Ex-Museum Director Pleads Not Guilty to Theft

Patrick T. Houlihan, former director of the Southwest Museum, was arraigned Wednesday in Superior Court on 11 counts of theft and embezzlement, including the selling of a rare Navajo serape out of the museum collection for $60,000.

“The money went directly for a house he bought in Arizona,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Alexis de la Garza.

In all, Houlihan was charged with illegally removing approximately 120 items worth almost $3 million from the renowned Southwest Museum collection of American Indian art. The items allegedly taken from the museum, which is in Mt. Washington, include textiles, paintings, Kachina dolls and baskets.

Houlihan, who is now executive director of the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos, N.M., was director of the Southwest Museum from 1981 until 1987. He pleaded not guilty on all counts and was released on his own recognizance.

The serape was the only item specifically mentioned during the arraignment proceedings. It is a poncho-style garment woven in about 1850 out of white and hand-dyed blue and red yarns. Joshua Baer, a well-known dealer in American Indian art works in Santa Fe, said the piece was so rare it could have fetched as much as $150,000 on the open market.

In an interview after the proceedings, De la Garza alleged that the $60,000 Houlihan received form the sale of the serape went for a down payment on his house.

She said the serape was sold to Arizona-based dealer Gerald Collings, who is likely to be a key figure in the case. His lawyer, Jan Lawrence Handzlik of Los Angeles, confirmed that Collings had testified before the grand jury. “I expect that Mr. Collings will be called as a witness at trail to testify about his dealings with Dr. Houlihan and the Southwest Museum,” Handzlik said.