Beyond the Spectacle: Native North American Presence in Britain

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South East and East Anglia

 

Pitt Rivers Museum

South Parks Rd
Oxford
OX1 3PP

WEBSITECOLLECTIONS DATABASECONTACT

The Pitt Rivers Museum holds archaeological and ethnographic objects from all parts of the world. It was founded in 1884 when General Pitt Rivers, an influential figure in the development of archaeology and evolutionary anthropology, gave his collection to the University.

The founding gift contained more than 20,000 objects, but there are now around 300,000. Many were donated by early anthropologists, colonial administrators, missionaries and explorers, but the Museum has continued to collect through donations, bequests and special purchases, as well as through its staff and students in the course of their fieldwork.

Please contact the museum well in advance of your visit to ensure that access to collections is possible.

HIGHLIGHTS (Images copyright of Pitt Rivers Museum)

1893.67.4 North America, Canada/United States of America,
Blackfoot
Deer-skin shirt with quillwork decoration of circles on chest, back, shoulders and elbows, back of sleeves, neck and shoulders fringed with hair locks.
Purchased in 1893 from Edward Martin Hopkins.

1926.71.1 North America, Canada, British Columbia, Haida Gwaii, Haida. Large circular argillite plate carved with figures of halibut, sculpin, humans and frogs and inlaid with bone. Purchased in 1926 from Stevens Auction Rooms.

1966.19.1 Asia, Russia, Siberian Yupik, Chukotka
Sealskin and pigment map of the Bering Strait.
Transferred from the Ashmolean Museum in 1966.

St. Faith’s Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1LH

WEBSITECOLLECTIONS DATABASEEmuseuminfo@maidstone.gov.uk

Established in 1858 and one of the largest museums in Southern England, with wide ranging collections. The Native American collections include substantial holdings of material from the Plains Peoples, the Arctic and the Northwest Coast, gathered by explorer Sir Julius Brenchley.

Please contact the museum well in advance of your visit to ensure that access to collections is possible.

HIGHLIGHTS (Images copyright of Maidstone Museums)

Mask, Kwakwaka’wakw
Argillite figure, Haida
Goat foot embroidery, Huron

 

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery

John’s Place, Bohemia Road, Hastings, TN34 1ET

WEBSITECOLLECTIONS DATABASECONTACT

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, in East Sussex on the English South Coast, is a local authority Museum, established in 1892. Housing diverse collections from around the World, its Native American holdings are particularly strong.

Formed from a series of donations of prominent UK collections, the Plains materials at Hastings are especially noteworthy, with Woodlands and Inuit material also on display.

Please contact the museum well in advance of your visit to ensure that access to collections is possible.

HIGHLIGHTS (Images copyright of Hastings Museum)

Iron Tail’s headdress, Sioux
Sitting Bull’s belt, Sioux
Carved figurines, Inuit

 

Time and Tide, Museum of Great Yarmouth

Blackfriars Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 3BX

WEBSITECOLLECTIONS DATABASE▪E: museums@norfolk.gov.uk

Opened in 2004 in an historic herring factory, Time and Tide is a museum dedicated to the maritime history of Norfolk through interactive displays.

The collection includes a small but significant collection of Native American objects brought to the town by sailors who travelled the world, which are on display in the world gallery. The highlight is an 1850s mask from Haida Gwaii.

Please contact the museum well in advance of your visit to ensure that access to collections is possible.

HIGHLIGHTS (Images copyright of Great Yarmouth Museums)

Mask, Haida

Reading Museum

Town Hall, Blagrave Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 1QH

WEBSITECOLLECTIONS DATABASEE: curator@readingmuseum.org.uk

Founded by collector Horatio Bland, Reading Museum caters to the history of the town, augmented by early collections from around the world, including substantial material from Native American peoples.

The Reading collection of Native American objects includes more than 200 pieces, with particularly strong collections from the Plains and Puebloan Peoples.

Please contact the museum well in advance of your visit to ensure that access to collections is possible.

HIGHLIGHTS (Images copyright of Reading Museums)

Beaded saddle, Woodlands
Knife sheath, Plains
Ulu knife, Inuit

Royal Engineers Museum

Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham, ME7 1UR

WEBSITE COLLECTIONS DATABASE

The Royal Engineers Museum is Kent’s largest military museum which explores the history of the Royal Engineers and their role in the British Army for over 300 years.

Highlights include a set of clothing collected by Captain Hampden Clement Blamire Moody who served in Canada from 1840-1858 at Fort Garry, the Hudson’s Bay Company trading post.

Please contact the museum well in advance of your visit to ensure that access to collections is possible.

HIGHLIGHTS (Images copyright of Royal Engineers Museum)

Pair of leggings decorated with beadwork. Thought to be Ojibwa.

A Métis moose skin coat, from the Red River area of Canada. 1837-1850.

A bandolier style satchel made from red cloth and decorated with beadwork. Algonquin.