The objects shown here are drawn from the Jensen Arctic Collection, an assemblage of more than 5,000 objects which provide an extraordinary record of the lives, technologies, and environments of Indigenous Arctic Peoples. Representing a time of accelerating climatic and economic change, the collection highlights several significant cultural transitions in the Arctic during the 20th century—the shift from a traditional subsistence economy to a cash economy, the incorporation of Western materials into traditional designs, and the transition from traditional to Western education.
Major holdings in the collection include:
- Traditional clothing, tools, masks, and baskets;
- Traditional and contemporary art made from skin, ivory, bone, and stone;
- Taxidermy specimens: owls, foxes, wolves, caribou, musk oxen, brown bear, and two polar bears;
- A 1,000-book reference library;
- All records associated with the Academic Enrichment Program, an eleven-year student exchange between Alaska and Oregon elementary schools.
The Jensen Arctic Collection is the legacy of Paul Jensen (1907 – 1994), who for 30 years served the Arctic as a professor, researcher, and advocate for Native people. During that time, he collected over 2,000 objects that reflect the cultures and natural history of the region. Jensen founded the Jensen Arctic Museum at Western Oregon University in 1985 and served as its director until his death in 1994. Over time, an additional 250 donors contributed more than 3,000 objects from their own collections. In 2013, the Jensen Arctic Museum closed due to funding challenges, and its holdings were transferred to the Museum of Natural and Cultural History, where they complement the extensive Arctic and Subarctic collections already housed at the museum.
The selections in this web gallery, only a small sample of the vast Jensen Arctic Collection, testify to the ingenuity, expertise, and resilience of Arctic peoples.
Text by Roben Itchoak. Object photography by Cheyenne Dickenson and Bill Madden. Images © UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History.
Further Reading
Jensen, Arlene
1999 Adventures of a Collector. Monmouth: Jensen Arctic Museum.
Nelson, Edward William
1979 Eskimo About Bering Strait. New York: Johnson Reprint Corporation.
Ray, Dorothy Jean
1975 Eskimo of Bering Strait, 1650-1898. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
1996 Legacy of Arctic Art. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
Thiry, Paul and Mary
1977 Eskimo Artifacts Designed for Use. Seattle: Superior Publishing Company.
Wardwell, Allen
1986 Ancient Eskimo Ivories of the Bering Strait. New York: Hudson Hills Press.
Cat. #2-19386 Drawing of St. Lawrence Island on seal skin. By Florence Nupok, early commercial Inuit artist and one of only a few women, Gambell, Alaska, 1943. 160cm x 88cm.
Cat. #2-19386
Drawing of St. Lawrence Island on seal skin.
By Florence Nupok, early commercial Inuit artist and one of only a few women, Gambell, Alaska, 1943.
160cm x 88cm.
Cat. #2005.05-C893, 1985.02-152, 2005.05-C893 (left to right) Caribou skin masks, Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska. Accessioned 1985 and 2005. 31cm x 24cm (center mask).
Cat. #2005.05-C893, 1985.02-152, 2005.05-C893 (left to right)
Caribou skin masks, Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska.
Accessioned 1985 and 2005.
31cm x 24cm (center mask).
Cat. #2-19387 Caribou skin drawing of Shishmaref. By George Ahgupuk, Inupiaq, Shishmaref, Alaska. Received 1991. 65cm x 35cm.
Cat. #2-19387
Caribou skin drawing of Shishmaref.
By George Ahgupuk, Inupiaq, Shishmaref, Alaska.
Received 1991.
65cm x 35cm.
Cat. #2005.02-C802 Walrus ivory carving, hunter with seal, Barrow, Alaska. By Samuel Simmonds. Collected between 1974 and 1995. 9.5cm tall x 6cm deep x 4cm wide (main figure).
Cat. #2005.02-C802
Walrus ivory carving, hunter with seal, Barrow, Alaska.
By Samuel Simmonds.
Collected between 1974 and 1995.
9.5cm tall x 6cm deep x 4cm wide (main figure).
Cat. #1985.02-315.1 Ivory story knife with scrimshaw. Stories were traditionally illustrated by carving in soil or snow. Received 2012. 24.8cm x 3.5cm.
Cat. #1985.02-315.1
Ivory story knife with scrimshaw.
Stories were traditionally illustrated by carving in soil or snow.
Received 2012.
24.8cm x 3.5cm.
Cat. #1987.04-948 Walrus ivory carving, Alaska. Musher and passenger with dog team and sled. Collected between 1938 and 1941. 32.5cm x 3.4cm x 3.6cm.
Cat. #1987.04-948
Walrus ivory carving, Alaska.
Musher and passenger with dog team and sled.
Collected between 1938 and 1941.
32.5cm x 3.4cm x 3.6cm.
Cat. #1987.04-941 Grass basket, Alaska. Coiled of beach dune rye grass. Collected between 1938 and 1941. 15cm high x 18cm diameter.
Cat. #1987.04-941
Grass basket, Alaska.
Coiled of beach dune rye grass.
Collected between 1938 and 1941.
15cm high x 18cm diameter.
