Marilyn Hibben has been packing her boxes for a long time.
Relatives have taken their belongings from the house. Marilyn said it was hard to draw up legal documents that might allow her to stay, but she assumes the University will let her know when she needs to leave in plenty of time.
When a decision is made, Alberto Martinez, groundskeeper, and Nora Chino-Wilson, housekeeper, will be given a 30-day notice.
Martinez said Frank Hibben had faith the University would allow Marilyn to stay in the house until she decided to leave.
Frank died two years ago, and everyone is waiting on a decision from someone else.
The foundation is waiting for a decision from the president's office. They are still exploring options that would best fit Frank Hibben's will.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
There is no firm timeline, and the president's office would not elaborate on its statement.
The Maxwell Museum of Anthropology is going to finish taking what it wants and then will step aside.
"I am staying right out of that picture until it is my business," said Garth Bawden, director of the Maxwell Museum.
John Maes, assistant treasurer for the UNM Foundation, said talks might begin with other departments, such as biology, once Frank's personal collections are taken from the house.
People who are not involved in archaeology or anthropology have been in the house looking at the animal heads.
Anything archaeology-related would go to the museum where it could be stored and become part of a collection.
Hundreds of pounds of artifacts are already in the museum, along with research documents that could fill entire rooms. That would take years to organize.
"One room is just the tip of the iceberg," said David Phillips, curator of the Maxwell Museum.
Frank's collection in the museum is in use all of the time by students, faculty or researchers from around the world.
People are drawn to Frank's collections in and out of the house.
Mexican curanderos, or folk healers, have used the house during visits to the University. It has been proposed the house be used as a peace and justice center, for business fairs or as a conference center - something reminiscent of how Frank used to sit and talk with students in the home.
Marilyn said it's sometimes difficult for people to understand she doesn't live like everyone else. When the house becomes a hindrance, she wants it to benefit the University as the will states.
"People live in houses. I live in a museum," she said. "It's a different thing."
The house has been appraised. If sold, Bawden doesn't have an idea of what might be done with the money that would benefit the museum.
Still, a lot of interests are involved. Nothing can be done until someone starts a chain of events that might trigger decisions that would end with the UNM Foundation.
Sources
Marilyn Hibben, Frank Hibben's widow
Hank Bruce, biography writer
Tomi Folk, biography editor and photographer
John Maes, assistant treasurer for UNM Foundation
Susan Morris, from UNM Foundation's planned giving office
Alberto Martinez, groundskeeper and Frank Hibben's caretaker
Nora Chino-Wilson, housekeeper
Life-estate agreement between UNM Foundation and Frank and Eleanor Hibben
