PEABODY HIGHLIGHTS

Peabody at the Addison

For the full 2019-2020 exhibit season, the Peabody Institute loaned ten objects to the Addison Gallery of American Art, our fellow museum at Phillips Academy. The artifacts were for A Wildness Distant from Ourselves: Art and Ecology in 19th-Century America. The exhibition considered how the evolution of the European-American understanding of the natural world fundamentally altered the ecology of North America. From the Puritans’ seventeenth century “errand into the wilderness” to the present, the perceived dichotomy between man and nature has defined the European-American experience in the so-called “New World.” A Wildness Distant from Ourselves focuses on the nineteenth century, an era that witnessed both the extreme exploitation of the land and its peoples and the birth of a modern conservation movement.

Goodbye Rachel!

In mid-April, Collections Assistant Rachel Manning chose to leave the Peabody Institute to pursue an employment opportunity that would bring her closer to her family in Albany, New York. Rachel had been a part of the Peabody for two and a half years – beginning her tenure as an Inventory Specialist before transitioning to the role of Collections Assistant in 2018. Rachel’s keen eye for detail, love for the intricate and repetitive inventory process, and depth of knowledge were appreciated by all. She established a reputation for creative and efficient ideas and always had excellent contributions to the Peabody blog. She will be missed in the Peabody basement and we look forward to a proper goodbye party in the future.

Repatriation Workshops & Conferences

This year Peabody director Ryan Wheeler participated in the first repatriation workshop organized by the Southeastern Archaeological Conference, an annual gathering of archaeologists working in southern states. The format encouraged participants to visit different stations, staffed by repatriation experts focused on different aspects of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. Ryan is excited to adapt this format to a similar workshop that will be held (virtually) at the New England Museums Association annual meeting in November 2020. Ryan also attended the Association on American Indian Affairs annual repatriation conference, which is a great opportunity to connect with tribal representatives and museum personnel united in repatriation work.