School for Advanced Research

Vast and beautiful collection of Native American arts and crafts. I wish the artifacts weren’t roped off to allow closer inspection, but if you are interested in pottery, I highly recommend booking a tour.

For the past two years SAR has promoted, engaged, and asserted individuals who are not Native posing as Indigenous, or misleading audiences they are American Indian. This damage is misrepresentation in American Indian scholarship, and lessons the ability for accurate histories. Many of us in the community have called to express concern, but the programming continues. Tribal peoples of the SW should be concerned with the allowance of access to their cultural items, what is being written about, and how this dismisses our own tribal scholars among our tribes. Mainly talking about the food sovereignty program, independent curator, and out of state museum (NYC) hires who have no tribal affiliation yet claim Indigenous. A distant ancestral title in parentheses does not equate identity, or authority to represent. SAR can be the change, this organization has a large reach across the field and academically, it’s unfortunate the programming takes them off path as a leading research center.

SAR's public offerings to our Santa Fe community are first rate and I always leave their presentations or lectures knowing more about the condition of humanity - be it historical, political or cultural. Last week's 1st annual Linda Cordell lecture, given by Dr. Ruth Van Dyke, is the latest example.

I thought the lecture on Chaco last Thursday was fairly low level for the audience. Most of the people there are aware of the points made by the lecturer. In short there was nothing new.

Simply an awesome school with strong connections to amazing artists! incredible clay pot collection. one of the most beautiful campuses I've been to.

The audience was fairly sophisticated re Choco, and the presentation was too simplistic.

Great school! Wonderful research on the ancient Americas coming out of the SAR!

As of January 2007, the beginning of School of American Research's 101st year, the name of this educational non-profit organization was officially changed to the "SCHOOL FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH ON THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE." I only knew this research facility when I lived in Santa Fe as SAR. I did contract archeological cartography for them for a couple of years. The cartography wasn't difficult, but getting each drawing and map approved was. They had a reputation for never approving the first work submitted. Always wanting everything perfect. Deadlines weren't the primary motivation, perfection was. There were always changes. But producing maps and drawings for some of the Grand Canyon Series of publications made me feel a real part of this prestigious institution and worth the trouble of working for perfectionists. This 100 year-old institution was initially established to study and research the archaeology and ethnology of the American Southwest. In the late 1960s the focus became more of a global one. The programs and activities of SAR today include research and study to advance archeology, anthropology and similar related disciplines. The School's many programs include a scholars-in-residence program, seminars and public lectures, and extensive Native American Indian Arts research programs. SAR has an annual Lecture Series and also provides field trips to noted archeological sites to its members. Membership is inexpensive and the benefits are enormous. 100 years of research is at your fingertips through their extensive library collections (the librarian was the librarian in the Laboratory of Anthropology for many years) and many research programs and publications. (Plus they always welcome volunteers.) Check out www.sarweb.org for complete information on this research institution that has been moving the anthropological study of the American Southwest and other areas of the world forward for over 100 years.