# Collections Access Considerations The Peabody Museum is committed to ensuring that the perspectives of origin and descendant communities are heard and integrated into all teaching and research activities that draw on its collections. Images from the Peabody’s holdings may not be visible on our public website for a number of reasons. In some cases, images may have been withdrawn upon request of the origin community and/or contain culturally sensitive content requiring additional review prior to distribution. In others, the context in which an image was created may require more in-depth interpretation to accurately represent what is being depicted. ### The Importance of Context Some images may not be culturally sensitive in and of themselves but if improperly contextualized, may cause harm in different ways. For example: This image of Michael Rockefeller is often requested to illustrate publications about Michael Rockefeller’s disappearance. Rockefeller, the son of Nelson Rockefeller and grandson of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., disappeared in the late fall of 1961 during an art collecting expedition in the Asmat region of what was then Dutch New Guinea (now part of Indonesia). In fact, the photograph was taken earlier that year, in the Highlands of New Guinea on a *different* anthropological expedition, well over a hundred miles away from the site of Rockefeller’s disappearance. The Indigenous people in this image are known as Dani, Hubula, or Kurulu, a *different* ethnic group from the Asmat. These people were not involved with Michael Rockefeller’s disappearance, yet publishing this photograph in that context implies that they were. ![Michael Rockefeller posing with grinning warrior](/sites/g/files/omnuum4921/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2026-06/MR%20posing%20with%20Hubula%20people%20HiR.jpg?itok=P9U4llNU) Michael Rockefeller posing with Hubula people (sometimes referred to as the Dani Tribe) of the Baliem Valley, 1961 ([2006.15.1.1.30](https://collections.peabody.harvard.edu/objects/details/544848?ctx=49c0c868a674c6fcc74c37992e9dd7aea5e9448b&idx=0)) This image of Michael Rockefeller is often requested to illustrate publications about Michael Rockefeller’s disappearance. Rockefeller, the son of Nelson Rockefeller and grandson of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., disappeared in the late fall of 1961 during an art collecting expedition in the Asmat region of what was then Dutch New Guinea (now part of Indonesia). In fact, the photograph was taken earlier that year, in the Highlands of New Guinea on a *different* anthropological expedition, well over a hundred miles away from the site of Rockefeller’s disappearance. The Indigenous people in this image are known as Dani, Hubula, or Kurulu, a *different* ethnic group from the Asmat. These people were not involved with Michael Rockefeller’s disappearance, yet publishing this photograph in that context implies that they were. When researchers contact the Peabody seeking a photograph to illustrate Rockefeller’s disappearance, we instead recommend the portrait shown on the right from the same collection. While it was taken when Rockefeller was in the Highlands, it does not depict other individuals who, due to lack of appropriate context, have been mistakenly or wrongfully associated with the event over time. ![Portrait of Michael Rockefeller](/sites/g/files/omnuum4921/files/styles/hwp_1_1__480x480/public/2026-06/portrait%20of%20MR.jpg?itok=TMmlZlD1) Michael Rockefeller in New Guinea, 1961 (2006.12.1.104.25) ### Cultural Sensitivity Some images that may have been widely published in the past have been removed from public access. This happens as the Museum updates its ethical stewardship policies in response to changes in the regulations implementing the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) or following consultation with origin and descendant communities. For instance, the Peabody houses a bear claw necklace collected by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark during their famous 1804-1805 expedition from St. Louis, Missouri to the Pacific Coast. Images of the bear claw necklace have been broadly reproduced and distributed in numerous publications and exhibitions. In 2024, the Museum stopped approving requests to publish images of the bear claw necklace pending consultation under updated NAGPRA regulations. In some cases, decisions to limit access are made by Museum staff as part of its ongoing ethical stewardship review of policies and practices, while in others, specific images are restricted at the request of the appropriate community representatives based on Indigenous knowledge and cultural practices. ### Managing Requests for Access to Collections Given the scope of the Peabody’s holdings and in consideration of our mission to actively engage in ethical stewardship as we facilitate education and scholarship, we approach the determination of appropriate access via both a staff committee that reviews general categories of images and through consultation with origin and descendant communities to amplify their voices in access-related decision making. If an image is not available via Collections Online, requestors may apply for researcher access, which allows for approved access to sensitive images. To apply for researcher access, first [create a login](http://collections.peabody.harvard.edu/users/register) for an individual account, then email the Museum's research department at with a description of your research and the username of your Collections Online account. Your request will be reviewed and if approved, you will be provided with instructions for logging into Collections Online as a researcher. When requesting images for reproduction, requestors are asked to complete a [Media and Permission Request Form](https://harvard.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3vYM8vSFGnp5qwB) or email . When completing the form, requestors are asked to provide additional information about their work with origin or descendant communities and their involvement with the research or publication. Reaching out to the Museum with your publication request allows us to review the image and requested use in accordance with the Peabody’s ethical stewardship initiatives and duty of care responsibilities to determine whether access can be granted or if community consent should be sought first. When publishing or otherwise reproducing images from the Peabody’s holdings, researchers are asked to use them in a culturally sensitive context that respects the knowledge of the communities depicted. Please note that access reviews take time and we appreciate your patience as Peabody staff undertake due diligence reviews to ensure the decision takes into consideration both the Peabody Museum’s ethical stewardship practices and Harvard University’s broader mission as a teaching and research university.