[Nhcoll-l] Restoration of Educational Human Skeleton

[Anna Fowler]

Hi Mary,

I recommend you also try reaching out to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (probably Dr. Michelle Koons) and Dr. Chip Colwell (former DMNS Senior Curator of Anthropology). DMNS is generally regarded as the gold standard approach to repatriation and NAGPRA related practices in the wider museum world. Dr. Colwell wrote an excellent book some years ago on the efforts at DMNS - Plundered Skulls and Stolen Spirits. 

http://www.chipcolwell.com/

https://www.dmns.org/science/science-staff/#Anthropology

Cheers,
Anna Fowler (She/her)
Curatorial Technician - Data Manager
Bell Museum
University of Minnesota

Hours: Mo-Fri 8:15 AM- 4:45 PM

612-625-0529

fowle358 at umn.edu <mailto:fowle358 at umn.edu>
bellmuseum.umn.edu <http://bellmuseum.umn.edu/>





> On Sep 16, 2025, at 9:33 AM, Benjamin Hess <bmhess at umich.edu> wrote:
> 
> Mary,
> 
> You may want to reach out to other in-state institutions that work with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). I listed a few on a quick search.
> Kansas State University NAGPRA - https://www.k-state.edu/nagpra/ <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.k-state.edu/nagpra/&source=gmail-imap&ust=1758638085000000&usg=AOvVaw2btBEQWFdCJqcwGVOZ4S2Q>
> The University of Kansas NAGPRA - https://repatriation.ku.edu/ <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://repatriation.ku.edu/&source=gmail-imap&ust=1758638085000000&usg=AOvVaw2EESkz87gV1JJ8RvJWBREK>
> Kansas Museums Association NAGPRA - https://ksmuseums.org/resources/native-american-graves-protection-and-repatriation-act-nagpra-resources <https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ksmuseums.org/resources/native-american-graves-protection-and-repatriation-act-nagpra-resources&source=gmail-imap&ust=1758638085000000&usg=AOvVaw2cqQia14NTiKrgw-LRgBD2>
> Sincerely,
> 
> Ben
> 
> On Mon, Sep 15, 2025 at 2:42 PM Mary Hunter <mhunter7 at emporia.edu <mailto:mhunter7 at emporia.edu>> wrote:
>> Hello, 
>> My name is Mary Hunter and I am a professor of nursing at Emporia State University. We have a human skeleton that has been used for education in our school for many years. We are moving buildings soon, and I am hoping to find a way to make sure that the donation of this individual is honored long-term. The skeleton has been used for quite a while, and we would like to restore her as well as re-articulating the pieces that have come off. This is not an area that any of our faculty have expertise in, so I am looking for help and guidance wherever I can find it. Do you have any input into what my next steps should be? I've included a photo of the skeleton being used in the classroom in the past, as well as a few photos of what she looks like today. 
>> 
>> Thank you in advance for your help. 
>> 
>> 
>> Mary E. Hunter, PhD, BSN
>> Assistant Professor
>> Nursing
>> Emporia State University
>> 913-523-5972
>> www.emporia.edu <https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.emporia.edu&source=gmail-imap&ust=1758638085000000&usg=AOvVaw0iICTScb6j2IsCPGzA7IdE>
>> <Outlook-A black an.png>
>> 
>> 
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> 
> --
> Benjamin M. Hess | EEB Museums Registrar | EEB Museums Safety Representative to the RMC 
> University of Michigan | LSA Ecology & Evolutionary Biology | Research Museums Center
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> NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
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> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
> society. See https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.spnhc.org&source=gmail-imap&ust=1758638085000000&usg=AOvVaw3V0HbKQYI2O1x6BrlxWyBz for membership information.
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