Cat. #1998.03-C134 Ice fisher doll, Bethel area, Alaska. By Bessie Allen, Yupik. Received 1998. 13cm x 11cm x 11cm.
Cat. #1998.03-C134
Ice fisher doll, Bethel area, Alaska.
By Bessie Allen, Yupik.
Received 1998.
13cm x 11cm x 11cm.
Cat. #1999.03-C047 Grass socks. Worn inside of skin boots (mukluks). Made by Inupiat weaver upon request and worn in 1900. 23cm long x 15cm high x 13cm wide.
Cat. #1999.03-C047
Grass socks.
Worn inside of skin boots (mukluks).
Made by Inupiat weaver upon request and worn in 1900.
23cm long x 15cm high x 13cm wide.
Cat. #1994.11-B778 Dance fans, Toksook Bay, Alaska. Dune grass and caribou hair. Yupik. Collected 1983. 10cm x 20cm.
Cat. #1994.11-B778
Dance fans, Toksook Bay, Alaska.
Dune grass and caribou hair.
Yupik.
Collected 1983.
10cm x 20cm.
Cat. #1998.03-C133 Basket weaver doll, Bethel area, Alaska. By Martina Oscar, Yupik. Received 1998. 10.5cm x 11cm x 9cm.
Cat. #1998.03-C133
Basket weaver doll, Bethel area, Alaska.
By Martina Oscar, Yupik.
Received 1998.
10.5cm x 11cm x 9cm.
Cat. #2005.07-D144 Caribou tail dance headdress. Mekoryuk, Alaska. Collected in the 1960s. 17cm diameter, 22cm high (excl. beadwork).
Cat. #2005.07-D144
Caribou tail dance headdress.
Mekoryuk, Alaska.
Collected in the 1960s.
17cm diameter, 22cm high (excl. beadwork).
Cat. #2005.03-D110 Seal intestine rain parka. By Aleut elders, Old Harbor, Alaska. Collected between 1930 and 1940s. 84cm long x 122cm wide.
Cat. #2005.03-D110
Seal intestine rain parka.
By Aleut elders, Old Harbor, Alaska.
Collected between 1930 and 1940s.
84cm long x 122cm wide.
Cat. #2007.5-D332 Walrus mask, wood and walrus ivory. By Tony Pushruk, between 1958 and 1984. Nome, Alaska. 24cm x 13cm.
Cat. #2007.5-D332
Walrus mask, wood and walrus ivory.
By Tony Pushruk, between 1958 and 1984.
Nome, Alaska.
24cm x 13cm.
Cat. #2007.11-D218 Seal intestine basket. By Elaine Kingekuk, 2006. Savoonga, Alaska. 7.6cm high, 152cm circumference.
Cat. #2007.11-D218
Seal intestine basket.
By Elaine Kingekuk, 2006.
Savoonga, Alaska.
7.6cm high, 152cm circumference.
Cat. #1997.01-B717 Reindeer skin parka with walrus tusk design, Nome, Alaska. Young reindeer skin with wolf ruff, wolverine embellishments and trim. 1930s. 121cm long (hood extended) x 80cm wide (sleeves down).
Cat. #1997.01-B717
Reindeer skin parka with walrus tusk design, Nome, Alaska.
Young reindeer skin with wolf ruff, wolverine embellishments and trim.
1930s.
121cm long (hood extended) x 80cm wide (sleeves down).
Cat. #2005.03-D143 Murre skin hat with caribou trim. Nunivak Island, Alaska. Collected in the 1960s. 27cm long x 20cm wide x 15cm high.
Cat. #2005.03-D143
Murre skin hat with caribou trim.
Nunivak Island, Alaska.
Collected in the 1960s.
27cm long x 20cm wide x 15cm high.
Cat. #1985.02-B456 Auk skin parka, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Feathered auk skin with wolverine ruff and wolf cuffs and trim. Siberian Yupik. Collected between 1962 and 1978. 122cm long (hood extended) x 79cm wide (sleeves down).
Cat. #1985.02-B456
Auk skin parka, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska.
Feathered auk skin with wolverine ruff and wolf cuffs and trim.
Siberian Yupik.
Collected between 1962 and 1978.
122cm long (hood extended) x 79cm wide (sleeves down).
Cat. #1985.02-114 Ivory carving. Possible harpoon counterweight, ca. 800-1400CE. 7.3cm x 7cm x 2.1cm.
Cat. #1985.02-114
Ivory carving.
Possible harpoon counterweight, ca. 800-1400CE.
7.3cm x 7cm x 2.1cm.
Cat. #1985.02-433 Tool box, Little Diomede Island, Alaska. Bent wood with ivory fittings and rawhide ties. Received 2012. 55cm x 18cm x 9cm.
Cat. #1985.02-433
Tool box, Little Diomede Island, Alaska.
Bent wood with ivory fittings and rawhide ties.
Received 2012.
55cm x 18cm x 9cm.
Cat. #1993.07-B606 Chert blade, Pt Hope, Alaska. Received 1993. 24cm x 6cm.
Cat. #1993.07-B606
Chert blade, Pt Hope, Alaska.
Received 1993.
24cm x 6cm.
