Join Us in a Historic Visit

In 1927, a remarkable journey by the Melville family unfolded as Maud and Carey Melville, along with their three children, embarked on a cross-country adventure starting in Massachusetts. Without the convenience of an interstate system, they reached the heart of the Hopi Indian reservation in Polacca, Arizona, where they spent a transformative eight days, forging connections and collecting art that would tell the stories of the Hopi people for generations to come. Today the family collection is housed at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT.

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Nearly a century later, we have the unique opportunity to celebrate and honor this rich historical exchange through the Tuma Angwu Owya visit. Our mission is to bring some of these treasured items back to their place of origin, allowing the descendants of the original artisans, to reconnect with the legacy of their ancestors. This initiative not only honors the craftsmanship and culture of the Hopi people but also strengthens the bonds between past and present.