Museletter IGNITE your curiosity. DISCOVER your story. MAY 2019 West Entrance of the El Paso County Courthouse with Carriage and Early Automobiles, ca. 1905 - from the CSPM collection
FINDERS KEEPERS Exploring the origins and ownership of cultural artifacts By: Leah Davis Witherow, Curator of History In Finders Keepers: A Tale of Archeological Plunder and Obsession, best-selling author Craig Childs examines issues related to the origins and rightful ownership of cultural artifacts. He prompts his readers to question; when you see an artifact in a museum, do you know where it came from? Was it unearthed illegally? Was it sold at auction to private collectors or donated to museums? Who does it really belong to and where should it rest? These issues are of vital importance in the 21st century as museums around the world examine how and why their collections were formed, and then work with indigenous peoples to identify objects of cultural patrimony. Maude McFerran Price, Curator of the EPCPA Collection, ca. 1910 In the United States, a mandate to identify ownership and provide potential repatriation of human remains and funerary goods was passed by Congress on November 16, 1990. Known as NAGPRA, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act established procedures for future acquisitions of archeological materials and created a process by which certain objects can be claimed by lineal descendants or federally recognized tribes under specific conditions. The passage of NAGPRA ensures that museums and cultural institutions who receive federal money return human remains, grave goods, sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony when lineal descendants or federally recognized tribes with cultural affiliation to the materials come forward. To facilitate this process, the law requires museums to publish inventories in a national database, identifying the geographical and cultural affiliation of culturally sensitive objects in their possession. The CSPM is grateful for the work of former museum Registrar Davie Ryan who completed a summary of indigenous materials within our collections, shared this information with Native American tribes, and listed relevant materials on the federal registry to ensure the CSPM is compliant with the NAGPRA mandate. To this day, the work continues as we receive inquiries related to our collection of over 1,200 American Indian artifacts. It is important to note that at this time, the CSPM has only a few items that fit the specific NAGPRA protocols, nevertheless it is extremely important for us to continue to research the provenance (the origin or record of ownership) of American Indian artifacts in our collections. An often asked question by museum visitors is, “How did you get these artifacts?” Although every object has a unique story, the vast majority of items in our collections were donated by individuals. Donations vary greatly in size, from a single photograph of Garden of the Gods — to 20,000 photographs taken by Colorado Springs resident Sara Jackson Loomis from 18951965. History museums rarely have acquisition funds, and as a result rely on the generosity of members of our community to ensure that we collect important documents, images and objects from the past and present. Knowing visitor’s interest in the provenance of artifacts, we installed “Collector Panels” in our Cultural Crossroads exhibit in 2011 which detail the sometimes complicated ways that objects end up in CSPM collections. A few interesting stories are listed below. MUSELETTER MAY 2019| PG 2
Around 1910, Spencer and Julie Penrose purchased a collection of 91 pieces of Ancestral Puebloan pottery from the Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon areas. These artifacts were sold by Walter C. Wyman, a former coal company magnate turned noted antiquarian who dealt in American Indian artifacts from his galleries in Chicago and New York. Wyman helped organize the archaeological exhibitions at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago and some of his collections were later donated to the Field Museum in Chicago and the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. Spencer and Julie Penrose donated their newly acquired collection of Ancestral Puebloan pottery to the El Paso County Pioneers Association (later the CSPM) in 1911. A significant portion of the Museum’s collection of Plains Indian beadwork, war bonnets, moccasins and pipes came from the private collection of J. D. Clark. Calling himself Sanke Gwanaf, (meaning White Feather) Clark claimed that his Chippewa mother was the daughter of Chief White Horse, and that she died shortly after his birth. According to Clark, he was raised by a maternal aunt who was married to a Kiowa man. He spent his boyhood on the Kiowa Reservation in Oklahoma, later serving as a member of the American Indian police and sent to Colorado in 1879 to deal with the “Ute uprising at the White River Agency”. In a later interview conducted with museum staff, Clark’s daughter revealed that not a word of her father’s story was true. Around 1910, Spencer and Julie Penrose purchased a collection of 91 pieces of Ancestral Puebloan pottery from the Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon areas. Instead, Clark was born in Iowa in 1863 and obtained his collection in