Seattle Art Museum curator visits Marland’s Grand Home

Barbara Brotherton, Seattle Art Museum Indian Exhibit Curator, recently visited Marland’s Grand Home to assess the Fred Bartram Collection.

While at the home, Brotherton photographed many of the Northwestern Quileute tribal artifacts.

In her occupation as curator, Brotherton specializes in Quileute items. There are several at the Seattle Art Museum.

Brotherton also gave a public presentation on the Fred Bartram Collection on April 29 at Grand Home, along with Mary Lou Bates, Bartram’s granddaughter.

Bartram was a former Indian reservation government agent and teacher, turned Marland Oil accountant.  He taught at several Indian reservation schools in the early 1900s.  Bartram’s first assignment was in 1905 at the Quileute Reservation in northwest La Push, Wash., and his last assignment was at the White Eagle Reservation, south of Ponca City.

While working as an agent, Bartram was given or purchased many special tribal items from the Hopi, Pueblo, Navajo and Walpi tribes in Arizona and the Northern Cheyenne, Sioux and Blackfoot tribes in Montana.  In 1956, Bartram donated more than 800 artifacts to the City of Ponca City before he died.

Marland’s Grand Home is open for touring Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit marlandgrandhome.com or call (580) 767-0427.