History of the Collection
Beginning in the late nineteenth century, numerous archaeological and anthropological
expeditions visited the American Southwest to document the lifeways of American Indian
cultures. Thousands of pieces of pottery, weavings, baskets, and other items were
collected, cataloged, studied, and preserved in museums. Concerned about this loss of
material culture, in 1922 a group of Santa Fe anthropologists, writers, and art patrons
organized the Pueblo Pottery Fund. Their purpose was to preserve and revive the arts and
crafts of the Pueblo people by collecting outstanding examples and making them available
for study and inspiration. Incorporated as the Indian Arts Fund (IAF) in 1925, the group
eventually amassed a superb collection of traditional Southwest Indian pottery, textiles,
baskets, jewelry paintings, clothing, and other objects.
When the IAF disbanded in 1972, it deeded its entire holdings of 4,280 items to the School
of American Research. Under the direction of Douglas W. Schwartz, SAR had just moved into
its current quarters, a gracious Garcia Street estate bequeathed by Amelia Elizabeth
White, one of the founding members of the IAF. Shortly thereafter the School began
construction of the Indian Arts Research Center, in which the IAF and SAR collections are
now housed. The new IARC building was dedicated in 1978.
In 1995, SAR re-established the Indian Arts Fund. Its goals are to add to the collection,
promote research and publication, support Native American artists, expand educational
offerings for the public, and increase the IAF endowment.
