Helen Robbins
Provenance Research Director
Repatriation
Dr. Robbins is the Provenance Research Director at the Field Museum where she evaluates and conducts empirical research on the history and origins of the Field Museum’s collections. She is working to establish consistent standards to assess and interpret the history of collections in every division - Anthropology, Botany, Geology, and Zoology. With other staff, she is involved in the evaluation of current accessioning and collecting policies, procedures, and practices. She continues to work on international repatriation requests and, under NAGPRA, leads consultation efforts with the Hopi Tribe.
Education and Work
Ph.D. University of Arizona 2001
B.A. Pomona College 1985
Accomplishments
Online articles:
- 6 Objects That Explain New Rules on Native Displays in Museum (February 21, 2024)
- Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami award Chicago's Field Museum inaugural Cultural Repatriation prize (September 20, 2017)
- Chicago museum gets 'cultural repatriation' award for returning Inuit remains to Labrador (September 21, 2017)
- A Trip to Zoar (CBC. June 27, 2011)
- Repatriation of the Labrador Inuit Remains from Chicago(Government of Canada)
- The delicate Art of Returning the Dead (Colombus Dispatch)
- Totem Pole returned, now the Field has its own (April 03, 2007)
- Field Museum to Return Human Remains to Native American Tribe (October 17, 2003)
- Haida Travel to Museums to Collect Remains(Associated Press. October 10, 2003)
- After 100 years, a Tribe's Ancestors head home. (New York Times)
- 2023 – National Park Service, NAGPRA Grant, Principal Investigator
- 2023 – Field Dreams, Field Museum Women in Science, Co-Principal Investigator.
- 2022 – Negaunee Foundation, Co-Principal Investigator.
- 2020 - 2021 – National Park Services, NAGPRA Grant, Principal Investigator.
- 2019 – Negaunee Foundation, Co-Principal Investigator.
- 2017 - National Park Service, NAGPRA Grant, Principal Investigator.
- 2016 - IMLS National Leadership Grant, Principal Investigator.
- 2013 - 2014 - National Park Service, NAGPRA Grant, Principal Investigator.
- 2011 - Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust, Principal Investigator.
- 2010 - National Park Service, NAGPRA Grant, Principal Investigator.
- 2009 - Grainger Award, Co-Principal Investigator.
- 2008 - National Park Service, NAGPRA Grant, Principal Investigator.
- 2007 - National Park Service, NAGPRA Grant, Co-Principal Investigator.
- 2006 - National Park Service, NAGPRA Grant, Principal Investigator
- 2005 - Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation Award, Co-principal Investigator.
- 2004 - National Park Service, NAGPRA Grant, Co-Principal Investigator.
- 2003 -National Park Service, NAGPRA Grant. Principal Investigator.American Alliance of Museums
Organizations:
- American Associaion of Museum
- Society for American Archaeology
Research Sketch
Repatriation and Provenance Research
