[NHCOLL-L:1904] Protecting NS Collections...

[Charles Pettitt]

Increasing  the awareness of the importance and value of natural 
science collections is something dear to my heart - unfortunately 
said heart is now somewhat 'dicky' which limits what I can do. But I 
hope it won't seem too much like blowing my own trumpet if I put into 
the current NH-COLL debate some references to things I have 
published on this theme - hopefully they may prove of some help in 
the current climate.

The Proceedings of the International Conference in Manchester 
1995 has numerous contributions that can inform any reasoned 
defence of collections. The full ref. is The Value and Valuation of 
Natural Science Collections (1997) pp. xii + 276. publ. The 
Geological Society of London.  ISBN 1-897799-76-4

My personal approach has been to try and  highlight the 
multitudinous uses to which our collections are put, and to phrase it 
in terms that even the dimmest administrator can  understand. Apart 
from my contribution to the above Proceedings, the following papers 
may be of interest (All  Pettitt, C.W.)

1989 Uses of Biological Specimens: A Survey. Biology Curators 
Group Newsletter, 5 (1): 1-2

1991 Putting 'Bloody Mice' to good use. Museums Journal 91 (8): 
25-28

1994 Using Natural History Collections (pp. 144-166 in) Manual of 
Natural History Curatorship. pp. xiii+306. Eds. Stansfield, G., 
Mathias, J. and Reid, G. Pub. by HMSO, London on behalf of the 
Museums and Galleries Commission. ISBN: 0-11-290513-7 [this one 
has the fullest reference list].

I believe the Geol.Soc. still has some copies of the Value and 
Valuation Proceedings - Contact (UK) Geol. Soc. Publishing House, 
Unit 7, Brassmill Enterprise Centre, Brassmill Lane, Bath  BA1 3JN.

The US distributor is AAPG Bookstore, PO Box 979, Tulsa, OK 
74101-0979.

I did start discussions with the Geol. Soc. about eighteen months 
ago about putting the Proceedings on the Web, but unfortunately my 
heart problems intervened. If there is any interest expressed (email 
me off-list) I am willing to have another go at this.

Also, if anyone has any more interesting uses to which material 
from their natural science collections has been put, please let me 
know (off-list) - I have continued to accumulate some info. and 
would be willing to try and produce a follow-up account.

Finally, if anyone is in the process of having to put together a 
justification for their collections and thinks my papers can help but 
cannot track them down locally, I am willing to send copies if you 
email me.


Charles Pettitt 
ex-Keeper of Invertebrates, Manchester Museum, 
M13 9PL, UK - email: c.pettitt at man.ac.uk
//www.man.ac.uk/museum/
home tel: (44) 161-439 2213
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Nature always sides with the hidden flaw