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Post by exoticimports on Nov 6, 2020 6:56:35 GMT -8
Probably about five years from now we'll be moving, and I have no intention of taking nor continuing to curate a specimen collection.
Already, I've donated thousands of specimens, with repositories including Smithsonian, AMNH, BMNH, Carnegie, and others. But thousands remain, and will need a good home.
My considerations are:
1. Ease of disposal
2. Reward for support
3. Best allocation
4. Longevity of collection
EASE OF DISPOSAL
Already, Smithsonian's answer was effectively "We'd love it! We'll come get it!" I like that answer. However, some of the other factors (below) would require far more complicated and expensive dispersion.
REWARD FOR SUPPORT
I am inclined to give preferential treatment to those who've supported me, directly or indirectly. Specifically, those who participate here. By contrast, I fulfilled a request for a very rare specimen to a researcher at AMNH, and never got even a thank you. And Bishop (where a good argument can be made much of it belongs) can kiss my back end.
BEST ALLOCATION
Chris inadvertently made a good point recently: certain organizations have specific focus. Is the collection best broken up, and portions sent to focus groups? With a known beetle fanatic at Carnegie, perhaps they should "go to a good home." But see "Ease of Disposal."
LONGEVITY
I'm not a fan of donating to small museums or universities. I'm about to start restoration of a second small (14,000 specimen) collection at a university. They don't have the staff, money, or generally the interest to curate a collection the way it should be done.
During the Olympics in Berlin in 1936 nobody thought the city would soon be in ashes. Ditto Sarajevo in 1992. The larger the city, the more likely a major conflict will result in total destruction.
Now, for the first time in USA, we have violent destruction of facilities in urban areas. Paris has come to USA. While currently the focus is on government and law enforcement, it's not a far stretch nor distance to the museums (now often viewed as racists, etc.) And on that topic, museums are purging collections of various focus to satisfy social dementia and fit a narrative.
To ensure survivability of a collection (or anything else) typically the best approach is distribution- spread it around, something will survive. In that case, the best approach may be to distribute to PRIVATE entomologists rather than urban facilities. But again, see "Ease of Disposal."
So all that said, your views and opinions are highly welcomed.
Thanks,
Chuck
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Post by wollastoni on Nov 6, 2020 7:07:38 GMT -8
Good topic ! What means "Paris has come to USA" ?
It all depends of the content of your collection.
Personnally I would : - give the paratypes, types to a Museum, a serious one like BMNH or MNHM (I can't judge the US ones as I don't know them well) - sell the top rarities online to get a bit of cash. - then I would sell the whole collection to a big butterfly dealer or in an auction (we have many in France). Doing so, my collection will end in the hands of private collectors like me. I am sure they will better take care of my specimens than any Museums.
And if I really don't need money, I would give it to a younger entomologist as passionated as me. One who is about 35/50 yo and is passionated enough to take good care of it.
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Post by 58chevy on Nov 6, 2020 7:39:50 GMT -8
The McGuire Center in Florida would be a very good option for your lepidoptera specimens. I don't know whether they keep beetles or other orders.
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Post by exoticimports on Nov 6, 2020 8:16:12 GMT -8
Yes I forgot to include McGuire. They have been very supportive, and have many of my specimens. Simply forgot to cite them on my list.
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Post by kevinkk on Nov 6, 2020 8:25:08 GMT -8
Good topic ! What means "Paris has come to USA" ? I think that could be an allude to the unrest here. Personally, at the risk of commenting on something I wanted banned before it was- The USA has come to roost. I think with some exceptions, Americans are pretty comfortable and I don't see an immediate threat to natural history institutions. Good luck with your decisions, I like the idea of donating to a younger individual, and the possibility of some sales. When I was starting out, someone donated their homemade cases to me after a newspaper article about my hobby, I was appreciative, although the cases weren't exactly pest proof. Still, a nice gesture.
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Post by wollastoni on Nov 6, 2020 9:03:13 GMT -8
Yes let's avoid political or geopolitical discussions to not spoil that interesting thread indeed.
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Post by hewi on Nov 6, 2020 9:14:31 GMT -8
I can only agree with Wollastoni. If money is short, I will sell the whole collection (with many rarities) or put it up for auction. In the other case the collection will be given away to a younger collector.
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Post by exoticimports on Nov 6, 2020 9:22:41 GMT -8
Let's assume money is not short. I don't want that to influence perspectives.
