Fifty artifacts, mostly Native American, will be going from the Washington Public Library to auction with others being repatriated to the Hopi tribe.

The artifacts are part of a collection donated to the library in 1964 by Emily Powis Simpson-Atmore. Library director Debbie Stanton explained at the recent Washington City Council meeting that through the Native American Grave Repatriations Act tribes can get back any artifacts that have bone or human remains, or anything that is ceremonial. So when the inventory of the collection showed some ceremonial items, they were archived online and claimed for repatriation. The council approved allowing Stanton to transport these items to the Hopi tribe, when she travels to Arizona this month.

Stanton added the library will be keeping part of the collection, “We wanted to keep something from every tribe that was represented, so there are Navajo, Hopi, Apache, also there were a few African items.” Some of the items are now on display on the second floor of the library.

Proceeds from the auction will go to the library gift fund. The council unanimously approved the request to take remaining items to auction.