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Alaska State Libraries, Archives & Museums Alaska State Museums

Artifact of the Month

Featured Artifact

The Sheldon Jackson Museum December Artifact of the Month is a pair of Yup'ik dance fans (SJ-II-S-146). According to files, these dance fans along with a dance headband made with ribbon, glass beads, wolf and beaver fur (SJ-II-S-149) were purchased at "Winter Festival at Bethel" and received by Alice Postell in February 1973. The set of dance fans was purchased for just $12.

read more about these Yup'ik dance fans »

To request one of our artifact's informational sheets, please email Jackie Hamberg (jacqueline.fernandez-hamberg@alaska.gov).

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

  • December: 1827 Russian Painting
  • November: Alutiiq Mask
  • October: Alutiiq Mask
  • September: Hemp Socks from the Kuskokwim River
  • August: Siberian Bola
  • July: Fish skin sewing kit from the Lower Yukon region
  • June: Two Bentwood Hats From Anvik
  • May: Selection of human figurines
  • April: Pair of Nushagak Masks
  • March: Engraved Octagonal Pipe
  • February: Ceremonial Headpiece
  • January: Alutiiq Kayak Model

2011

To request one of our artifact's informational sheets, please contact Jackie Hamberg at jacqueline.fernandez-hamberg@alaska.gov.

  • December: Mask from Anvik
  • November: Inupiat Harpoon Blade Boxes
  • October: Point Hope Mask
  • September: Strands of Glass Beads
  • August: Wooden Batten from King Island
  • July: Tsimshian Eagle Plaque
  • June: Athabascan Gift Stick
  • May: Pair of Yup'ik Dolls from Goodnews Bay
  • April: Drawings by Robert Mayokok
  • March: Aleut Basketry Hat
  • February: Two reproductions of old Tlingit carvings
  • January: Painting of Horse Creek Mary

2010

To request one of our artifact's informational sheets, please contact Jackie Hamberg at jacqueline.fernandez-hamberg@alaska.gov.

  • December: Tlingit bone armor
  • November: Raven's Tail Bag
  • October: Innocent Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna Portrait
  • September: Tlingit Killer Whale Spoon
  • August: Tlingit Deer Hoof Rattle
  • July: Tlingit Silver Souvenir Spoon
  • June: Tlingit Copper Spoon
  • May: Jumbo Spruce Root Basket
  • April: Rudolph Walton Silver Spoon
  • March: Ethel Washington Inupiat Dolls
  • February: Charles Edenshaw Spoon
  • January: Kayak Model

2009

To request one of our artifact's informational sheets, please contact Jackie Hamberg at jacqueline.fernandez-hamberg@alaska.gov.

  • December: Yu'pik Child's Parka
  • November: Navajo Weaver Model
  • October: Aleut/Alutiq Boots
  • September: Athabascan Drum and Beater
  • August: Yup'ik Mask
  • July: Tlingit Spruce Root Collection Plate
  • June: Wood and Metal Inupiaq Pipe
  • April: Silver Souvenir Spoons
  • March: Haida Spruce Root Basket
  • February: Miniature Tlingit Feast Bowl
  • January: Argillite Ship Panel Pipe

2008

To request one of our artifact's informational sheets, please contact Jackie Hamberg at jacqueline.fernandez-hamberg@alaska.gov.

  • December: Tlingit Basket
  • November: Ojibwa Birch Bark and Porcupine Quill Box
  • October: Athabascan dagger and sheath
  • September: Yup'ik Fish Trap and Kayak Model
  • August: stone pendant
  • July: Athabascan Willow Root Basket
  • June: Yup'ik Eskimo clay pot
  • May: Mystery stone ball
  • April: Kotzebue Sound bird net
  • March: Tlingit spruce root basket
  • February: Tlingit carved silver napkin rings
  • January: Tlingit silver souvenir spoon

2007

To request one of our artifact's informational sheets, please contact Jackie Hamberg at jacqueline.fernandez-hamberg@alaska.gov.

  • December: Tlingit carved copper spoon
  • November: California obsidian projectile point
  • October: spruce root basket
  • September: Tlingit carved silver spoon
  • August: Eskimo Men's Bowl
  • July: Memorabilia of President Harding's visit to the museum
  • June: Inupiaq drum
  • May: Wrangell garnet
  • April: Ivory and silver cribbage board
  • March: Tlingit model dance paddles
  • February: Arctic engraved projectile piece
  • January: Spruce root basket

2006

To request one of our artifact's informational sheets, please contact Jackie Hamberg at jacqueline.fernandez-hamberg@alaska.gov.

  • December: Siberian ice scoop
  • November: Northern California soapweed brush
  • October: Tsimshian silver spoon
  • September: Siberian child's bow
  • August: Tsimshian cedar basket
  • July: Tlingit carved silver souvenir spoons
  • June: Inupiaq ivory bow drill
  • May: 19th Century surgical case and equipment
  • April: Eskimo lance points
  • March: Kat-le-an's night stick and handcuffs
  • February: Child-sized Tlingit moccasins
  • January: Haida spoons of wood and horn

2005

To request one of our artifact's informational sheets, please contact Jackie Hamberg at jacqueline.fernandez-hamberg@alaska.gov.

  • December: Inupiat ice creepers from Wales
  • November: Ojibwe birch bark basket
  • October: Tlingit beaded eagle emblem
  • September: Aleut stone lamp
  • August: Tlingit bone knife
  • July: Athabascan moccasins
  • June: Inupiat ivory ladle
  • May: Theodore Richardson watercolor
  • April: Tlingit silver souvenir pieces
  • March: Beaded spruce root basket
  • February: Mammoth jawbone
  • January: Tlingit red-corner bentwood box

2004

To request one of our artifact's informational sheets, please contact Jackie Hamberg at jacqueline.fernandez-hamberg@alaska.gov.

  • December: Eskimo grass basket
  • November: Winnowing basket
  • October: Tlingit bone knife
  • September: Athabascan moccasins
  • August: Carved spoon
  • July: Silver bracelets
  • June: Grass basket
  • May: Tlingit canoe model
  • April: Eskimo paddle blade
  • March: Woven grass basket
  • February: Carved silver bracelet
  • January: Child's fish skin parka

2003

To request one of our artifact's informational sheets, please contact Jackie Hamberg at jacqueline.fernandez-hamberg@alaska.gov.

  • December: Eskimo pottery dish
  • November: Hopi Kachina doll
  • October: Carved Tlingit shaman doll
  • September: Northwest Coast style canoe model
  • August: Aleut grass mat
  • July: Carved silver spoons
  • June: Yup’ik caribou hide mukluks
  • May: Tlingit grease dish
  • April: Eskimo squirrel parka
  • March: Tlingit basket making materials
  • February: Aleut wall-pocket
  • January: Kashevarof comb

2002

To request one of our artifact's informational sheets, please contact Jackie Hamberg at jacqueline.fernandez-hamberg@alaska.gov.

  • December: Haida basket
  • November: Plains Indian quill work
  • October: Sea Lion Bowl
  • September: Aleut doll set
  • August: Cedar bark basket
  • July: Athabascan mittens
  • June: Eskimo hunting visor
  • May: 1887 booklet on Muir Glacier
  • April: Silver tongs
  • March: Octopus bag
  • February: Walrus skull and tusk
  • January: Eskimo grass basket

Page last updated 02/18/2020