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Post by wollastoni on Nov 6, 2020 9:41:40 GMT -8
Is your collection generalist of very specialized on few genera/families ?
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Post by exoticimports on Nov 6, 2020 9:59:49 GMT -8
Is your collection generalist of very specialized on few genera/families ? Of course, the situation of each entomologist and collection will differ, but I'd rather keep the discussion generic so that it is applicable to as many people as possible. But to answer the question, since I presume mine shares similarities with others, mine consists of: 1. Local specimens of all orders 2. Resulting specimens from regional studies in South Pacific, South America, etc. 3. Commercial specimens (some of which are now worth money) remaining from my youth 4. Educational displays- life cycles, big and showy exotics, etc. These I may retain longer to continue educating school groups, etc.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Nov 6, 2020 10:27:30 GMT -8
When my life comes to an end, my collection in it's entirety, specimens, Drawers, Temporary Storage Boxes, Cabinets, Library, and collection files, will go to the McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity.
I want my life long work to used to advance our knowledge of the Lepidoptera of North America.
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Post by yorky on Nov 6, 2020 10:30:02 GMT -8
I look at this a little differently because of personal experience of museums in the UK. Firstly there is a tremendous amount of snobbery involved with staff and "experts " who are usually condescending and rude. There is also a sense of entitlement that pervades. I have never experienced any sort of gratitude or humility with any of them.I worked hard for the money to buy my rarities and many hours and miles to obtain my self caught material so in short I find them quite undeserving. I will sell what I can and donate some of my small local collection to a local museum who seem to be more appreciative of my efforts.
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Post by trehopr1 on Nov 6, 2020 16:23:34 GMT -8
Exoticimports, you have remarked in the past many experiences in the South Pacific; some or perhaps much of it work. One would think you would have quite the birdwing collection yet I think you only showed us one case of victoria's (once).
Do you have an ornithoptera collection of substance or have you for some reason given much of it away as donations or perhaps sold some of it?
Man, running across all that good stuff over those years in New Guinea and the Solomons etc you surely must have come across some really cool stuff.
Just idle curiosity...
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Post by nomihoudai on Nov 6, 2020 18:58:38 GMT -8
If money is not an issue, every collection can quickly be split up into different focus group (either by location, or by family/genus). These can then be passed on to specialists or museums that focus on that group (as long as these people are still around). Peculiar stuff should go to one of the big museums. The larger the collection the better. I sold off my collection in 2 large lots. The first one went to a local museum and the price was fair. The second lot with the specialist's items didn't fetch anything near to what I had hoped to get. For now, I do not intend to keep a collection again and I also don't miss it at all. I move frequently. Maybe I'll start a new one when I am 50 and bored, settled down, owning a house. But I doubt that this will happen,... I mean the getting bored part
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Post by bandrow on Nov 6, 2020 20:30:16 GMT -8
Hi Exoticimports, Well, I would certainly be interested in having the opportunity to discuss the disposition of your collection when the time comes, and see if the Carnegie would be a good fit. I could put you into contact with Dr. Ainsley Seago - our new Head Curator - she's a dynamo and a breath of fresh air for the program. I can't say we would meet all your conditions, but 'ease of disposal' is no issue - we've driven to Vermont, Texas, D.C., New Mexico, etc., to pick up collections. I think the historic legacy of study of the Lepidoptera at the Carnegie, and its continued activity in that realm, provides good argument for workers to be comfortable in continuing to donate their collections to the museum. Additionally, the current administration is increasingly 'pro-collections' and we are seeing an increased buy-in from the board to support the existing collections as well as acquiring new materials. As far as whether the collection would be a good 'fit' at the Carnegie - your materials from the South Pacific would likely fill in gaps for areas presently poorly represented. We have tremendous coverage from South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Taiwan and North America, but we are relatively depauperate in the South Asian, Indonesian, Papuan and South Pacific faunas. This holds true across most taxa, although some beetle groups have better representation from more parts of the globe. As for 'reward for support' - does driving you back to your hotel after you learned that taxis don't work in Pittsburgh count? And I hope you've forgotten your frustrating experience that Saturday, as I sure was irritated by the lack of focus of your host while you were there. Things have changed! Keep us in mind as the time gets closer... and feel free to ask about anything you need to know to help guide your decision... Cheers! Bandrow
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