Survey on "Geological Historical Collections"

[Uwe Kolitsch]

(Aus der Mailing-Liste mineralmuseums@googlegroups.com)


OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN AN INTERNATONAL PROJECT ON GEOLOGICAL HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

Consuelo Sendino (National Museum of Natural Sciences, Madrid & Natural History Museum, London) and Yves Candela (National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh) are working on a project to highlight the importance of the geological historical collections. This project involves finding out those criteria which define the value of geological historical collections. There are numerous papers on the value of the biological collections, but nothing or very little on geological collections.

The NHM, London, has already undertaken this survey and 12 criteria have subsequently been defined for a total of over 130 historical collections comprising more than 750,000 geological specimens. This exercise shows its utility regarding collection use and from a curatorial management point of view. It would help in making future decisions about collection organisation and digitisation, and how these collections should be presented for potential users: general public and researchers.

Many of the major museums will participate. If you are in charge of a geological historical collection, including minerals, meteorites, rocks and fossils, and you want to join us, please contact us before 1 July 2023. Anmerkung: Deadline wurde auf Sept. 2023 verlegt.

If you agree to participate, they will send you a survey that can be shared with colleagues in your institution. They will write the article and those who participate with them will be co-authors and their names will be listed in alphabetical order after theirs.

Please contact Consuelo and/or Yves at  consuelo.sendino@mncn.csic.es 
and y.candela@nms.ac.uk