Ethnographic Collections

Copper kettle, gift of Larry Matfay

Ethnographic Collections

The Alutiiq Museum’s ethnographic collections include objects manufactured during the historic period, objects collected from living persons, works of contemporary art, and replicas of prehistoric Alaska Native objects.

The collection of recent and contemporary objects helps to tell the continuing story of the Alutiiq people and to illustrate the ties between the museum’s historic and prehistoric collections and the present.  These objects promote the recognition and perpetuation of Alutiiq culture.

Nineteenth Century Spruce Root Hat, Jointly owned by the Alutiiq Museum and the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center

Spruce Root Hat Returns to Kodiak

Andrew Kashevaroff, an orthodox Priest of Russian and Alutiiq decent, collected this decorated spruce root hat. Kashevaroff, an avid collector, who lived in Kodiak from 1897-1900 later became the first curator of the Alaska's State Museum. In 1999, Natasha Calvin, Kashevaroff's granddaughter, discovered the hat in her Sitka home. Careful assessment by the Alaska State Museum revealed an extremely rare piece. In 2004, through an historic agreement, the Alutiiq Museum and the Anchorage Museum of History and Art purchased the hat jointly with assistance from the Afognak Native Corporation, Alaska State Museum, Alutiiq Heritage Foundation, Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Koniag, Inc., Old Harbor Native Corporation, Ed Rasmuson, and the Sun'aq Tribe.

Golden Crowned Sparrow by Lena Amason

Contemporary Alutiiq Artwork

To guide collection of contemporary art, the Alutiiq Museum developed a set of guidelines to assist  board, staff, and collections advisory committee in considering potential acquisitions.  These guidelines are designed to encourage artistic excellence, promote the recognition and perpetuation of Alutiiq traditions, foster professionalism, and insure impartiality in the selection process.  These guidelines may also be helpful to artists interested in contributing to the museum's collections.

Guidelines for reviewing contemporary works of art