[Nhcoll-l] no data specimens

[James Bryant]

Absolutely, Andy. 

Unfortunately, some museums in other disciplines (no names here) have made a lot of news by de-accessioning using a host of rationalizations. For my part, objects that can’t be accommodated at one institution should be transferred to another that can house them. All collections should be viewed as finite resources.

James Bryant


> On Oct 14, 2021, at 10:43 AM, Bentley, Andrew Charles <abentley at ku.edu> wrote:
> 
> Catherine
>  
> There are all sorts of techniques like genetic, ectoparasite and environmental work that can be done on these skins that may yield data that is useful even if provenance is unknown.  I agree that you have to balance this against space and resource limitations but maybe imaging and keeping portions of the skins for genetic analysis would be doable if not keeping the whole animal
> This is a slippery slope I agree and donating these to educational facilities is the way to go.  There are a myriad of these in your own and area and beyond that would be grateful for the materials.  Our mission is not only to serve the research community but the educational community too.  There are all sorts of negative connotations regarding deaccessioning to members of the general public etc. that I would deem fraught with issues and would not attempt.
>  
> Andy
>     A  :             A  :             A  :
>  }<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<(((_°>.,.,.,.}<)))_°>
>     V                V                V
> Andy Bentley
> Ichthyology Collection Manager
> University of Kansas
> Biodiversity Institute
> Dyche Hall
> 1345 Jayhawk Boulevard <x-apple-data-detectors://9>
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> Tel: (785) 864-3863 <tel:%28785%29%20864-3863>
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> Email: abentley at ku.edu <mailto:abentley at ku.edu>  
> http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu <http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu/>
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>  
> From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Catherine Early (she/her)
> Sent: Thursday, October 14, 2021 8:18 AM
> To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> Subject: [Nhcoll-l] no data specimens
>  
> Hello all,
>  
> I have a two-part question today:
>  
> 1) Is there any scientific value to tanned hides with no data? We have many large mammal hides that were purchased from fur suppliers in the 1970's that take up a lot of room but lack data. We might keep one of each species for identification, but otherwise, they do not belong in a scientific collection (where we are constantly running out of space), correct? 
>  
> 2) Have any of your institutions developed protocols for deaccessioning no data specimens into the hands of private citizens? We will prioritize giving no data (former) specimens to education centers, but there is a limited need for no data shell collections that previous curators accepted from donors, so we will likely need to look elsewhere. We know that we would be limited in what we could give to private citizens by permit restrictions for owning wildlife parts, but we're also very concerned with devaluing public opinions of specimens by creating the impression that specimens can just be given away. I would love to hear any language or agreements you've developed to make it clear why items are deaccessioned and how they differ from scientific specimens.
>  
> Thanks,
> Catherine
>  
>  <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smm.org%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cabentley%40ku.edu%7C1d55b3ed6f9542d1b64c08d98f151713%7C3c176536afe643f5b96636feabbe3c1a%7C0%7C0%7C637698143621953123%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=lwhKYeSr5G6n7q0dyonTLTSFvBpWENKL%2BYUItbJ%2F4Ac%3D&reserved=0>	
> Catherine M. Early, PhD
> she/her
> Barbara Brown Chair of Ornithology
> e: cearly at smm.org <mailto:cearly at smm.org>
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