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John Hollenhorst ReportingDo you ever imagine yourself at a garage sale, stumbling across something worth a fortune? That's pretty much what happened to a University of Utah professor. She picked up a clue at a garage sale and it led her to a treasure trove that's now a museum collection.
Six-hundred-sixty-six pieces of Native American art, capturing Four Corners culture in the decades before it was overrun by tourists. For years, the collection was kept quietly in a Salt Lake house.
Steve Haslam, Collector's Son: "When the appraiser came, he was in complete in awe of what he saw. It's in excess of seven figures."
Steve Haslam's mom, Dorothy, began buying the million-dollar collection in bits and pieces a half-century ago. She hung onto the collection until her death three years ago.
Steve Haslam: "And she got to know that a lot of these rugs and sand paintings have very, very religious meanings. And so that's where it started."
She definitely knew what it was worth. For years she kept it in various bank vaults, but she didn't really trust banks, so she brought it home and set up what her children call a very tight security system.
Steve Haslam: "I mean, if a dog went on the front sidewalk, it would set off the alarm. I mean, it was that sensitive."
After Dorothy's death, the family held a yard sale.
Prof. Margie Chan, Univ. of Utah Geology & Geophysics: "And I got up to go yard-saling and I was really looking for that unusual treasure."
Margie Chan noticed a box of magazines suggesting a family interest in Indian art. She asked if there was more, and two months later the Haslams invited her back to see the collection.
Prof. Margie Chan: "And my eyes just popped out. I said, 'Wow! This is an incredible collection!'"
A volunteer organization raised funds and bought the collection for the Utah Museum of Natural History. It honors Dorothy Haslam's last request.
Steve Haslam: "She said, 'There's one request that I have, pleas just keep it together.' And so it's just wonderful, just wonderful that we could keep it together."
The collection will be shown in school and community programs so that many eyes will see the beauty Dorothy Haslam collected. The entire collection will be on display this Saturday from 9:00 to 4:00 on the University of Utah campus at the Utah Museum of Natural History.
