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Recording of Blaschka glass invertebrate models: A method and workflow for imaging using standardized methods
Whitman, J. D., Viscardi, P., Reynaud, E. G.The glass models of marine invertebrates, made by Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka from 1863 to 1890, encompass more than 700 species and hold significant historic, scientific, and artistic value. Each model is unique, varying in size, colour, and complexity. Two models of the same species may show variation in design and even construction. This diversity…
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The value of museum and other uncollated data in reconstructing the decline of the chequered skipper butterfly Carterocephalus palaemon (Pallas, 1771).
Wildman, J. P., Ollerton, J., Bourn, N. A. D., Brereton, T. M., Moore, J. L., McCollin, D.The chequered skipper butterfly Carterocephalus palaemon (Pallas, 1771) was declared extinct in England in 1976 after suffering a precipitous decline in range and abundance during the 20th Century. By searching and collating museum and other records, we show how a deeper understanding of this decline can be achieved, thus furthering conservation objectives. A preexisting Butterflies…
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Creative Collaborations: Humanities programming in a natural history museum
Wood Finkle, P., Innella Maiers, V.Many museums seek new opportunities to creatively collaborate while sharing their story. The Werner Wildlife Museum at Casper College, located in central Wyoming, has actively engaged in creative initiatives that focus on humanities programming with primary, secondary, and higher education students majoring in diverse disciplines. Once seen as a museum “full of dead things” the…
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Contemporary art, natural history collections and environmental crisis
Wade, S.This article explores the development and display of contemporary art in natural history collections as a way to engage audiences with environmental concerns at a time of ecological crisis. It contextualises this field of practice within recent art and curatorial history and explores this work in relation to long-term programmes of contemporary art in the…
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Serendipitous discovery of mites in the eye cavity of Asota caricae Fabricius, 1775 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae)
Priyan, A. K., Seeman, O. D., Jose, J.Natural history collections face threats of deterioration from various quarters especially arthropod pests. Identifying the breeding and hiding sites of such pests is imperative in maintaining museum collections. We report a serendipitous discovery of mites belonging to genus Suidasia from the eye of a recently dry-preserved moth during investigations with SEM. The discovery of a…
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Mineral displays as embodiments of geological thought and colonial invisibility
Hearth, S., Robbins, C.Mineral displays embodied how we think about minerals: as symbols of social status, scholarly tools, theological objects, and instruments of education. Mineral displays are also representations of how we don’t think about minerals: as human products embedded in wider human histories. This paper reviews the historical themes in mineral display, from the cabinets of curiosity…
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Underestimated: unexpected. Natural history collections in regional museums. A case study on the collections of molluscan shells in the Doncaster City Museum & Art Gallery.
Oliver, G. P.This paper analyses the molluscan collections in the Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery. Collections relevant to historic regional biodiversity distributions are present in the Hargreaves and Morehouse collections. The Morehouse collection illustrates the inter connectedness of collectors and collections during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Unrecorded transfers of collections between museums especially that…
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Dodo remains in the National Museum of Ireland – Natural History, Dublin
Monaghan, N. T.Dodo remains in some museums are not well known or publicised. The fossil bones in the National Museum of Ireland are described and their provenance discussed. Dodo remains in Trinity College Dublin and those exhibited at a scientific meeting in Dublin in 1866 are also reviewed. The Dublin skeleton is a composite, mostly acquired by…
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Losing colour: the discolouration of plants in spirit preserved collections
Granget, E., Dangeon, M., Brambilla, L.The Research unit of the Haute-École Arc Conservation-Restauration (UR-arc CR), Neuchâtel, Switzerland, is carrying out a research project that aims to understand the discolouration of botanical spirit preserved collections and strives to propose practical solutions to these problems. This article reports on the results of the initial phase of this project, which focused on creating…
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A closed case: safely displaying 1140 spirit preserved marine animals for a new permanent public gallery.
Freedman, J., Conway, S.Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery (rebranded as The Box) began a 5 year redevelopment project in 2015. As well as a new public space outside, and a large extension to the main museum building, there would be 7 new permanent galleries. The new natural history gallery would display a range of different natural history…
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NatSCA 2021 AGM and Minutes
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