The recent inventory and assess-ment of our entire insect holdings were carried out by a grant funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). It involved consultation with Natural History Conservator, Catharine Hawks, and Entomologist, Dr. Robert T. Allen, followed by an "insect collection" conservation and care workshop with a program on the history of the Fairbanks Museum's insect acquisitions. The resulting documentation, as well as website publication of a number of these specimens for public viewing, was the final culmination of a year's intensive work.
Our largest collection of butterflies and moths dates back to the late 1800's and was purchased from an amateur collector who amassed a great number of specimens himself while trading with other collectors for species he could not collect. His name was Joseph E. Chase, from Holyoke, Massachusetts, and his collection covers the United States and Europe. Other locales are included in this collection, but until the data can be verified, it is not certain who amassed or collected these specimens.
Although the specimens were originally mounted on pins, they were transferred to Riker box mounts with the data buried in cotton underneath the specimen. This makes verifying the data difficult as dislodging the specimen can cause further damage to their already fragile condition. Though most of the specimens are visibly labeled with ID, country of origin, or a number, the real data remains hidden in the cotton batting. Some of the information was hand-recorded in a ledger upon their arrival to the museum. Further study of these 1200 specimens is needed before they can be fully substantiated.
The bulk of the beetles collection was purchased from another amateur collector/ trader named Alphonse Bel, from Middletown, Connecticut. Some 3,000 specimens (including butterflies) were amassed from trading New England specimens with entomologists around the world. The two most notable collectors were Leopold Melichar, a Czech Physician and Hemiptera (Leafhoppers) specialist who collected European beetles on the side, and John Sahlberg, a Finnish entomologist who described many new species, including some of our Arctic beetles collected during the Norwegian Vega expedition. With visible signs of climate change occurring in the arctic, these specimens may contribute important research data once they become available.
An unexpected find was discovered when several old biscuit tins were found to contain small paper triangles of insects from the Philippines! The specimens were collected in the 1920's by an entomologist in the Bureau of Science (Philippines), Willy Schultze, and are for the most part in excellent condition, though they were never identified or mounted. With some detective work, the collector, locations and dates were determined from cryptic notations on the packets, and the next step will be to digitally document the specimens and post them on this website for further interpretation. Upon discovery this appears to be an important collection, acquired in 1982. The value of this collection deems it a priority for determining where and how to disseminate it, so that its research potential can be tapped.
Current Conditions
05/16/12 6:04 PM
St. Johnsbury, VT
Showers and thunderstorms, some severe, will continue eastward from the Champlain Valley this afternoon. Exercise caution if outdoors this afternoon and evening. Seek shelter if storms approach.
In December 2010, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), awarded the Fairbanks Museum a grant of $6,000.00 to assess the condition and conservation needs of the popular John Hampson “Bug Art.” With the expertise of the Williamstown Art Conservation Center in Massachusetts, Hélèn Gillette-Woodard, Head Conservator of Objects, made a two day site-visit in February to determine the extent of environmental and physical damage the insect collages have endured, and proposed remedial treatment. Ms. Gillette-Woodard also conducted a workshop for staff and volunteers in the proper handling and housing of the fragile shadowboxes and their content.
A portion of the grant monies was allocated to the fabrication of a customized insect storage cabinet capable of housing the 10 large shadowboxes when off–exhibit. The cabinet was designed and purchased from Systematics, Inc. a leading manufacturer of museum storage.
Most recently, Ms. Gillette-Woodard offered the museum a treatment proposal for one of the Bug Art collages, funded by the Lennet Fellowship, that would help stabilize the artwork including: cleaning and removing prior insect infestation evidence; consolidating paint and adhesives used initially and adhering the insects to the backing with gelatin; repairing tears in the backing; replacing separated adhesive with a conservation-approved variety; reattaching separated paperboard elements, and reassembling and sealing the shadowbox frame to prevent further insect and moisture infiltration. The work proposed will take place over the Christmas/New Year holiday and will hopefully set the momentum for future conservation work on the remaining collages.
Hélène Gillette-Woodard
A new insect cabinet from Systematics, Inc. was purchased through a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The cabinet enables us to to store the entire beetle collection, including all Bug Art that is off exhibit. The cabinet provides state-of-the-art environmental protection for our fragile insects and allows easy access to some of the more cumbersome trays which hopefully will be replaced at a later date.
The Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium inspires appreciation for our place in the natural world and motivates our stewardship of a healthy planet.
