[Nhcoll-l] Natural history museum controversies?

Wed Oct 14 12:27:42 EDT 2020

Well said sarah!

On Wed, Oct 14, 2020 at 10:23 AM Taylor, Sarah <sarah.taylor at uconn.edu>
wrote:

> Well, not to step on Derek’s toes or anything, but I thought his original
> request – “no need to reply with stories of misbehavior” unless it’s an
> already-published account involving specimens (not personnel) was the
> opposite of a request to “air dirty laundry.” If an account is published,
> it’s already out there. Declining to discuss controversies doesn’t protect
> our institutions, it gives secretive, cliquish optics that blow up when
> they’re “discovered.”
>
>
>
> We have a unit in our Intro to Natural History Collections course where we
> specifically discuss ethical issues around collecting and museums using
> real examples, with identifying information withheld. It’s always a VERY
> lively discussion and the students come away with a much more thoughtful
> exploration of issues and hopefully a strong commitment to acting ethically
> than if we just said, “don’t do x, y, or z, ok?”
>
>
>
> Obviously it’s fine to ask what this information is for, but I’m perplexed
> by the automatic suspicion around it (and apologies if I missed a post that
> clarified the purpose already…).
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Sarah
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Sarah Taylor, PhD
>
>
> Collections Manager, CONN
>
> George Safford Torrey Herbarium
> Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
> *University of Connecticut*
> 75 North Eagleville Road, Unit 3043
> Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3043
> U.S.A.
>
> P: 860.486.1889
> F: 860.486.4320
> http://bgbaseserver.eeb.uconn.edu/
>
>
>
> *From:* Nhcoll-l [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] *On Behalf Of
> *Anderson, Gretchen
> *Sent:* Wednesday, October 14, 2020 11:22 AM
> *To:* Rob Robins <rhrobins at flmnh.ufl.edu>; Tocci, Genevieve Elizabeth <
> glewis-g at oeb.harvard.edu>; Derek Sikes <dssikes at alaska.edu>;
> nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] Natural history museum controversies?
>
>
>
> *Message sent from a system outside of UConn.*
>
>
>
> Very good question, Rob and Andy.  While I am all for transparency – there
> are many situations that we probably should not openly discuss, especially
> if they are not resolved at this point. As Andy noted – why air dirty
> laundry to the public? It will make it harder for our institutions to come
> to an equitable and rational solution.
>
>
> Gretchen
>
>
>
> *From:* Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> *On Behalf Of *Rob
> Robins
> *Sent:* Wednesday, October 14, 2020 10:56 AM
> *To:* Tocci, Genevieve Elizabeth <glewis-g at oeb.harvard.edu>; Derek Sikes <
> dssikes at alaska.edu>; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] Natural history museum controversies?
>
>
>
> What’s the end game here folks?
>
>
> Rob Robins
>
>
>
> Robert H. Robins
>
> Collection Manager
>
> Division of Ichthyology
>
> [image: FLMNH Fishes logo email small]
>
> Florida Museum of Natural History
>
> 1659 Museum Rd.
>
> Gainesville, FL 32611-7800
>
> Office: (352) 273-1957
>
> rhrobins at flmnh.ufl.edu
>
>
>
> Search the Collection:
>
> http://specifyportal.flmnh.ufl.edu/fishes/
> <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fspecifyportal.flmnh.ufl.edu%2Ffishes%2F&data=04%7C01%7Csarah.taylor%40uconn.edu%7C9e96bb7850094a1f2e5e08d87054f5d5%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637382857489567141%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=sEPPRpYknAA0UWEVecorOTgk9w0M%2FEfHpFD%2FnDkntmE%3D&reserved=0>
>
>
>
> Search samples suitable for dna analysis:
>
> https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/grr/holdings/
> <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.floridamuseum.ufl.edu%2Fgrr%2Fholdings%2F&data=04%7C01%7Csarah.taylor%40uconn.edu%7C9e96bb7850094a1f2e5e08d87054f5d5%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637382857489567141%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=%2BIcCtIHkSIuDLhqnx4rdv8%2B%2FvP2dimQjBleTn9EGxC0%3D&reserved=0>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> *On Behalf Of *Tocci,
> Genevieve Elizabeth
> *Sent:* Wednesday, October 14, 2020 10:28 AM
> *To:* Derek Sikes <dssikes at alaska.edu>; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [Nhcoll-l] Natural history museum controversies?
>
>
>
> *[External Email]*
>
> There was the orchid controversy at the Selby Botanical Garden back in the
> early 2000s. It was all over the news though digging up the articles might
> take some work now. Here are a few:
>
>
>
>
> https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20031218/selby-pleads-guilty-in-orchid-case
