The Bushnell Collection is comprised of ethnographic and archaeological artifacts, paintings, paper and manuscript collections, as well as more than 1,500 photographs, but the manuscript and photographic material were stored together and largely underutilized. The collection material was recently inventoried by Collections Department Assistant Penny Drooker, PhD. In the fall of 1996 Ellie Swain, a Research Assistant in the Repatriation Department of the Museum, began working on the Bushnell Collection under the guidance of Maranne McDade, Curatorial Associate in the Photographic Archives.

The project involved the separation of the photographic material from the manuscript material for cataloguing and preservation purposes. And, since the collection covered all aspects of Bushnell's professional and personal interests, extensive research of Bushnell's published material, archaeological field notes, as well as comprehensive review of the photographic holdings was required. In addition, careful attention was paid to maintaining the relationship between the photographs and the written material.

Ellie's contribution was significant and involved the rehousing of the collection, the conception and development of the box lists, finding aid, and web page, as well as cataloguing and data entry in to the Museum's collections management database (Embark). Special thanks to Lara Greenwood, principal web page designer.

Maranne McDade