Harvard Finally Counts Its Collection of Human Remains
Published Date: 1/16/2025
Notice
Summary
Harvard’s Peabody Museum has finished checking its collection and found hair samples from four Native American kids taken long ago at a school in New Mexico. These remains are linked to specific tribes, and starting February 18, 2025, they can be returned to their communities. This is a big step in respecting Native heritage and making things right.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Repatriation of Four Native Children
Harvard’s Peabody Museum identified hair clippings from four Native American children (ages recorded as 12, 13, 14, and 15) collected at the U.S. Indian Vocational School between 1930 and 1933. The remains are affiliated with the Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico, and may be returned to communities on or after February 18, 2025.
Who Can Request Repatriation
Written requests for repatriation may be submitted by any of the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations named in the notice (including the Pueblo of Zia), any lineal descendant, or any tribe/organization that shows by a preponderance of the evidence that it is culturally affiliated. If competing requests are received, the Peabody Museum must decide the most appropriate requestor; joint requests are treated as a single request.
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-01005, Notice of Inventory Completion: California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA
California State University, Sacramento finished checking their collection and found Native American human remains linked to several local tribes. Starting February 18, 2025, these remains can be returned to the tribes connected to them. This is a respectful step to honor Native American heritage with no cost impact announced.
Next: 2025-01007, Notice of Intended Repatriation: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Michigan State University plans to return a special textile fragment linked to Native American tribes. This item, found in a Michigan mound long ago, will be repatriated starting February 18, 2025. No money changes hands, but this is a respectful step to honor Native American heritage.