#Illinois International Week Spotlight: Alkire Collection

• Post Date: 4/6/2016
• Author: Amy Heggemeyer
• Reading Time: 1 minute read

• Collections tag

#illinois International Week: The origin of some museum collections can be traced back directly to student research. One such collection was made by William H. Alkire (PHD '65, LAS). Dr. Alkire conducted fieldwork on Lamotrek Atoll in the Caroline Islands of the Federated States of Micronesia from 1962-1963. At the request of Professor Joseph B. Casagrande, then Head of the Department of Anthropology, Dr. Alkire developed a research collection that became part of the Laboratory of Anthropology. Hand tools, clothing and adornment, a backstrap loom, and fishing equipment are only a few of the daily life items collected on Lamotrek. In 2000, the Lab of Anthropology collections were transferred to the Spurlock Museum.