Purpose of award (summary of the goals and objectives of the project):the project will provide a collection-focused educational work experience opportunity for archeology, anthropology, and museum…

The Department of the Interior's National Park Service, through its Cooperative Research and Training Programs – Resources of the National Park System (CFDA 15.945), awarded a $103,502.25 Cooperative Agreement to the University of Arizona, doing business as the Arizona Board of Regents, with a performance period from July 1, 2023 to July 31, 2027.

The award funds the research, documentation, cataloging, storage, and preservation of cultural artifacts and natural history specimens from the National Park System. Key deliverables include: 1) producing research reports on individual items, item groups, or projects by January 31, 2027; 2) processing incoming and returning collections to inventory, eradicate pests, and prepare materials for cataloging and storage by December 31, 2026; 3) cataloging or updating records for all items, attaching photographs, and submitting electronic records by February 28, 2027; and 4) organizing, labeling, and updating storage locations for all items by March 15, 2027. The project aims to enhance the accessibility and preservation of the National Park Service's cultural and natural history collections through hands-on work experience for students in archeology, anthropology, and museum studies.

Purpose of award (summary of the goals and objectives of the project):the project will provide a collection-focused educational work experience opportunity for archeology, anthropology, and museum studies students. The purpose is to complement classroom instruction with hands-on work activities in a variety of areas that describe, preserve, and make cultural artifacts and curated natural history specimens more available. The skills gained through this project will enhance student employability in several diverse fields. The study units facilitate multi-disciplinary science and integrated information products across multiple geographic regions of the national park system. Summary of project specific activities:this project funds the research, printing and filing of documentation to provide accountability for incoming and outgoing park and center transactions and assist national park service curatorial staff with providing accountability for collections held in non-federal repositories. Incoming collection items will be in processed to prepare materials for cataloging and storage. Objects will be catalogeds and existing catalog records updated to describe the items and facilitate their retrieval for research. Storage will be consolidated and improved to promote preservation and efficient use of repository space.performance goals including milestones and expected outcomes:research reports will be produced for individual items, groups of items, or projects by january 31, 2027. Incoming and returning collections will be processed to identify materials via inventory, pests eradicated, and materials that must be cleaned identified and prepared for cataloging and storage by december 31, 2026. Each item will be cataloged, or records updated, photographs will be attached or relocated to the assigned digital folder, and an electronic record for each item or lot entered or updated in icms will be reviewed for accuracy and submitted by february 28, 2027. Items will be stored, organized, and labelled in appropriately sized boxes and enclosures and storage locations updated by march 15, 2027. The final project report, with a separate abstract, will summarize all work completed including final counts of accomplished tasks with the draft final report submitted by may 15, 2027, and the final report by june 30, 2027.beneficiaries:beneficiaries include state and local governments, federally recognized indian tribal governments, public private nonprofit organizations, nonprofit institutions of higher education, and the general public.