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Post by kevinkk on Nov 6, 2020 21:46:30 GMT -8
My collecting efforts, entomology, books, old toys, comics, all for my enjoyment, it's all I can expect. Every time I've sold something off,it never fetches the price I'd have liked or expected, exceptions happen, but aren't the norm,being appreciated is what's important, by anyone. Giving something to someone who appreciates it isn't always selfless, I give to the toy drive each year, it gives me satisfaction to spread around what good fortune I have. I don't expect my heirs to feel the same way about my stuff as I do, it's just not possible, I've thought about the end, and selling things off before it's too late has occurred to me, perhaps later. Having a collection of a lifetime go to waste isn't something any of us want to think about, being in charge of your own "liquidation" might be a good idea. The one surety, is the unexpected, which we can expect to occur.
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Post by jshuey on Nov 7, 2020 6:45:27 GMT -8
First and foremost, I'd ask myself the question - "Why did I create this insect collection?" Then I would look for a home that furthers that goal or desire. Certainly your criteria listed play into that decision. But it sounds like you want he collection to play some role beyond your ownership (at least based on you "best allocation" discussion). I would find the place (or places) that best advance your interests and that meet your other criteria.
I can tell you my personal and simple solution when I thought about this. I want my collection's strengths (Neotropical Hesperiidae, Belize and Central America butterflies) to find a secure home where it will advance a robust research tradition. I want my material to help fill gaps in an otherwise amazing collection with similar strengths. At a place that has the resources to maintain both their collection and to support Lepidoptera research into the future.
There are several institutions that meet my criteria, and at least four have been mentioned here - the Carnegie, American, Smithsonian and McGuire. I made my simple choice based on the way my collection fits into the existing holdings a the Smithsonian (amazingly strong holdings of neotropical butterflies in general, but the best collections in the world for Panama (the Gordon Collection) and Costa Rica (Janzen reared material), plus the super strength of the hesperiid collection that Janzen has developed though his rearing as well. And thanks to their field station in Panama plus the close association with all the USDA taxonomists that work out of the collection, I know they will always have several lepidopterists on staff. Long-term friendships with John Burns and Bob Robbins seal the deal.
But the bottom line is that the collection would have advanced my personal goals at the Carnegie or American as well - and the choice between these and the Smithsonian was a hard decision. It really came down to my personal admiration of John Burns' legacy.
john
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Post by bandrow on Nov 7, 2020 7:09:09 GMT -8
Jshuey - your comments about personal connections is a good point and is often the "clincher". Some of the best influxes of Cerambycidae into the Carnegie have come from personal friends of mine wanting to 'down-size' their surplus holdings, and me being able to facilitate that for them.
As far as promoting further research, we were on the verge of hiring a second Collection Manager with a focus on Lepidoptera when the pandemic hit. Plans are on hold for now, but the intention is to reopen the search when the situation makes it possible. With the addition of Dr. Seago as Head Curator, things are really looking positive for our future, in all sorts of ways.
Cheers! Bandrow
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Post by exoticimports on Nov 10, 2020 4:31:51 GMT -8
Thanks everyone for the insights thus far. Bandrow, I got your "hint"!
As Jshuey said, my intent is for my donated collection to be of value to future research; preferably to optimize that value.
How does one determine "best place" based on (1) going to an organization that focuses on that genre/ potential lesser value due to duplication of existing assets and (2) filling holes- going to an organization that could use genre that are newish to them ? For example, BMNH has duplicates of virtually every Pacific specimen I have (some because they took them from me.)
For example of genre to consider: neotropical heterocera. Or, "stuff from New York"?
Or am I thinking too much into this?
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Cornell (thoughts?) though frankly I'm less than impressed with the university as a whole.
Chuck
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Post by sphinx14 on Nov 12, 2020 5:10:29 GMT -8
It is probably selfish and forward to offer but I would be happy to give the collection a home. I am 29 (today) and have cared for and maintained my own collection since I was 10.
I have a home large enough to house any size collection, a wife and a newborn son, so moving is not something that will be happening. I'm in Michigan by the way.
As far as furthering research, I'm not involved in much in the way of research anymore. I did some work in Tapachula, Mexico in college but not much since. I have used my own collection for education purposes in schools and camps many times and plan to do the same for my son.
Probably not what you are looking for based on your desires but I figured I would throw my hat in the ring.
I hope you find what you are looking for and wish you the best in this decision!
Zak.
P.S. I have an old account here but can't for the life of me remember the username.