trades with the Sioux in 1922. A decade later, Clark was living in Colorado Springs and possessed an impressive collection of American Indian materials that the El Paso County Pioneers Association wanted for their museum. On November 19, 1937, J. D. Clark requested $268 in cash to pay for an eye operation, and thirty dollars a month for the rest of his life in exchange for over 70 artifacts. Museum Curator Maude McFerran Price negotiated a unique purchase arrangement. With her own money, Price agreed to pay Clark one dollar a day until the sum of $1,000 had been paid. She subsequently donated the collection to the Museum as the W.W. Price Memorial Collection, in honor of her late husband William Wells Price. Records indicate that she paid J.D. Clark every single month until he died in April 1941. Boy’s Shirt, Jicarilla Apache, ca. 1900 W.W. Price Memorial Collection, CSPM Girl’s Dress, Sioux, ca. 1880 W.W. Price Memorial Collection, CSPM For more information about a specific object, please access our collections database online at cspm.org or contact our collections staff at 719-385-5990. MUSELETTER MAY 2019| PG 3
CHILDREN’S HISTORY HOUR Arches to Zigzags – Celebrating National Historic Preservation Month! Wednesday, May 15 & Saturday, May 25, 9:00 – 10:00 am Explore the ABCs of architecture! We’ll read Arches to Zigzags by Michael J. Crosbie and explore the architectural details of CSPM. Ages 3-6 and their favorite adult explore through story time, a family-friendly tour, activity, and craft. Reservations required. FAMILY WEEKEND WORKSHOPS (Advanced registration required. Each session is limited to 30 guests) June 8, 15, 22 & 29 Session #1: 10:15 – 11:00 am & Session #2: 1:00 – 1:45 pm Use your five senses during this family-friendly program, engage in our Maker Space for a craft, experiment, or fun activity highlighting regional history. Recommended for families with children 6 and older. June 8: Quilting Stories Early settlers created beautiful quilts not only to keep warm, but to preserve memories of community and family. Join the Piecing Partners Quilt Guild to learn basic quilting techniques and take home your own mug rug! June 15: Creative Culinary Clear Green Turtle. Oyster Patti. Fancy Cake. These are just some items featured on historic menus from the Antlers Hotel! We’ll explore the culinary history of the region and create a special recipe in the Maker Space. June 22: City of Sunshine Throughout the 19th and 20th century, Colorado Springs was a major treatment center for Tuberculosis. Explore the power of the sun while creating solar nature prints. June 29: Order in the Court We’ll explore the Division 1 Courtroom and look for clues of the distant past. Did you know CSPM is housed in the historic El Paso County Courthouse? Create the imitation marble (scagliola) seen throughout the building in the Makers Space. Families keep exploring! After the events don’t miss the interactive “Trade at Bent’s Fort” or explore with Max the Marmot, a Picture Hunt through CSPM. MUSELETTER MAY 2019| PG 4
STORY OF US WALKING TOUR Saturday, June 15, 10:00 – 11:15 am The Story of Us: The Pikes Peaks Region from A – Z helps us to explore the history of the area by connecting the landscape and geography with the cultural landmarks that help form our community. (75 minute walking tour) $5 Tickets. Pre-registration required. CHILDREN’S HISTORY HOUR Urban Nature Adventure Click Here>>TICKETS Wednesday, June 19 & Saturday, June 29, 10:00 – 11:00 am Explore the ABCs of architecture! We’ll read Arches to Zigzags by Michael J. Crosbie and explore the details of the museum’s home, the 1903 El Paso County Courthouse, with an indoor-outdoor picture hunt! Reservations required. HISTORY HAPPY HOUR: VINTAGE GAME NIGHT, 21+ only Thursday, June 20, 5:30 – 7:30 pm Bring your friends and enjoy a variety of board, card, and table games dating from the 1800s to the 1980s. Admission includes - after-hours entry, 1 alcoholic beverage/soda, and snacks : $10 online (advanced purchase) $15 (at the door) (Additional beverages will be available for purchase) FOOD TRUCK TUESDAYS Buy online and SAVE! Click here >> TICKETS May 14 – October 29, 11:00 am – 1:30 pm Enjoy local food truck vendors every Tuesday. Live music provided. Offering FREE History in 10 short and informative storytelling session! NEWEST EXHIBIT: [Dis]Information: American Indians Through the Lens of Roland Reed Now through March 28, 2020 Reed constructed romantic scenes in an imagined past versus contemporary reality. Visitors examine the role “retrospective photography” plays in shaping our understanding of American Indians. Please RSVP for events at: www.cspm.org/rsvp-for-an-event or 719-385-5990 Museum Hours: Tuesday – Saturday | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm MUSELETTER MAY 2019| PG 5
