Like Father, Like Son: Gregg Sampson Gifts Artifacts to Luther's Archaeological Collection

Your support keeps truth alive in Decorah—donate to local news today! DECORAH — This past spring, Luther College's Archaeology Collections received a deeply personal gift: nearly 400 precontact artifacts from Gregg Sampson, a former Decorah resident. The contribution strengthens one of the college's most important collections and continues a family tradition of archaeological preservation. Gregg Sampson's father, Gavin Sampson, made a major donation to Luther in 1969, contributing more than 15,000 artifacts that now form the foundation of the college's archaeology holdings. Now, more than five decades later, his son's donation continues that legacy. "It means a lot," said Gregg Sampson. "To supplement Dad's donation with some things he had found later, along with some things I personally found, gave me great satisfaction." A Life in ArtifactsGavin Sampson's journey into archaeology began in 1930 at age 8 when he found an arrowhead in his backyard northeast of Decorah. That early discovery ignited a lifelong passion for unearthing and preserving the remnants of Iowa's precontact cultures. Gavin wasn't a formally trained archaeologist but his curiosity, meticulous documentation, and dedication to preservation earned him high regard in professional circles. After serving in the Army during World War II, Gavin returned home to work as a project inspector for the Iowa Department of Transportation. That job often brought him into direct contact with ancient sites disturbed by modern construction. Construction workers across northeast Iowa knew: if they found something, they called Gavin. "His job gave him the opportunity to investigate prehistoric peoples in Iowa," Gregg said. "From then on, he simply asked permission from landowners to look for artifacts, usually on the surface in corn or soybean fields." That curiosity, paired with extraordinary record-keeping, created an invaluable resource. Gavin recorded 151 sites in Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, documenting everything with maps, site impressions, and meticulous labeling using the trinomial system, which is standard among professional archaeologists. When Smithsonian archaeologist George Metcalf helped catalog the collection in 1970, he praised Gavin's work as "professional quality." A Second Generation's GiftGregg Sampson's donation this spring adds an important new chapter to the collection and to the story of his father's legacy. "I had intended to eventually make a display of some of them," Gregg said, "but finally got to thinking after looking through them last winter that they really belonged with the rest of Dad's collection, even though I had found some of them myself. I also thought it would be a good example for my sons to make a donation of something of value that would help others." Gregg's contribution includes projectile points, stone tools, scrapers, glass beads, and a few personal favorites: a small stone celt found during a trip with his father, and two pieces discovered with his wife just before their wedding in 1993. "Dad found the celt on a trip near Bear Creek in Allamakee County, probably sometime in the 70s or 80s," Gregg explained. "We were walking corn rows only about 25 feet from each other when he found it. It aggravated me at first that he found it rather than me because he had found so many great items in his archaeology career, but of course it didn't take long for me to be very happy for him." "The two pieces my wife and I found weren't particularly significant, but they sure made Dad happy when we showed him," he continued. "He put them in their own envelope marked 'Gregg and Debbie' with the site number and date found. That meant a lot." Two pieces discovered by Gregg and his wife just before their wedding in 1993. Colin Betts For Gregg, the donation is about setting an example. "Some things are more important than our individual selves," he reflected. "I'm a great fan of history and firmly believe it can help us realize a better future." A Lasting Academic ResourceDr. Colin Betts, professor of anthropology and director of Luther College's anthropology laboratory, calls the Sampson collection "a unique and comprehensive resource" for studying northeast Iowa's archaeology. "These collections are incredibly valuable because we know exactly where each item was found," Betts said. "That's crucial for archaeological research." The new donation adds important context and depth to sites already represented in the original Sampson collection. The volume and accuracy of information that the Sampsons assembled, Betts explained, would take professional archaeologists years to replicate through field research. "These items add significant data to our overall record of the archaeology of the area," he said. "They allow us to explore big questions about trade patterns, tool use, and how communities lived across thousands of years." The artifacts, ranging from as early as 10,000 BCE to the Oneota Tradition (A.D. 1350–1700), help shed light on the ancestors of the modern Ioway, Oto, Missouria, and Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) tribes. Betts noted that students have used the collection for senior theses, excavation site planning, and even museum-style exhibits across campus. "It's been central to how we teach archaeological research and collections management," he said. Looking AheadThough there are no immediate plans for a public display, the new artifacts will be cataloged and entered into Luther College's online artifact database. Betts hopes that in time, a dedicated exhibit space can spotlight both Gavin and Gregg's contributions. "It's very gratifying that the Sampson family considered this donation," he said. "We have tried very hard to continue to honor the legacy and intent of the original donation and ensure that the collection continues to fulfill its original motivation." For Gregg Sampson, the donation was about preserving history, honoring his father, inspiring the next generation, and giving back to the region where it all began. "The Decorah area is, and always will be, very special to me," he said. "The Sampson family was among the first Norwegian families to settle in Decorah in the early 1850s. If this donation helps even one student maintain an interest in archaeology over a lifetime, it'll be worth it." Explore More: View the Gavin Sampson Collection on Luther College's Online Artifact Catalog. Browse artifact images in the Flickr Gallery. Unlock a world of knowledge! Sign up for free DecorahNews.com newsletters and receive local news, local events and everything that is happening in and around Decorah.