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<p class="MsoNormal">Well said, Paul!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And I’m a fan of what you and your team at ANSP did with the trays in the malacology collection to more efficiently use space while improving access to the collections. Bravo!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wasted space <i>abounds</i> in collections….<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
Rob<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Robert H. Robins<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Collection Manager<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Division of Ichthyology<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img width="155" height="56" style="width:1.6145in;height:.5833in" id="_x0000_i1032" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D7C11E.3E28F450" alt="FLMNH Fishes logo email small"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Florida Museum<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1659 Museum Rd.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gainesville, FL 32611-7800<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Office: (352) 273-1957<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:rhrobins@flmnh.ufl.edu"><span style="color:#0563C1">rhrobins@flmnh.ufl.edu</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Search the Collection:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://specifyportal.flmnh.ufl.edu/fishes/"><span style="color:#0563C1">http://specifyportal.flmnh.ufl.edu/fishes/</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Search samples suitable for dna analysis:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/grr/holdings/"><span style="color:#0563C1">https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/grr/holdings/</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Callomon,Paul <prc44@drexel.edu> <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, October 14, 2021 5:00 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Rob Robins <rhrobins@flmnh.ufl.edu>; Bentley, Andrew Charles <abentley@ku.edu>; Editor FourCats Press <editor@fourcatspress.com>; nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu<br>
<b>Subject:</b> RE: No-data specimens and the Graveyard Conundrum<o:p></o:p></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#FA4616">[External Email]</span></b>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Rob,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was purely coincidence that I also used the term “graveyard” – no reference to your posting was intended. However, the comparison is apposite; if there’s one thing a collection manager should be able to overrule a researcher on, it’s
space management. A CM’s prime duty is to ensure the collection’s long-term stability and sustainability, and hoping for a good outcome is a dereliction of that. Still, many administrators tend to look first at the person’s salary rather than listening to
what’s being said. <o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Paul Callomon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Collection Manager, Malacology and General Invertebrates<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia PA 19103-1195, USA<br>
<i><a href="mailto:prc44@drexel.edu">prc44@drexel.edu</a> Tel 215-405-5096 - Fax 215-299-1170</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b>From:</b> Rob Robins <<a href="mailto:rhrobins@flmnh.ufl.edu">rhrobins@flmnh.ufl.edu</a>>
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, October 14, 2021 4:55 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Callomon,Paul <<a href="mailto:prc44@drexel.edu">prc44@drexel.edu</a>>; Bentley, Andrew Charles <<a href="mailto:abentley@ku.edu">abentley@ku.edu</a>>; Editor FourCats Press <<a href="mailto:editor@fourcatspress.com">editor@fourcatspress.com</a>>;
<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> RE: No-data specimens and the Graveyard Conundrum<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;font-variant:small-caps">External.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="color:black">Hi Paul,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Sorry, that wasn’t the meaning I was trying to convey. This definition of “whistling past the graveyard” I had in mind:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">To proceed with a task, ignoring an upcoming hazard, hoping for a good outcome<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Wasn’t about graveyards running out of space. Was about collections running out of space whilst ignoring best practices that would help them conserve it or collections failing to introduce new procedures that would
utilize existing spaces more efficiently, prolonging the longevity of their facilities, etc.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Best wishes,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><br>
