The Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center has well over 2,000 Native American objects in its collections, primarily from the Northeastern region of North America, and especially New England. These objects illustrate the continuing artistic and cultural traditions of Native peoples in the Eastern Woodlands from the 1600's to present.
Highlights of the collections include:
More than 400 splint baskets from New England and New York dating from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day, featuring some excellent examples of early painted baskets from Connecticut.
An extensive collection of Penobscot, Micmac and Iroquois beaded souvenir objects from the mid-nineteenth century to the present.
Prizewinning contemporary beadwork, quillwork, ribbonwork and silverwork by artists such as Dan Hill (Cayuga), Elsie Bissaillion (Ojibway), Elwood Green (Mohawk), Adam Fortunate Eagle (Chippewa), General Grant (Eastern Cherokee), Ramona Peters (Mashpee) and Joe Baker (Delaware).
Important early pieces Native craftsmanship such as an eighteenth century quilled bag, several eighteenthth century quilled moccasins, a seventeenth century Pequot burl bowl with wampum bead inlay and a seventeenth century ball club with brass bead inlays.
A collection of wood burl bowls and spoons, many with elaborate decorative carving in the form of effigies, geometrics and rim castellations.
The collections are accessible to the public through an advanced data based software (called "The Museum System") and 19-inch computer monitors. The system is designed for highly sophisticated research by subject, keyword, material type and other search categories. In many cases there are multiple images on file allowing for detailed research.
To inquire about the collections, contact:
Stephen Cook - Head Curator SCook@mptn-nsn.gov
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