To: Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe
From: Leilah Shephard, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer
Date: February 8, 2023
Subject: Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology Woodbury Collection
The Harvard Peabody Museum has a collection of approximately 700 Native American Children’s Hair clippings who were attending boarding school. George Woodbury collected the clippings 1930-1933. The museum has started an initiative to return the samples to the families and Tribal communities that have been effected by this collection. On January 12th, 2023, the museum notified that they are starting the NAGPRA process by notifying the Tribes, developing the inventories, and creating the Federal Register Notices. According to NAGPRA regulations, the clippings can be returned to lineal descendants or culturally affiliated tribes. The Fallon Business Council along with Cultural Committee guidance decided that lineal descendants should claim the hair clippings of their family members, if they choose to. Tribal Members that find family on the lists must wait for the federal register notice to be published at https://www.federalregister.gov/ and next steps will be on the notice.
The list can be found at the Tribal Administration front office, or you can contact the THPO office for a copy.
If anyone has any questions or concerns about the return process, please feel free to contact me and look for updates on next steps at https://peabody.harvard.edu/woodbury-collection.
Leilah Shephard
(775) 423-6075 x1003