400 Artifacts Discovered Missing from the Facilities of the Wisconsin Historical Society, Fall, 2000
Stolen Blanket
In the fall of 2000, the Wisconsin Historical Society made a shocking discovery: hundreds of artifacts from their collection had been taken, and one of their own ex-staff members was a primary suspect. In October 2001, former WHS curator, David Wooley, plead guilty to 14 counts of felony theft and 3 counts of failing to file a state tax return. Hundreds of artifacts remain at large. More details are available at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/rmw/RMW-002_200903F03.html .
Anyone with more information about the missing artifacts should contact the Wisconsin Historical Society atfeedback@wisconsinhistory.org or browse to http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/ .
Pottery Stolen from The Museum of Man
The pottery depicted in the photographs below were stolen in a burglary at the Museum of Man in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101 one week before they were to go on exhibit (01-10-2000). Several other items, not pictured, were included in the theft. Anyone having information regarding this investigation is requested to contact Detective Craig Speck at 619-525-8427 or Detective Sergeant Joe Wood at 619-525-8449 of the San Diego Police Department Central Investigations Division.
Stolen Hopi Seed Jar
This jar, 6.5 cm h x 6.2 cm dia, with three ears of corn, one ear is red, two are black, all with some white kernels, burnished red with cream-colored relief, is signed “Gary Polacca Nampeyo, 77” . The bottom has a prior mark “150.00” .
Stolen Hopi Seed Jar
This seed jar, 5.7 cm. high x 6.2 cm dia, has a red sgraffito stag head on a cream background, signed “78, Ellsworth Polacca Nampeyo, (corn plant hallmark.)”
Stolen Hopi Jar
This jar, 13.4 cm high x 16.9 cm dia, red and black design on cream background, is signed “Leah Nampeyo (Corn Stalk Hallmark)”, with “1296” in pencil on base.
Stolen Hopi Bowl
This bowl, 11.0 cm high x 16.2 cm dia, red and black design migrational eagle on cream background, some surface pits, abrasion near rim, is marked “Harold Nampeyo 19_4,” “KXIL”, label “400.00” on base.
Stolen Hopi Bowl
This bowl, 7.7 cm h x 7.8 cm dia, has raised, carved, brown pattern of eagle, ground squirrels and wolf in landscape of mesas and crosshatched sky on a light tan background, marked “Loren H. Nampeyo” with hallmark of corn stalk on base.
Stolen Hopi Seed Jar
This seed jar, 7.1 cm h x 7.3 cm dia, redware with brown, carved bear design on cream background sgrafitto carved feather design, clouds and bear paw, is signed “Gary Polacca Nampeyo” on base.
Stolen Hopi Plate
This plate, 0.4 cm h x 23.7 cm dia, has carved brown hawk and eagle sgraffito design on cream background with 16 coral and 3 turquoise round stones, is signed “Nampeyo, 79” on base.
Stolen Santa Clara Polychrome Bowl
This polychrome bowl, 9.2 cm h x 23.7 cm dia, has two polychrome eagles in black and rust on interior. Outside surface is painted rust up to midpoint, has one fire cloud, painted pattern on light background bordered by two narrow black bands, possibly made by Maria and Julian ca. 1920-1923, has gummed sticker residue on base.
Stolen Hopi Jar
This jar, 8.5 cm h x 12 cm dia, has red and black geometric designs on a cream background, signed “Melda Nampeyo” with corn ear hallmark on base. Has “100(00underlined)” price mark pencilled on base.
The pottery depicted in the photographs above were stolen in a burglary at the Museum of Man in Balboa Park, San Diego, ca.92101 one week before they were to go on exhibit (01-10-2000). Several other items, not pictured, were included in the theft. Anyone having information regarding this investigation is requested to contact Detective Craig Speck at 619-525-8427 or Detective Sergeant Joe Wood at 619-525-8449 of the San Diego Police Department Central Investigations Division.