I already wrote a lot in response to Carrie's blog about what she, Mary, and I talked about for putting up the exhibit. Basically, we talked about how we should put together the different timelines--for lack of a better term, I suppose--for the NAGPRA vs. accessioning. We also discussed doing a small exhibit for the Cotton's in the small flat case on the south wall, crowned by a map of California with the pertinent areas--the areas where the Cottons collected--highlighted. We also thought about re-doing the accession file that already on the foamboard and replacing those images with stuff from the Cotton file. Also, we talked about doing a small display that explains CalNAGPRA and why it's necessary that our state have a separate NAGPRA. We also discussed doing small displays that explain the different ways to weave baskets used by Native Californians--I think I have a book from my Native California class that might have some interesting information in it--and the different uses that baskets like the ones in the Cotton collection would have been put to. Also, I have a coffee table book that I just purchased with photos by Edward S. Curtis that might be useful, though I don't know the rules vis a vis displaying those pictures in an exhibit.
Also, an idea for the exhibit name: Who Collects the Collectors? Museums and the Display of Private Collections. Though that might be a little specialized. Just thought I'd throw something out there.
