Would you donate a fossil to a museum?

[rmptr]

If you discovered fossils as you traveled about would you donate them to a museum?

We've got oyster shells all over the place hereabouts, and many years ago I picked up a few fossilized clams in sandstone out in the desert... and soon lost them!

Don't really know much about fossils, but recently took a bit more interest as I was looking for possible mineral locations in my area.

I discovered this web page as I googled fossil in my area...

VERY interesting, and well written in an easy to read style, by a nice fellow who taught his young son about nature. And that son went on to learn more about such things at a university.

Thereabouts, the plot thickens!

Here's the link.
Hope you enjoy reading it, I did!

http://www.silcom.com/~barnowl/NewsRel.htm#Top case

HH
rmptr

 

[Sky_Warrior]

NO........ unless its a really rare fossil other than that THE LOOT IS MINE........ARGH!!!!!!

SEMPER FI

 

[irbaddadjoe]

I would donate everything if it would be displayed. But not to be crated in a basement somewhere.

 

[chong2]

im gonna donate some bottles

 

[rmptr]

OK group...

I don't got no fossils!
Well, I bought a trilobite or something like that a couple years ago, and lost it, too!

Did ANYONE read the article in the link

...The itty bitty mice teeth?

HH
rmptr

 

[chong2]

wow, all that over mice teeth? guess its the same as trex teeth, i wont be sharing i have any
now i read it

 

[rmptr]

Well good, TT...

I'm glad you read it!

It's a good story, and well written.
They guy sure did well for his son.
And the son spent LOTS of time, just trying to help out science, and museums...

I spent a bit of time there... with the exception of a few spots, it sure is the badlands!
and in the middle of summer...Whew! Hot Tamales!!!

rmptr

 

[49erjohn]

no way rmptr, with the big budgets they have they can come across with the bucks if they want your finds. i hate to see something you worked hard to find end up in a box in a basement for ever or on the auction block. best of luck! ! ! JOHN

 

[LadyDigger]

I thought about donating to a museum, but after what that family went through...I would really need everything in writing and if they tried to back down, I would have paperwork, but then again, that sometimes might not be enough. I would have everything documented first!

Just as my own dau, 10 at the time, found a piece of Ming China at Jamestown in 1995 and turned it over to the Archie in charge (Dr. Kelso), she never received a Thank You or even had her name mentioned. When the new museum was built, I looked ALL OVER that place and even asked about that piece and no one knew about it and said that the reason it was not displayed was that it was not something of real interest. I mentioned to them, at the time of the finding, Dr. Kelso was very excited, because my dau found a piece of Ming China and they were trying to find a connection to China with Jamestown. He made it a big deal when she found it and turned it over. Thank Goodness I have all this on video tape, our only proof!!!! This bothered me more than my dau, she has forgotton about this event, unless I bring it up to her. She has NO DESIRE, NO INTEREST in finding history, metal detecting, digging for jewels or fossils. Maybe someday she will change her mind...but my interest has always been there, ever since visiting that big crator in Winslow, Arizona at age 12. I had a great impression given to me and maybe that is why I love what I do now!!!

My biggest pet peeve, esp when it comes to children, is not giving them recognition for their finds, their honesty, their desire to learn about our/their history and then to be pushed aside like a plate of spinach (most kids don't like it LOL). Our children are our future and to let them down and make it seem like their efforts, their wanting to learn, their honesty, is NOT important....their dreams and desires will be "Why should I try? I only get pushed aside." ... Yes, dissappointed is common in our lifetime, and yes, we have to deal with it from time to time, and children need to learn how to deal with dissappointed, but at the same time, don't discard them like unimportant little people and think their efforts, their dreams, their desire are less than yours!

Sorry, I tend to get ... well ... over react at times ... but my feelings and thoughts won't change....

Ya'll have a wonderful day,
Annmarie

 

[TRHunter]

I found a fossil that I know was unusual and took it to a local academic. It turned out to be a new fossil and they named it after him. It is now being researched as they think it might be the kind of life form they will find on other planets. One of the researchers is going to name the area I found it in after me. I really dont give a rats posterier, but unless you have a stack of letters after your name you dont count. The funny thing is most great discoveries were made by non academics.

 

[aa battery]

I been trying to send in an old fossil but i cant ger her head in the box

 

[LadyDigger]

I been trying to send in an old fossil but i cant ger her head in the box

I'm having the same problem...only he's stubborn and refuses to get in the box!!

 

[rmptr]

Apparently neither one of you watched Fargo!



Sheesh, that poor lady.
I think it was modeled after a true story.

rmptr

 

[gallileo60]

Loan, YES...........Donate, NO.........Whatever I find, I will be glad to share, but it will remain my family's property.....Too many of us amateurs loose our finds already...If not for me (or you) these finds would probably never see the light of day....There are many museums that will take things on loan.......I want it back tho, if there is enough interest in my item, I will be glad to loan it to you again......That said, I have never found a museum quality piece..(not yet).....

 

[Shaw]

I would donate everything if it would be displayed. But not to be crated in a basement somewhere.

Same here.

 

[Old Dog]

I have worked closely with a couple of major museums,
they both have some serious collections where mineral specimens are concerned.
I donated to both at one time or another,
I know as a matter of fat that most of what was donated is on display most of the time.
My personal collection of minerals is something very few people see.
Not because of size, but because moving things around to see the collection takes days.
and to really see it would take even longer.
So every once in a while I donate part of it to a museum or a school to encourage the younger generation.

The donated time however was wasted for the most part doing things the curators wouldn't do.
While the curator entertained his own kids.

Thom