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Post by exoticimports on Nov 12, 2020 5:37:56 GMT -8
Part of my consideration for disposition of my lifelong efforts (and expenses!) is ease of access for researchers. That would limit it to facilities-based organizations and/or top-tier private collections with a history of being available for research.
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Post by exoticimports on Nov 12, 2020 13:19:55 GMT -8
Yorky said in another thread (and copied here): In my experience its not just lack of resources and staff that's the problem with smaller museums, it's a lack of desire. I think the idea of collecting specimens is beyond most young curators and the ones that I have met seem apathetic. Of course they have no idea that what is in front of them took years of sacrifice and patience to acquire and is the result of a lifetimes dedication.
That, of course, is a consideration. Smaller organizations often don't have the interest level. The Uni I'm working with now has bird fanatics, fish fanatics, and of course Herp fanatics, but nobody really loves arthropods. Meaning, nobody invests the time to maintain an insect collection.
Risky is the organization with one or two entomologists. If one leaves, then what? If that one person who leaves is THE one, then there's nobody. And these days, it's common that key staff aren't replaced.
Chuck
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Post by Adam Cotton on Nov 13, 2020 0:42:44 GMT -8
That is the situation with some major museums too now. The museum in Copenhagen has had no Lepidopterist since Ole Karsholt retired a few years ago, and they have holdings of many important type specimens.
Adam.
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Post by wollastoni on Nov 13, 2020 1:11:50 GMT -8
That is the situation with some major museums too now. The museum in Copenhagen has had no Lepidopterist since Ole Karsholt retired a few years ago, and they have holdings of many important type specimens. Adam. What a shame for Denmark... they could hire someone...
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Post by colin12303 on Nov 13, 2020 4:18:08 GMT -8
Jshuey - your comments about personal connections is a good point and is often the "clincher". Some of the best influxes of Cerambycidae into the Carnegie have come from personal friends of mine wanting to 'down-size' their surplus holdings, and me being able to facilitate that for them. As far as promoting further research, we were on the verge of hiring a second Collection Manager with a focus on Lepidoptera when the pandemic hit. Plans are on hold for now, but the intention is to reopen the search when the situation makes it possible. With the addition of Dr. Seago as Head Curator, things are really looking positive for our future, in all sorts of ways. Cheers! Bandrow Bob I have sent you several emails and pm you on insect net I keep asking for a address to send the beetles i collected for you this year. If you no longer want them you only have to say. Colin
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Post by bandrow on Nov 14, 2020 8:17:43 GMT -8
Hi Colin,
Sorry! I did reply by e-mail a couple of weeks ago, but something must have led that message astray! I saw your PM here, but since I'd sent an e-mail, I didn't reply by PM. I will reply by PM here in a few minutes...
Working from home - but through my work e-mail - has been problematic at times... every time IT updates things for us, everything stops working...
Cheers! Bandrow
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Post by bandrow on Nov 14, 2020 8:29:14 GMT -8
Colin12303,
PM sent!!
Cheers! Bandrow
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Post by exoticimports on Oct 15, 2021 7:55:37 GMT -8
There are trends that scare me, and give cause for concern considering where a collection might be donated. Although it's art, not insects, this makes me wonder what level of care and collaboration will be lost: www.dailywire.com/news/famed-art-institute-of-chicago-fires-all-docents-primarily-white-women-critics-charge-racismIn the past decades, we've seen anthropological specimens "returned" to native tribes and buried, rendering them useless. With Leps, some museums don't want Ornithoptera for fear of USFWS. How long until volunteer entomologists are booted because they're white? Until museums want to return specimens to third-world countries? Until dead bugs are politically incorrect? Chuck
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Post by Chris Grinter on Oct 15, 2021 10:45:43 GMT -8
Don't forget the California Academy of Sciences! We have around 18 million specimens, a state of the art facility, active research programs, lots of room for growth. Anyone is welcome to stop by for a visit any time, just let me know.
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Post by exoticimports on Oct 15, 2021 11:21:44 GMT -8
I was cleared by the holding university to get the 14,000 specimen collection to a facility that can provide long-term care. Maybe half are Eastern US smalls/micros, 45% are 1960s/70s wild caught and commercial, and 5% "other." Sorry Bob, only one drawer of beetles- he hated beetles. So this is become some bit of an urgency to decide where they should go. chris thanks for the offer. Looking for any additional insights, particularly on institutions that are unstable financially or emotionally and should be avoided. Chuck
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