Rob<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Robert H. Robins<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Collection Manager<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Division of Ichthyology<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><img border="0" width="155" height="56" style="width:1.6145in;height:.5833in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D7C11E.3E28F450" alt="FLMNH Fishes logo email small"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Florida Museum<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">1659 Museum Rd.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Gainesville, FL 32611-7800<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Office: (352) 273-1957<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><a href="mailto:rhrobins@flmnh.ufl.edu">rhrobins@flmnh.ufl.edu</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Search the Collection:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com_-3Furl-3Dhttp-253A-252F-252Fspecifyportal.flmnh.ufl.edu-252Ffishes-252F-26data-3D04-257C01-257Cprc44-2540drexel.edu-257C35329d00dee64014723f08d98f54e49a-257C3664e6fa47bd45a696708c4f080f8ca6-257C0-257C0-257C637698417042883075-257CUnknown-257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0-253D-257C1000-26sdata-3D0oz0dOvNu5-252FevtUCBbJwA4c1izAByVilJLJDuI4mN9A-253D-26reserved-3D0&d=DwMFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=MCIx6IevDpZN7oPx8SAIb6_HvqHJFo2if2SZHHR4kiQ&m=bMp5vsglaT2MvSTVsfFrDWdDrgPhXrvE4wNXa6zgxtE&s=VlGba3hBZNtstos0YA1v5aj2oP84FbbBHP_EWygsFgw&e=">http://specifyportal.flmnh.ufl.edu/fishes/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Search samples suitable for dna analysis:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com_-3Furl-3Dhttps-253A-252F-252Fwww.floridamuseum.ufl.edu-252Fgrr-252Fholdings-252F-26data-3D04-257C01-257Cprc44-2540drexel.edu-257C35329d00dee64014723f08d98f54e49a-257C3664e6fa47bd45a696708c4f080f8ca6-257C0-257C0-257C637698417042883075-257CUnknown-257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0-253D-257C1000-26sdata-3DPiZqacRJT5vHJbEfRMrW4CFAneeWpd2df2HK-252FDW-252FVMQ-253D-26reserved-3D0&d=DwMFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=MCIx6IevDpZN7oPx8SAIb6_HvqHJFo2if2SZHHR4kiQ&m=bMp5vsglaT2MvSTVsfFrDWdDrgPhXrvE4wNXa6zgxtE&s=d7cBKOlfjzHuNjol9il4x3KW8EH5tKXkx27i2YfjYd0&e=">https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/grr/holdings/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><img border="0" width="206" height="295" style="width:2.1458in;height:3.0729in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D7C11E.3E28F450">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b>From:</b> Nhcoll-l <<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu">nhcoll-l-bounces@mailman.yale.edu</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Callomon,Paul<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, October 14, 2021 3:52 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Bentley, Andrew Charles <<a href="mailto:abentley@ku.edu">abentley@ku.edu</a>>; Editor FourCats Press <<a href="mailto:editor@fourcatspress.com">editor@fourcatspress.com</a>>;
<a href="mailto:nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu">nhcoll-l@mailman.yale.edu</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Nhcoll-l] No-data specimens and the Graveyard Conundrum<o:p></o:p></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#FA4616">[External Email]</span></b>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="color:black">Several of the responses to this interesting thread point obliquely at the “graveyard conundrum”. This is the famous proposal that if we continue to bury dead people in cemeteries we’ll
eventually run out of arable land and starve. Clearly that hasn’t happ</span>ened, so at some point someone must be making judgments as to what’s worth keeping and what isn’t.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">In building a working and teachable philosophy of natural history museums we need not only to establish some general criteria for “scientific value” (both now and hypothetically) but also be clear about who gets
to make those calls. Many research scientists insist that every last microscope slide or voucher specimen from their entire careers be cataloged and that that be prioritized over acquiring and sorting the collections of “amateurs”, a term at which many still
sneer. Museum management, on the other hand, can be blithely ignorant of any scheme of priorities other than things they immediately understand – famous names and “rarities”.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">When we think about the professionalization of collections management, therefore, a point we’d do well to promote is the collections manager as arbiter of value. (That’s assuming that we don’t hire people as CMs
who are qualified and temperamentally inclined to be career researchers but who can’t find a position at present so opt to “slum it” until something comes along).
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">The ability to size up a body of material and see how it might fit into the grand narrative of the museum’s collections is something long-term CMs can develop best, given their extensive institutional knowledge,
generally collegial nature and tendency to be objective about a specimen’s “story”.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">A last point: techniques will certainly be developed in the future that will let us do things with specimens that we can’t do now. However, the questions we are asking – what is the true nature of Nature and how
do we maintain a healthy relationship with it – date back to the Greeks. A beautiful specimen with no data is unlikely ever to be of more use in answering them than a vouchered and accurately recorded collecting event.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Paul Callomon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Collection Manager, Malacology and General Invertebrates<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;background:white"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;background:white"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia PA 19103-1195, USA<br>
<i><a href="mailto:prc44@drexel.edu">prc44@drexel.edu</a> Tel 215-405-5096 - Fax 215-299-1170</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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