How A Museum’s Human Skull Collection Sparked A Racial Reckoning
Following years of protests by students and activists, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is finally atoning for a racist sin.
The Penn Museum, as it is commonly known, apologized this week for its “unethical possession” of human remains in the Samuel G. Morton Cranial Collection, some 1,300 human skulls that were used in the 19th century to promote white supremacism. A plan was announced for the repatriation or reburial of more than 50 skulls belonging to former slaves from both Cuba and the United States some from Philadelphia, where the museum is located.
The collection’s inclusion of slave remains was revealed in 2019 by the Penn & Slavery Project, an ongoing student research investigation into the university’s connection to slavery and scientific racism.
“It is time for these individuals to be returned to their ancestral communities, wherever possible, as a step toward atonement and repair for the racist and colonial practices that were integral to the formation of these collections,” said the museum’s new director, Dr. Christopher Woods, in a statement. “We will also reassess our practices of collecting, stewarding, displaying, and researching human remains.”
Samuel G. Morton may not be a household name in 2021, but he was renowned among 19th-century anthropologists. The Philadelphia craniologist, Penn Medical College professor and officer at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP) became world famous for promoting polygenism the theory that mankind could be divided into five distinct races, each with a separate origin.
In the first half of the 1800s, as debates over slavery were intensifying in the United States, Morton espoused the notion that some races were innately superior to others, and that this could be proven scientifically. He used his ANSP connections around the world to amass a collection of nearly 1,000 human skulls, which he diligently numbered, measured and logged into notebooks. At the time, it was roundly accepted that a larger brain correlated to higher intelligence. Morton’s research produced a ranking that was utterly expected to both himself and many of his contemporaries: Whites were at the top, Blacks at the bottom, and everyone else fell somewhere in between.
Morton’s 1839 magnum opus, Crania Americana, was published complete with 78 illustrations of human skulls, some bearing bullet holes. Of Caucasians, he wrote, “The face is small in proportion to the head, of an oval form, with well-proportioned features. . . . This race is distinguished for the facility with which it attains the highest intellectual endowments.” Morton’s view of Native Americans was that “the structure of his mind appears to be different from that of the white man.” And of Africans, he noted, “They appear to be fond of warlike enterprises, and are not deficient in personal courage; but, once overcome, they yield to their destiny, and accommodate themselves with amazing facility to every change of circumstance.”
Unsurprisingly, Morton was celebrated in antebellum pro-slavery circles. After his death in 1851, the Charleston Medical Journal wrote, “We can only say that we of the South should consider him as our benefactor, for aiding most materially in giving to the negro his true position as an inferior race.”
“Morton’s research is junk,” says Paul Wolff Mitchell, a sixth year graduate student pursuing a PhD in anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania. For starters, the skull collector was focused on a subject’s race yet disregarded other factors such as age, sex, health and body size all of which could influence cranium size.
Also, while Morton was willing to accept skulls from donors near and far, he often simply took their word for a specimen’s origin without any further due diligence. “Obviously, today none of this would pass muster as science, either in terms of the analysis or the ‘sourcing,’” adds Mitchell. “But it was also the norm for the time.”
Mitchell has worked on the Penn & Slavery Project and knows the Morton Collection better than nearly anyone. For a paper published in 2018 in PLoS Biology, he analyzed Morton’s previously unseen handwritten notes and concluded that, while Morton’s measurements were accurate, his racial bias influenced his findings. Mitchell drew a contrast between Morton and a contemporary German anatomist named Friedrich Tiedemann, whose research measuring the human brain size among different racial groups produced nearly equivalent results. Yet Tiedemann viewed the data differently, noticing that the ranges of brain size significantly overlap for all humans. Tiedemann concluded there was no noticeable anatomical differences in the brains of people from different races, and advocated against enslaving African people.
Until very recently, the Penn Museum was inclined to whitewash Morton and his research. “Although few visitors to the museum would know this, the Samuel George Morton cranial collection at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is one of the most famous collections of human skulls in the entire world,” begins a 2008 article published in Expedition, the museum’s members magazine. The article described Morton as “a Philadelphian who actively participated in the vibrant medical and scientific community that spanned the Atlantic Ocean in the early 19th century” with a “genial personality and stature as a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences.”
The Penn Museum first acquired the Morton Collection in 1966, and the skulls have been on public view in a classroom since 2014. “Up until recently, it was probably the most used collection in the museum in terms of teaching, which is remarkable,” Mitchell says.
