REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 17, 2020
FROM
MELISSA RUSSO, Director, Museum
SUBJECT
Title
Transfer of Historic Baskets and Basket Material Related to San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Authorize the County Museum to deaccession and transfer 25 basket and basket "starts" to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
(Presenter: Melissa Russo, Museum Director, 798-8601)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). There may be nominal savings realized in future years because the Museum's collections care, conservation, and storage of these sensitive artifacts will no longer be necessary.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The San Bernardino County Museum proposes the transfer of 25 baskets and basketry material-based objects to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians ("Tribe"). The material has substantial cultural significance to the Tribe and is attributed to Tribal elders and basketmakers, Jesusa Manuel (deceased 1952) and Louisa Manuel (deceased 1963).
This transfer conforms to our collection management policy, approved by the Board of Supervisors on February 14, 2017 (Item No. 36), which allows for deaccessioning and transfer when "another institution is in a better position to care for the object." The transfer also conforms to our standards as an accredited museum to ensure that our collections' stewardship respects and acknowledges the cultural traditions and beliefs of the Tribes whose artifacts and ethnographic objects with which the Museum has been entrusted. The museum's curator of Anthropology and Museum Director concluded that the Tr...
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