The project will improve accountability, consolidation and catalog of NPS object collections at the western archeological and conservation center (wacc), facilitating their use by park staff and…

The National Park Service (NPS), under the Cooperative Research and Training Programs – Resources of the National Park System (CFDA 15.945), awarded $156,490 to the University of Arizona effective August 1, 2025, through December 31, 2027. The cooperative agreement funds research and cataloging services to improve accountability and consolidation of object collections at the Western Archeological and Conservation Center (WACC). The University of Arizona will conduct research, process items, and provide content descriptions for cataloging projects to ensure proper documentation and accountability of federal museum property held by the NPS.

A primary deliverable under this award involves identifying collections subject to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) duty of care requirements. The cooperator will research and cross-reference WACC and park accession, field, and catalog records to determine which items fall under NAGPRA obligations. This work will facilitate greater accessibility and utility of the NPS collections for park staff and researchers while ensuring compliance with federal repatriation requirements and proper stewardship of sensitive cultural resources.

The project will improve accountability, consolidation and catalog of NPS object collections at the western archeological and conservation center (wacc), facilitating their use by park staff and researchers. Cooperators will conduct research, process and provide content description for cataloging projects to deliver accountability for federal museum property. Wacc and park accession, field, and catalog records will be researched to identify items subject to the native american graves protection and repatriation act (nagpra) duty of care requirement.