

people. Historical documents, ethnographic sources, and oral history

indicate that Tenino people have occupied north-central Oregon since

pre-contact times. The Tenino people are one of the tribes that compose

the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon.”

(Federal Notice)

It must have been such a mad house in 1990 when NAGPRA was made law and many collections, museums, and other institutions would have had to scramble to reevaluate everything they have and decide if any of it was human remain, sacred objects, funerary objects, or communal property that could need to be repatriated to the tribes. It seems much more reasonable now that researchers can decide if NAGPRA is in order for a certain object right on the spot as opposed to 1990 when everything collected for hundreds of years had to be revaluated! 

Lab Hours

3 hours studying my catalog and working on the Catalog Review Assignment.

Another Perspective - Installation & Opening - A few Photos

Contemplation

Hanging

Colonial Milieu in Progress

Alice..... the first. 

Nancy graciously helping us. 

Opening day!

Colonial Milieu - COMPLETE

Museum Jobs

My job is not at a "museum," per say, but is a Collections Facility (State Park's Archaeological Collections & Research Facility) so it is much more about simply keeping artifacts and records on hand for research purposes rather than enjoyment/exhibit purposes as a is museum.  However, because I handle artifacts, we assign accession numbers, and I have helped construct and install some small exhibits for the tours that come through the facility I would consider that I work at a type of museum. Also, the State Archaeological Collections Research Facility (SACRF) is a division of the Statewide Museum Collection Center (SMCC).
Here is a little glimps into what I do in case anyone is curious (these are my coworkers & boss pictured, I was at school that day.. as seems to be my habit most days ;)
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/12/04/5972043/california-parks-system-unveils.html

1) Of Burcaw's 1-5, 2 is the most similar to how I landed this job, but instead of knowing a director I knew an employee. She recommended me to the Senior Archaeologist (incharge of hiring) when she was informed of position openings and I in turn contacted him. As a student assistant, all I simply had to do was contact the Senior Archaeologist, met with him (for what I thought was an interview, but turned out to be a situation where I simply walked in the door and was told I'm hired and was given a quick, whirlwind tour of the facility and that's it), was given a ton of paperwork, filled it out and took it to Sac State's UEI building and that was that. At the time, I had a resume with a few odd jobs/experiences (camp counselor, violin instructor, 2 semesters of Archaeology field class, etc.) and an AA degree in Social Sciences.


2) Curatorial Assistant, Contemporary Art and Special Projects (American Alliance of Museums, Career Center)
Position Title: Curatorial Assistant, Contemporary Art and Special Projects
Company Name: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Job Function: Curator
Location(s): Houston, Texas, 77001, United States
Posted: March 18, 2014
Entry Level: No
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Duration: Indefinite
 
Job Description
Responsibilities:
• Assists Curator of Contemporary Art and Special Projects and acts as the department´s chief liaison across the museum campus. The scope of the position reflects all departmental activities related to exhibitions and collections
• Duties related to special exhibitions will include catalogue research, writing, editing, and proofreading; preparation of loan forms and exhibition checklists; installation planning and coordination of interdepartmental work orders; preparation and distribution of didactic materials; label production and installation
• Specific duties regarding the collection will include coordination of in-house exhibitions and engaging in new research based on the collection; research and documentation in support of new acquisitions; creating and maintaining new collection files within the department and in TMS (the museum´s universal database)
• Additional duties will also include occasional public lectures and museum tours, working with the contemporary@mfah patron group, processing purchase orders, as well as assisting both the general and scholarly public requiring information on or access to the museum´s collection
• Establishing and maintaining contacts within the active arts community in Houston, nationally, and abroad, and staying current with new scholarship are also high priorities

Job Requirements
Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:
•  A thorough grounding in 20th-Century art history and critical writing, and a general knowledge of contemporary art
•  Sophisticated and lucid research, writing, and communication skills are essential
•  Excellent organizational skills and computer experience (PC word processing, PowerPoint, and database)
•  In addition to English, second language is required (French preferred)
•  An enthusiasm for the museum profession, the ability to work collaboratively, and to approach a broad range of tasks with a positive outlook

Education and Experience:
• M.A. or equivalent in Art History is required
• One-year´s experience in curatorial or related museum work is also highly desired.
____________________________________________________________________
Why this one?
Although I don't know if I would be wanting to go for a museum job, as an archaeologist, this job looks fascinating (and also quite a bit still over my head and in the distant future). I obviously also don't have an MA in Art History, I will, however, as of July 2014, have one year of curatorial work experience (as a student assistant though, so I don't know if that counts). I think it would be really interesting to live in Texas for a time.  I love lists and this job would involve lots of lists.
Skill sets/experience:
1. I have had some experience at SACRF with TMS (The Museum System)
2. I usually do well with writing and research.
3. I have had experience at SACRF not only working with artifacts, researching, cataloging, searching/locating, word processing, filing documents, and others, but I also have learned to work as a team with other like-minded, history/collection oriented individuals/coworkers.

Lab Hours

I spent about 4 hours in the lab (1 1/2 Thursday & 2 1/2 today) helping finish up Colonial Milieu's wall & display cases.
I also did a little advertising by sharing the link to the post card on facebook and was excited to get a bunch of likes and even a few more shares! Getting really excited to see who all makes it to enjoy our lovely little exhibit :D

Lab Hours

About 2.5 hours total
About 1 & 1/2 hour spent in the lab helping with the beginnings of installation
& about 1 hour spent checking out everyone's blogs to see what's going on & checking for team CM discussions.

