Online Catalog of NSM’s Navajo Weavings and Southwestern Ceramics Available!

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded the Nevada State Museum a grant to rehouse, inventory, digitize, and publish the Museum’s Native American textiles and Southwestern ceramics. Digitized images of these artifacts are now accessible to the public for the first time through the PastPerfect online portal. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded $23,118.00 to rehouse, inventory, and digitize the museum’s Navajo weavings and Southwestern ceramics. The weavings were removed from acidic housing materials and rolled onto archival tubes and then encased in muslin, to protect against dust and light. Volunteers David Critchfield, Jeri DeJonge, and Peter Starren made mounts for the ceramics out of Safecorr corrugated board and polyethylene foam backer rod. These archival mounts are a preventive conservation measure to protect the ceramics from physical damage. During the rehousing process, condition reports are completed and digital images are captured. The grant also supported purchase of a Delta Design custom-made textile rack to store the weavings. The online catalog created by this project is now available through the PastPerfect online portal: nevadaculture.pastperfectonline.com Anthropology volunteers Dr.Pat Barker and Laurie Sheehan lead the grant writing and project planning efforts. The museum would also like to thank them for their leadership and hard work. We also acknowledge the Reno Fiber Guild and the Carson Sierra Spinners and Weavers Guild for their generous donations towards this project. CM-2840-G-147 – Navajo Sand Painting rug CM-551-G-55 – Hopi pot