One undergraduate was so disturbed by the presence of the skulls that she wrote an op-ed in the university’s student newspaper, The Daily Pennsylvanian, last June. “But who, precisely, makes up this collection?” wrote rising sophomore Gabriela Alvarado. “I say ‘who’ because it shouldn’t be forgotten that these crania are human beings. Many were brutally exploited by colonialism when they were alive, and now they rest in a predominantly white institution. A person’s right to decide where they rest after death is not only a fundamental human right, but it is our agency.”
Soon after Alvarado’s piece was published, the entire Morton Collection was moved to storage, where it has remained since. The museum confirmed that research access to the skulls has been suspended.
In February of this year, Mitchell authored yet another disturbing report revealing that the Morton Collection contains the remains of 14 Black Philadelphians, some of whom were almost certainly born enslaved. “We’re talking about the 1830s and ’40s when the collection was assembled,” he says. “And we know from independent sources from that time that the percentage of Black Philadelphians who were born into slavery was somewhere between a third and a half.”
Most egregiously, the skulls were robbed from graves right across the street from the Penn Museum. “Their graves are underneath what is now the athletic stadium,” Mitchell explains. “And those graves were never exhumed when the athletic stadium was built. So, you know, these bodies were across the street from the museum, while their heads were on a shelf.”
An apology is just the first step toward accepting responsibility, and the museum is prepared for a long haul when it comes to repatriation. “We anticipate there will be requests from other groups,” says a spokesperson. “We are building a permanent NAGPRA-based infrastructure to consider not only the Cuban individuals but further repatriation requests,” referring to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, a 1990 federal law that requires the repatriation of remains belonging to Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiians.
The Penn Museum is also adding a new faculty position to handle such requests. In aggregate, the initiative “represents a very substantial financial commitment on the museum’s and the university’s part” and, according to the spokesperson, “we are in the process of establishing budgetary and other needs, and have begun exploring options to resource the process.”
“There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to handling repatriation and reburial in any circumstance,” says Dr. Woods. “Each case is unique and deserves its own consideration. This is incredibly sensitive work. And while we all desire to see the remains of these individuals reunited with their ancestral communities as quickly as possible, it is essential not to rush but to proceed with the utmost care and diligence. As we confront a legacy of racism and colonialism, it is our moral imperative to do so.”
Below Deck’s Eddie Lucas Reveals His Top 3 Caribbean Destinations
With the world beginning to open back up, travelers especially luxury travelers are starting to plan summer vacations. With restrictions still in place in Europe and many other parts of the world, Americans are turning to the Caribbean. With a potentially unseasonable busy summer ahead for Caribbean destinations, I spoke with Eddie Lucas, from Bravo’s Below Deck to get his insider’s take on which destinations luxury travelers should be adding to their list.
Eddie has appeared on Below Deck during Seasons one, two and three, first as a deck hand and then as the bosun and has spent quite a bit of time in the Caribbean catering to top tier clientele throughout his tenure on super yachts. No matter if you are planning on chartering a yacht or flying commercial, Eddie’s tips certainly help to narrow down travel decisions in our newfound option-rich travel environment.
Saint Barthelemy
“It's tough to say which island my #1 choice so in no particular order, my top three destinations are St. Barths, the British Virgin Islands and St. Kitts & Nevis.” Said Eddie. He went on to mention that each destination has something unique to offer. “St. Barths has a lot to do, while remaining quaint. But it's not overdeveloped or westernized. St. Barths is just really, really beautiful.” Eddie then went on to say that St. Barths is a great place for young couples specifically because “you can still have time alone and have romantic moments together. But at the same time, there is also great nightlife and restaurants, if they're looking for a little bit more excitement.”
British Virgin Islands
Next on Eddie’s list were the British Virgin Islands. We’ve seen the British Virgin Islands (BVIs) featured countless times on Below Deck and it’s not hard to see why. The picturesque islands offer many different on island and over water experiences. And from the vantage point of a super yacht, the views aren’t too bad either. “The BVIs have a lot more going on and are quite accessible in terms of getting there. They are also much more developed. There's a lot of restaurants and clubs and things to do. But it's still has, of course, that Caribbean vibe.”
If you’re looking for a great destination for the whole family, Eddie recommends the BVIs especially for that type of group. “I would definitely want to be in the BVIs if traveling with family. Tortola, St. Maarten, these are a few of the islands that I would recommend for families because there's a lot to do and there's a lot of beautiful things to see. One popular destination that I think is certainly worth visiting, is the Baths.” said Eddie.