> <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinkprotect.cudasvc.com%2Furl%3Fa%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252furldefense.proofpoint.com%252fv2%252furl%253fu%253dhttps-3A__www.heraldtribune.com_news_20031218_selby-2Dpleads-2Dguilty-2Din-2Dorchid-2Dcase%2526d%253dDwMGaQ%2526c%253dsJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg%2526r%253dMCIx6IevDpZN7oPx8SAIb6_HvqHJFo2if2SZHHR4kiQ%2526m%253d8o2fyOhZuXIEmPgP567F5oUJv_lO1AuwEV5LCWmfJR0%2526s%253d8JJeUgYPVbG8VKd9BguLWczqoabUrAcm2m4L1FmOeNs%2526e%253d%26c%3DE%2C1%2CIHd87Uw2drIjpWG0ChXQzh1kG1II3RffrblnjBz5f5Z2k9VO1kLn04lDYRmEuAoxsQtNDysWGAPfTra_9Uvel0ZUbIl-hi7ngqg1RaldiYAdRe36Z89jyiaHIzs%2C%26typo%3D1&data=04%7C01%7Csarah.taylor%40uconn.edu%7C9e96bb7850094a1f2e5e08d87054f5d5%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637382857489577102%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=Rnw7H4Xnhz6VFf%2B2oHpOno3p8V3I4VIMvJLyZo1BEVk%3D&reserved=0>
>
>
> https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/news-and-profiles/2005/03/the-case-of-the-purloined-orchid
> <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinkprotect.cudasvc.com%2Furl%3Fa%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252furldefense.proofpoint.com%252fv2%252furl%253fu%253dhttps-3A__www.sarasotamagazine.com_news-2Dand-2Dprofiles_2005_03_the-2Dcase-2Dof-2Dthe-2Dpurloined-2Dorchid%2526d%253dDwMGaQ%2526c%253dsJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg%2526r%253dMCIx6IevDpZN7oPx8SAIb6_HvqHJFo2if2SZHHR4kiQ%2526m%253d8o2fyOhZuXIEmPgP567F5oUJv_lO1AuwEV5LCWmfJR0%2526s%253dOioH1xdHO_1l5A2kA2dkdK_Gekin6bXj3s8mYL1znEA%2526e%253d%26c%3DE%2C1%2C-sQ-QtELXUmkS9wUJqYfgnaUaoqg4CBoZVxQMPtXsqRxr2dB_UDFNdMAKkqrh9PbYgvOGYKvSQ7LDwCSBfLDpKFy-qO5wC-IuYMMj-lo0CT5s2xlLt2IXPUoIw%2C%2C%26typo%3D1&data=04%7C01%7Csarah.taylor%40uconn.edu%7C9e96bb7850094a1f2e5e08d87054f5d5%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637382857489577102%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=jbLfjDjboN9IYSt0gj0V23j4lUp%2FKAd1j8sSSuR%2ByRE%3D&reserved=0>
>
>
>
>
>
> =================================================
> Genevieve E. Tocci (she, her, hers)
> Senior Curatorial Technician
> Harvard University Herbaria
> 22 Divinity Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138  U.S.A.
> Phone: 617-495-1057  Fax: 617-495-9484
> glewis-g at oeb.harvard.edu
>
>
>
> *From:* Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> *On Behalf Of *Derek
> Sikes
> *Sent:* Tuesday, October 13, 2020 9:45 PM
> *To:* ECN-L at listserv.unl.edu; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> *Subject:* [Nhcoll-l] Natural history museum controversies?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Do any of you know of any *published* natural history / science
> controversies in museums that are quite famous? These could range from
> taking on specimens or collections that are controversial, to research
> conducted by museums staff/curators that was deemed controversial, etc.
>
>
>
> Ideally, I'd like a publication or documentary / video that has the
> details. No need to reply with unpublished accounts! & These should involve
> museum specimens (so no need to reply with stories of misbehaviors of
> museum personnel if specimens were not involved).
>
>
>
> Thanks!
>
> Derek
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Derek S. Sikes, Curator of Insects
> Professor of Entomology
> University of Alaska Museum
>
> University of Alaska Fairbanks
>
> 1962 Yukon Drive
> Fairbanks, AK   99775-6960
>
> dssikes at alaska.edu
>
> phone: 907-474-6278
>
> FAX: 907-474-5469
> he/him/his
> University of Alaska Museum  -  search 400,276 digitized arthropod records
> http://arctos.database.museum/uam_ento_all
> <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinkprotect.cudasvc.com%2Furl%3Fa%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252furldefense.proofpoint.com%252fv2%252furl%253fu%253dhttp-3A__www.uaf.edu_museum_collections_ento_%2526d%253dDwMFaQ%2526c%253dWO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ%2526r%253dEYdhJ0HrhAMcA2aVQ-I4N7lml00zxsXPbHYeP7843No%2526m%253dGfFWthYH2fLuNxhS4hENokOCeeRumg4P4J8rEPVCb5A%2526s%253dOBxDUkxG0XXhRUwcAXgP0oJfTsZQvfWeFhc5Whp3B7U%2526e%253d%26c%3DE%2C1%2CZb5iUMYMXOZguJxgmAu8SoIgi3OzaaYOD_-faYU_gFHA4S4LfdS471brEZ1g1ewan0P3JSSS8gV0dvweCqY5v0axAm0Sa6eK-9icHUuz_Q%2C%2C%26typo%3D1&data=04%7C01%7Csarah.taylor%40uconn.edu%7C9e96bb7850094a1f2e5e08d87054f5d5%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637382857489587054%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=jCErKypnzxbjUaOPib2hbVgaJuZsVjsvSDIuKBOHxZA%3D&reserved=0>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> Interested in Alaskan Entomology? Join the Alaska Entomological
> Society and / or sign up for the email listserv "Alaska Entomological
> Network" at
> http://www.akentsoc.org/contact_us
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>
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