N.U.S. Hosts Harvard Curator For Measina Seminar
Dr. Ingrid Ahlgren, Curator of Oceanic Collections at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University.
Photo: Ingrid Ahlgren/LinkedIn
The Centre for Samoan Studies (C.S.S.) at the National of University of Samoa (N.U.S.) will host a Harvard University curator for a groundbreaking seminar on Samoa’s measina that date back to the 19th century.
N.U.S. and the C.S.S. say they are “honoured” to host the seminar by Dr. Ingrid Ahlgren on Tuesday, 6 December, 2022.
Dr. Ahlgren is Curator of Oceanic Collections at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.
The collection of measina kept at Harvard is one of the biggest historic collections in the U.S., according to a statement released by N.U.S. on Tuesday, 29 November, 2022.
It is Dr. Ahlgren’s “great responsibility to reconnect them to Samoan communities,” she said.
“The collection of Samoan measina cared for by the Peabody Museum at Harvard represents one of the largest historic collections in the United States. As the curator, it’s my great responsibility to reconnect them to Samoan communities,” said Dr. Ahlgren.
“I’m honored to begin that process here in person. I hope this seminar and ongoing discussions provide a way for the Museum to understand how the collections can serve the Samoan people today.”
Dr. Ahlgren will visit both the Independent State of Samoa and Amerika Samoa in December to share information on the Samoan historic collections held at the Peabody Museum.
The collection includes items connected specifically to two significant Samoan historical figures, Matā’afa Iosefo (during his exile in Jaluit from 1893- 1898) and Tuimanu’a Elisala.
While she is in Samoa, Dr. Ahlgren hopes to form new relationships and potential collaborations with local stakeholders in the future management of collections such as the one held in the Peabody Museum.
Her seminar will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 6 December, 2022 at the C.S.S. Seminar Room, at the Niule’a Building on the N.U.S. campus.
Members of Samoa’s media corps are invited to attend Dr. Ahlgren’s presentation.