St. Kitts and Nevis
Finally, Eddie’s last choice on his list of top Caribbean destinations is St. Kitts and Nevis. These islands are located just south of St. Barts and when compared to St. Barts and the BVIs, they are typically thought of as more being more remote. But this this exactly why Eddie loves them. “St. Kitts and Nevis are just very quiet, and they really feel untouched. The Caribbean vibe and the Caribbean culture are both still really well intact there.” According to the bosun, St. Kitts and Nevis have a lot to offer for both the active traveler and the more laid back. “St. Kitts and Nevis have some amazing landscapes with the volcanoes and some beautiful beaches. Hiking, snorkeling and diving are all extraordinary here.”
How the Yachting Industry has Adapted to COVID
As the entire travel industry has had to adapt to the constantly changing situation over the past 12 months, the yacht industry has fortunately remained more or less unchanged due to the coincidentally distanced and exclusive nature. Eddie went on to say that, “It hasn't changed that much. Cleanliness is always paramount on yachts we're always cleaning, scrubbing, polishing, etc. We're still cleaning all the time; we're just using some more disinfectants now.” He also mentioned that as crew, they have all been subject to strict quarantine and testing regiments when on a charter boat and guests are subject to similar requirements.
Wyndham Celebrates National Parks Week With Special Offer
In celebration of National Parks week, April 17-25, Wyndham’s member-based vacation (timeshare) club, World Mark, is giving travelers a special bonus: A year’s worth of free entry to national parks that are located within driving distance of Wyndham’s home-style properties. For bookings made during April 17-April 25th, 2021, more than 30 Wyndham Destination properties that are located nearby national parks will come with free entry for the whole family (for families up to four) to embrace the great outdoors for an entire year. Non-members can get in on the action and “test-drive” what it’s like to join the club and experience all the perks and benefits that come with it by taking advantage of this offering for a limited time only.
A hotspot for WorldMark by Wyndham’s members over the last year, properties located within 90 minutes of national parks are seeing a 25% increase for summer and the demand shows no signs of slowing down. From Yosemite and Zion to Saguaro and Mesa Verde, the home-style properties make it easy to visit the iconic national parks across the U.S. – and never forgo the personal space that comes with campers and RV’s – with multi-bedroom suites, separate living spaces and a full-service kitchen for the perfect post-hiking refuel station. Plus, an added bonus: In-suite washer/dryers to clean up muddy clothes. For families that love hiking and exploring the great outdoors, WorldMark by Wyndham vacation ownership makes it easy to tick off at least a quarter of the country’s stunning national parks with annual bucket list-worthy trips.
“If the past year has taught us anything, it’s to slow down and appreciate the time we share with our family,” said Melody Bostic Brown, travel expert and spokesperson for Wyndham Destinations’ portfolio of brands, including WorldMark by Wyndham. “With WorldMark by Wyndham’s national parks initiative, we’re encouraging families and friends to stay in apartment-style accommodations, nestled in nature, and explore the country’s most beautiful national parks over the next year. The national parks pass, which provides free entry to national parks for an entire year, is a great incentive for families to get back outside after a very long year at home,” said Bostic Brown.
Here is a quick rundown of just two properties.
World Mark Indio, Greater Palm Springs: The Mediterranean-style resort is the perfect home-base for any type of vacation. Adventurers can head out to nearby Joshua Tree National Park for hiking and brilliant views of the natural wonders of Palm Springs while the Gold Course at Terra Lago is just a step away for those looking for a more relaxing type of escape (for a fee). Families can spend the day at the family-style resort enjoying the multi-bedroom suites and full kitchens that offer a comfortable home-away-from-home. Kids can play in the outdoor swimming pool and float along the lazy river while parents soak in the hot tub or indulge at the resort’s Spa at Indio. Book this apartment-style accommodation with rates for a one-bedroom suite starting at $144/night.
World Mark Granby, Rocky Mountain Preserve: In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, WorldMark Granby is surrounded by the rugged beauty of the mountain range, which is reflected in the design of the western-style rooms. Guests will enjoy the resort’s proximity to a range of outdoor adventure activities ranging from hiking and biking in the summer to skiing at nearby Winter Park in the winter. The resort’s apartment-style accommodations are perfect for families or large groups of friends with multi-bedroom suites and fully equipped kitchens. The presidential suite is a haven with a private balcony overlooking the highest peaks of the mountains and a hot tub that will be a must after a long day of hiking. Book this apartment-style accommodation with rates for a one-bedroom suite starting at $149/night.
Make sure to bring you hiking boots – and your sunblock.
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