Native Americans: Baskets at CR

The Alice Spinas/Redwoods Collection of Native American Basketry is comprised of 212 objects of Native American basketry, regalia, and utilitarian objects from the Yurok, Karuk, Hupa, and Wiyot tribes of Northwestern California. College of the Redwoods purchased this collection in 1978 from local educator Alice Spinas in order to promote coursework and research in Native American culture, and the collection remains an important resource for our students and community to study the art, history, and culture of the region’s indigenous people.

Many of the most celebrated women weavers of the twentieth century are represented in this collection, including Ella Johnson, Nettie McKinnon, Nettie Ruben, Amy Smoker, Louise Hickox, Queen James, Minnie Frank, and Florence Harrie, as well as scores of other weavers whose names can no longer be attributed.

Selected baskets are currently on display on the second floor of the Student Services building on the Eureka campus and a few samples of different types of baskets appear in the photo display below.