DID YOU KNOW? We are honored that The Gazette readers recognized the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum as a 2019 Best of the Springs Winner! CSPM received gold in the “Museum” category and bronze in the “Museum Exhibits” category for our Story of Us Exhibit. We would like to thank all of our staff, volunteers, board members, donors and more than 100,000 annual visitors who help make the museum a success! 2019 Best of the Springs Winner! MUSEUM STORE Shop our museum store, inspired by the regional history and museum events! Books & Gifts: New Book: “Finders Keepers” by Craig Childs - $16.00 Charming ‘lit-up’ mason jars with flower and bird motifs CONGRATULATIONS CASEY! As a Museum Customer Specialist, Casey Kaza has been pursuing her career as a Security Officer and holds an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice. She is a Colorado native and has lived most of her life on the Eastern Plains. She is one of the friendly faces you will see as you roam the museum as she continually greets visitors and monitors the exhibits. “Casey has been with the Pioneers Museum for almost two years, coming from a contracted security service as a G4S where she was limited to observe and report. With her new position, she is now able to help staff in every way possible. Casey is much happier and so am I! I Casey Kaza, Museum Customer Specialist know she will be a valuable addition for years to come.” – Jim Wahl, Visitor Services Specialist MUSELETTER MAY 2019| PG 6
MUSEUM SPOTLIGHT SELAH CHIPMAN – VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH, MAY 2019 The museum is excited to recognize Selah Chipman as the May Volunteer of the Month! Selah has volunteered with the museum for more than 3 ½ years. She has supported the front desk, museum store, and was also a part of the textile preservation project. At this April’s Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast, Selah was recognized for volunteering for more than 200 hours in 2018 alone! When asked to comment on Selah, Museum Store Manager Carol Denning shared, “Selah is wonderfully reliable and is always willing to donate extra time. She has a keen artful eye and helpful suggestions. I am blessed with her humor and caring of others. Thank you Selah, you deserve this special recognition!” We asked Selah to reflect on what first attracted her to join the CSPM volunteer team, “When I first moved to Colorado Springs, I came to the museum. I thought it was so wonderful that the old court house had been turned into a museum. When I retired, I wanted to find a place to volunteer. What better place than the museum which preserves our region’s history. ” Selah’s favorite memory is from a time volunteering in the store. The museum had just opened our City of Sunshine exhibit and a guest stopped by the store to share a prized possession, “A gentleman came into the store to show a book that his grandfather had passed down to him. It was written and signed by a doctor who had treated his grandfather for tuberculous. It was titled “The City of Sunshine”; This gentleman was so excited about the new exhibit.” Selah’s favorite topic to explore in history is architecture and she enjoys browsing through related books in the store. “I love the information about the old court house, as well as other buildings in town”, said Selah. Outside of the museum, Selah enjoys her retirement. She is an avid crafter and spends time knitting, weaving and quilting. She is also the current President of the Piecing Partners Quilt Guild in Colorado Springs. Thank you to Selah for sharing your time and talents with the museum! MUSELETTER MAY 2019| PG 7 “A gentleman came into the store to show a book that his grandfather had passed down to him. It was written and signed by a doctor who had treated his grandfather for tuberculous...”
In Memory of Marge Westbay By: Matt Mayberry, Director The CSPM staff is celebrating the life of Marjorie Westbay, who passed away on Friday, May 3, at the age of 83. Marge was a volunteer, board member, advisor, and friend. Every aspect of the museum is better for her many years of support and encouragement. Marge pausing for a photo while helping out at Festival of Lights Family Fun Day! She served as a past chair of the City Council appointed Museum Advisory Board and past president of the Friends of the CSPM. She has chaired the program committee and led planning for the Festival of Lights Family Fun Day. She provided leadership and counsel during the 2010 CSPM sustainability planning effort and became a founding member of the resulting board charged with fundraising and governance. She was a founding member of the Clock Tower Society. She volunteered weekly in the museum’s Starsmore Center for Local History. As important as all of her contributions were, she was beloved for her kindness, humor, generosity, and wisdom. Her memory will live on in all of our hearts. In accordance with her family’s wishes, the CSPM is gratefully accepting donations in Marge’s memory. Contributions can be made online at CSPM.org, or mail to the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. Marge helping at CSPM’s Holiday Magic event in 2009 Marge receiving the 2007 Lucky Herzberger Award from Joanna Fischer for outstanding service. MUSELETTER MAY 2019| PG 8
HAPPENINGS Food Truck Tuesdays Return! Every Tuesday until Oct. 29 11:00 am – 1:30 pm Past & Present - Panel Discussion Celebrating Bicycling in Colorado Springs April 20, 2019 Crowd begins to gather for CSPM’s first Food Truck Tuesdays May 2019 Beautiful day to enjoy a tasty lunch on the first of Food Truck Tuesday May 14, 2019 History Happy Hour Inaugural Kick Off: Vintage Game Night April 24, 2019 MUSELETTER MAY 2019| PG 9 Mayor Suthers kicks off Food Truck Tuesdays May 2019
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