Lab Hours

Appropriately 8 total

About 3 hours researching Images for our exhibit.

About 3.5 hours corresponding/discussing with team mates, 

reading messages, writing/formulating messages, 

looking at everyone's blogs and figuring things out. 

1.717 hours in the museum/lab with my team figuring things out. 

Some "Flora" & "Colonial" Images to think on - Team Colonial Milieu

None of these we necessarily need to use, but could possibly.

(I have the URLs for where I found all of these as well)

  First off here's some images of flax like you said we should use, Jessica-

Flax Plant of New Zealand

Flax Plant

And here are some 19th century maps that all too plainly/painfully express Unilineal Evolutionary thought of the time-

     This one depicts "The degree of civilization to-day."

Another "State of Civilization" map.

A zoom of the above map's legend. Notice "Savage," "Barbarous," "Half civilized," "Civilized," "Enlightened."
It's painful to look at!

"Civilized" vs. "Barbarism"

This is from a New Complete Geography book from 1906 and is entitled "Race Types."

A poster from the 1889 Exposition Universelle de Paris. 

Possible Objects for Colonial Milieu

These are the objects and pictures we (Team Colonial Milieu) have discussed utilizing. It is negotiable which one's we use as we have a broad subject that can use many combinations of objects.

Flint and Tender Burmese Pouch (74-2-54 Reese)

Matchbox Bean Vessels (74-2-50a/b Nancy)

Serpent knife (74-2-64a/b)

2 West Coast Canoe Paddles, Painted (74-2-39 Jessica)

  

Fishing Hook- shell, bone, iron (74-2-16 Seya)

Also (Picture not available)-
Metal and Shell Card Case from Spain (74-2-38/39 Jessica)
New Zealand Dancing Balls (74-2-45 Jessica)
Ostrich Egg (74-2-13Holly)
Dance Rattle, Puffin beaks (74-2-65 Holly)

    

Lab Hours

Approximately 7 hours
20 minutes participating in SacCT discussion  X  3
10 minutes in the lab talking to Professor Casteneda and looking at what was going on in the museum these days (the objects, the photos, etc)
20 minutes more topic brain storming
2 1/2 hour working with group on story board concept on Friday
1/2 hour downloading artifact photos and printing them up for our story board
2 hours puting together story board with group on Monday
1/2 hour sorting through all the emails and new postings from Dr. Castaneda and Carrie from over the weekend while I was out of town.

Colonial Milieu

Sketch by Jessica

Sketch by me (except I just realized we only have one shelf in our display case not 2)

Lab Hours

Well, as much as I was planning to research my group topic and my objects this week, I was disappointed because I ran out of moments to make it happen.

30 minutes doing Deed of Gift Exercise

20 minutes flipping through the catalogue I got and posting about this and the Deed of Gift.

The Catalogue I ended up with...

Fine Asian Works of Art. Butterfield & Butterfield: Fine Art Auction Appraisers since 1865.
I didn't find anything that I though similar to anything in the collection (but I may have missed something) and nothing similar to my objects either. But it was nonetheless very interesting to look at. The colors are amazing. 

Deed of Gift

On Thursday, the lovely Jessica "gifted" to my museum this heirloom spoon ring.

Lab Hours

Lab Hours
(Roughly) 2 hours & 10 minutes
15 minutes- Checked out who SacCT says is in my group (Exhibit Team 1) and peaked at all of their blogs because I don't think I've met any of them yet.
45 min.- read through the Accession records and took notes on how they pertain to my objects throughout the years.
40 min.- read some of Alice's Journals in the Google Books Journal Carrie posted the link to. So interesting!  It really strikes me how luxuriously she and her sisters traveled!
30 minutes- Percolated and posted a design idea to SacCT.

Lab Hours

From 7:20-9:00pm today (1 hour & 40 minutes)

 read through SacCT discussion among the participants and added a contribution,  

 went through and added more classmates to my blog list and peeked at what other's have been posting,

 stole the photo Professor Castaneda took of me and made it my profile (Hope that's ok :)

And finally, I made a family tree for the Beardsleys.

Family Tree

I don't know if this is all correct or anything but I created it as a reference from what was in my notes from Tuesday in case I ever needed to look back at it..and I decided to share it. Let me know if anything on it is wrong :)

My objects:

A pipe

vase with a broken stand

a palm frond sash

and some fish throat teeth

LAB HOURS

February 4th- Spent approximately 1 hour creating blog and looking up the accession records on SacCT to find my objects.

February 6th- from 1:20-2:45 (1 hours and 25 mintutes) was in the Museum with Professor Castaneda and others searching for and locating mine and other's objects, peaking at everyone's objects that were out so far, and looking up on the computer exactly WHAT fish throat teeth are (one of my objects).
It looks like we have QUITE the menagerie of objects here!

Spent 15 minutes today looking at mine and others blogs and adding more of the class to my blog list :)

My Accession Numbers

74-2-5a         P10
74-2-5b         P10
Small cracked glazed white vase with missing lid. With stand (two broken legs on stand) both probably Japanese.

74-2-6            CAB-1-709
Ceramic Pipe- Broken but mended. White and brown

74-2-52           CAB-1-692
Throat teeth of fish from Samoa.

74-2-78            A9
Palm fiber sash. Hawaii.

Wow! What was that about this not being very interesting stuff?! This looks like a fascinating collection of many diverse objects!