[NHCOLL-L:2057] stolen museum specimens

[Dennis Paulson]

Hello, all.

Just recently an antique dealer in California was found to possess a 
collection and much other material formerly in the possession of a 
very unscrupulous biologist who, while studying a group of 
dragonflies 20 years ago, borrowed and didn't return (and also just 
plain stole) specimens from a number of museums. My colleagues who 
visited the dealer found the type specimens of at least one dragonfly 
in this collection (from a European museum) and are trying to get 
them back. Unfortunately, the dealer - equally disreputable, I'm 
afraid - thinks he can get a lot of money for this collection and 
won't cooperate at all in repatriating specimens that belong to 
various museums. There's no way anyone is going to pay the amount he 
wants for the collection, as much of it has been destroyed by fungus 
and insects, so we are trying to find out what kind of legal action 
we can bring to bear against him to at least get back the museum 
specimens. Along with specimens, he borrowed priceless correspondence 
between two seminal dragonfly workers from 1879-1891, and this 
material is probably in the possession of the dealer.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm looking for precedents, when 
others have stolen from museums or not returned loans. How have 
museums gone about pursuing unreturned loans? What kind of legal 
action has been taken? What agencies might be involved in the 
enforcement (local law enforcement? FBI?)?

I think it would be good to post any responses to the entire group, 
for general benefit (unless you'd rather not publicize any 
particulars). Thanks in advance.

Dennis
-- 
Dennis Paulson, Director                           phone 253-879-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History                 fax 253-879-3352
University of Puget Sound                       e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
1500 N. Warner, #1088
Tacoma, WA 98416-1088
http://www.ups.edu/biology/museum/museum.html