The William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology preserves and provides responsible access to collections that support anthropology, archaeology, museum studies, cultural heritage stewardship, research, teaching, and public education.
Founded in 1931, the Museum serves as one of Kentucky’s most important repositories for archaeological collections, associated records, archival materials, photographs, and documentary resources. Although the Museum’s largest and most active holdings are archaeological, its mission is grounded in the broader discipline of anthropology: the study of humans, past and present, through material culture, biology, history, society, culture, environment, and human experience.
The Museum also cares for ethnographic, archival, documentary, photographic, and comparative teaching materials that support the broader research and instructional mission of anthropology. These collections help connect Kentucky archaeology to larger questions about human history, cultural diversity, technology, adaptation, creativity, community life, and the many ways people have lived and connected across time and place.
The Museum’s holdings include materials generated through University of Kentucky research, federal and state projects, professional archaeological investigations, and donations from individuals and institutions. Collections may include artifacts, field records, maps, photographs, reports, catalogs, object documentation, teaching materials, and other records that make research, interpretation, and long-term stewardship possible.
As a public-facing university museum, WSWMA balances access with care. The Museum supports research, instruction, exhibits, loans, student training, digital interpretation, and public engagement while ensuring that collections are managed according to professional standards, legal responsibilities, ethical obligations, and long-term preservation needs.
Access to some collections may be limited by legal, ethical, documentation, condition, or stewardship considerations. Researchers should review the Collections Access Requests page before submitting a request.
Use this section to learn more about the Museum’s archaeological collections, ethnographic collections, archival, photographic and digital collections, collections care, and access request process.