By Katie Salzmann
The Wittliff celebrates all forms of storytelling from the region, and we collect, preserve, and provide contextualization for important cultural objects. Within the archive of noted New Mexico historian Marc Simmons are several kachina dolls gifted to Marc from members of the Hopi tribe. This past semester, we hosted an internship that brought together two undergraduate students from different academic backgrounds to research these dolls and to present what they learned in an exhibition they titled, “Scratching the Surface: An Interdisciplinary Look at Kachina Dolls.”
Kachina dolls are traditionally handcrafted by Hopi artisans using cottonwood root and painted with natural pigments derived from plants, minerals, and other organic materials. The dolls hold symbolic meaning and correspond to different kachinas – or spirits – in Hopi culture. They are traditionally given to children to pass down important spiritual or cultural beliefs. The dolls in the Marc Simmons collection are typical of those given or sold to outsiders of the Hopi tribe, but they still have a lot to teach us about the spirits and traditions they represent.
Anthropology major, Annemarie Teagle, conducted extensive research for a cultural analysis of the dolls in the collection. “When first researching the dolls, I would notice something new
Annemarie Teagle viewing Edward Curtis’s photograph of kachina dolls.
about them every time. It could be something from a small symbol, a pattern on the clothing, or something like the color of the paint and the significance of that color. The dolls are always full of surprises.”
Caden Summers, working under the guidance of Dr. David Schilter in Texas State’s Chemistry Department, used his science background to apply various analytical chemistry techniques to the dolls. “This project highlighted the potential of non-destructive chemical analysis, revealing key information about the kachina, such as chemical composition, origin, and age of the dolls.” He also notes that
Caden Summers’ background in science aided the exhibit.
chemistry too often has a negative connotation due to its perceived difficulty. Through his work with the kachina dolls, he hopes to break down those barriers so that “students can recognize the impact and practical applications of chemistry in fields like art and history.”
The exhibition on display in The Wittliff highlights some of the cultural and chemical discoveries Annemarie and Caden made about each doll, yet they both stress that there is much more to learn than can fit in the case. Their hope is that their work informs visitors about the dolls but also sparks curiosity and reflects respect for the culture that the dolls represent.
Internships like this offer students a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience and apply knowledge learned in the classroom. It can also broaden their academic and professional horizons, as Caden notes: “This interdisciplinary approach, combining chemistry and cultural history, has sparked my interest in the field. It has motivated me to consider pursuing studies in this area and potentially a career applying chemistry techniques to interpret the cultural significance of artifacts.”
And Annemarie – who graduated this May – states, “This internship at The Wittliff has been vital for me at this time of my life. It has not only been a wonderful opportunity for me personally, but it will help in my current job search. I feel like it has opened up a lot of opportunities, and it has helped me figure out what I might want to do in the future.”
Congratulations to both Annemarie and Caden. Their exhibition will be on view through summer 2023 in The Wittliff Collections’ Edward Curtis Gallery.
The Simmons Curatorial Internship was generously supported by the University’s Louise Lindsay Merrick Endowment.
