Descriptive Entry

This accession consists of records which document the work of the Training Unit in the creation and implementation of training programs for the Native American community and related organizations. Areas of training include the care of Native American collections; the creation and management of tribal archives; exhibition planning, fabrication, and management; marketing Native arts; planning and managing American Indian cultural programs; starting a tribal museum; leadership; repatriation; fundraising; Native American languages; and other related areas. Also included are materials related to professionals visiting the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) to study and use NMAI collections for research purposes and to participate in professional development activities. Staff represented includes Karen Coody Cooper, Alyce Sadongei, and Jill Norwood.

Some records date from when the office was known as the Smithsonian Institution, Office of Community Services, Museum Training Program. Additionally some records date from before the creation of NMAI and were created by Native American Museums Training Programs (1977-1981) and the Native American Museums Programs (1981-1989) both part of the Smithsonian Institution, Office of Museum Programs. Lastly some records were created in collaboration between NMAI and the American Indian Museum Studies Program, Center for Museum Studies (which later became the Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies).

Materials include correspondence; memoranda; workshop records including programs, agendas, participant lists, video, release forms, and evaluations; transcripts; images; reports; brochures; pamphlets; and clippings. Some materials are in electronic format.