D. Lynn Murdoch

E-mail: murddena@isu.edu

Phone: 282-4954

Lynn Murdoch was born and raised in Ashton, Idaho, the eldest of eight children.  She recorded her first archaeological site in her own backyard at age seventeen with the assistance of Ashton Ranger District U.S. Forest Service archaeologist Cort Sims.  The work on this site and subsequent research on seven others earned Lynn a small grant from Idaho State University to help her attend the Regional Science Fair in Salt Lake City, Utah, that same year.  This award led to a supplemental scholarship to Rick's College, Rexburg, Idaho, where she completed her Associates degree.  Lynn then worked for seven years as a press operator and finish carpenter to obtain funds to continue her pursuit of an Anthropology degree.  Shortly after starting classes at Idaho State University in 1989 she began working for the Idaho Museum of Natural History, where she obtained invaluable collections management experience under the tutelage of the Museum's Anthropology Collections Manager, Sharon Holmer.  Lynn also gained archaeological experience by working summer breaks for various archaeological contractors.  She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1995.

        Upon graduation Lynn accepted an offer of a two year internship from the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge Tennessee.  The internship was fulfilled at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, where she worked for the Mandatory Center of Expertise for the Curation and Management of Archaeological Collections.   Her work at the Corps included assisting Army installations in assembling collection summaries for compliance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and evaluating repositories that house federally owned collections for compliance with collections specific federal mandates (36 CFR Part 79).  In the Spring of 1997 Lynn was notified that the Idaho Museum of Natural History was seeking a replacement for the recently vacated Anthropology Collections Manager position.  She was hired and became a full time staff member in June of 1997. Since that time Lynn has received two professional awards relating to her collections expertise: In 1998 she received a grant of $600 from the National Park Service to attend an invitation only conference (National Archaeological Collections Management Mini-Conference) to provide input on national federal curation standards and policies. In 1999 she was the recipient of the Kay Paris Award, which is designed to jump-start the careers of promising new collections managers and registrars. It is given annually to six museum professionals, one in each region of the Registrar's Committee of the American Association of Museums. This award provides funded membership to the RC-AAM and supplies key reference books and materials.

        Lynn brought a small part of St. Louis back to Pocatello with her in the form of Brian James Putnam, mechanical technician extraordinary, whom she married on August 29, 1998.  One year later, shortly after the purchase of their first home, the couple decided it was time to adopt a pet.  They chose "Duchess," a former pound puppy from the American Falls Animal Shelter whose new owners could no longer keep her.  At eighty pounds, this adult Alaskan Malamute is often seen walking her human pack members or guarding her front porch against vicious bird and squirrel attacks.  The January following the adoption of Duchess, "Honey," a puppy of Border Collie/Golden Retriever decent was introduced into the pack from the City of Pocatello Animal Shelter. On March 9, 2003, "Yukon Thunder IX", another adult Alaskan Malamute, (Lynn and Brian's very last dog, or so Brian says!!) was added to the household to assist Duchess with the all important tasks of  walking the humans and guarding the front porch.   Lynn's second favorite hobby after Brian and the dogs is rifling through thrift shops, yard sales, and auction houses for treasures (glassware, porcelain, jewelry, art, rock and mineral specimens).   Lynn claims it is the thrill of the hunt that draws her to these activities, but Brian claims his wife is just a trash junkie.  Lynn's counter to this remark is to ask her husband if he would like her to show everyone his garage.....it takes one to know one!