University of Northern Iowa intern assists Fairfield?s museum 

Fairfield?s Carnegie Historical Museum had an extra set of helping hands last week. Alicia Kokaly, a senior at the University of Northern Iowa, served an internship as part of her public history class.

?There?s 49 students in the course and we had 110 projects around Iowa to choose from,? she said. ?I chose to come here because I?m interested in Pima baskets and the Southwest, and I have family in Mount Pleasant.?

The Carnegie Historical Museum submitted a proposal through the Iowa Museum Association to revamp its display of Pima baskets.

Tuesday, Kokaly was hunched inside the empty showcase, painting the walls a terra cotta brown over the formerly ivory interior. Painted pieces of display boxes lay on newspapers spread on the floor. The more than 100-year old baskets were in the back room, being carefully dusted and cleaned with small, soft, dry paintbrushes.

The museum?s coil construction Pima baskets represent the collection of Mary Lamson Howard. She collected them when her husband was the U.S. Indian commissioner for the Pima tribe from 1903-1906.

?Jim Scherman built display platforms to install in the display case [the boxes laying on the floor],? said Mark Shafer, museum director. ?The wall mounted baskets had literally been nailed into place. Volunteers Bill Richardson and Paul Quick gently pried the nails loose without damaging the baskets. Then they taped and mudded the display alcove in preparation for painting.

?New hangers are being made from copper wire, donated by LiveWire Electric,? said Shafer. ?The finished case will be an updated version of a display case designed by Dr. Paul Selz and Ben J. Taylor, around 1975.?

Kokaly said her UNI professor had each student pick three projects from the list of 110 and explain why they wanted to work on each project. Coming to Fairfield was her first choice.

?I like art, I spent my first 13 years living in New Mexico and appreciate the Southwest, and I have painting and carpentry skills from previous experiences building sets for theater,? she said.

?It?s been interesting to work here, the museum has a little bit of everything.?

Shafer said this morning that Kokaly completed the work on Friday, and the basket collection is ready again for visitors, with added information.

?The baskets are made from yucca plants and willows,? he said. ?We learned the other ingredient is Devil?s Claw. Alicia rummaged around in the back storerooms and found some Devil?s Claw, and we moved some yucca from another exhibit. So in the display case with the Pima baskets, we have examples of the raw materials used to create these baskets.?

Schafer invites anyone with information or knowledge about the symbols used to decorate the baskets to share with the museum.

?We know some of the symbols, such as the animals, lightning and so on, but there are some we?re not sure about and any input would be appreciated,? said Schafer.

The museum is open from 6-9 p.m. each 1st Friday?s Art Walk; from 1-4 p.m. the first and third Sunday each month and by chance during the week when staff or volunteers are working.

The museum will open by appointment for class reunions, family reunions and educational tours. Call 472-6343 to leave a message or email carnegie@lisco.com. The museum has a website at cmuseum350.weebly.com.