[Nhcoll-l] Natural history museum controversies?

Wed Oct 14 12:43:06 EDT 2020

I third what Sarah said! I also was curious about Derek's interest in such
stories, but he was quite clear about what he's looking for. And while I've
found all the tales submitted so far to be quite interesting, I do think
some haven't fit his specific request, which is what may have raised flags
in some cases. I think we can definitely learn from these situations and
this portion of Derek's course sounds particularly intriguing. I'm always a
fan of topics that engage students to critically think and actually discuss.

--
Derek A. Woller, Ph.D.
USDA Supervisory Entomologist, Rangeland Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket
Management Team
Phoenix, AZ, U.S.A.
Derek.A.Woller at usda.gov
Check out my wife's Etsy store where you can buy all sorts of neat vinyl
decals (and more), especially cool insect ones:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtisticNatureStudio
Proud to be an explorer of the final biological frontier: entomology.

On Wed, Oct 14, 2020, 9:28 AM Patti Finkle <pfinkle at caspercollege.edu>
wrote:

> 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
>> <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.akentsoc.org_contact-5Fus%2526d%253dDwMFaQ%2526c%253dWO-RGvefibhHBZq3fL85hQ%2526r%253dEYdhJ0HrhAMcA2aVQ-I4N7lml00zxsXPbHYeP7843No%2526m%253dGfFWthYH2fLuNxhS4hENokOCeeRumg4P4J8rEPVCb5A%2526s%253dMz6fZzzFkBVxF4pNOrHn4Tg7DDT-BIGNgV05s7W0B08%2526e%253d%26c%3DE%2C1%2C6EqoMzBlAqiV3ViwO6w-oQZxyQZf4Yk2j31gRWNa6ApzMFNQbPjZ2d6UH9QIAOawTJPxbDJ7qSsCWrcYnHavAxIwIskolhFKhZqyk7AXijTFBjA%2C%26typo%3D1&data=04%7C01%7Csarah.taylor%40uconn.edu%7C9e96bb7850094a1f2e5e08d87054f5d5%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637382857489597017%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=6UB3tfwsIYhEYk%2BDDDukr4s%2F5GE7jMVYQ9D0j6pyehU%3D&reserved=0>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
> --
> Patti Wood Finkle
> Director of Museums
> ~Tate Geological Museum
> ~Werner Wildlife Museum
> Casper College
> 307-268-3026
>
> Correspondence sent to or from this email address is subject to the
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