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Post by nomad on Jan 21, 2015 19:33:58 GMT
Duncan, perhaps you should suggest to the Doncaster museum, that this very valuable collection should be presented to the Hope Department of Entomology at Oxford or to the B.M. ; where it will be frozen ( to kill the pests) and then well cared for. Before the collection it is all dust and pins. Why do the museum want to keep it, surely they should at least honour the great collector by properly preserving this valuable bequest.
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Post by deliasfanatic on Jan 21, 2015 21:53:35 GMT
Indeed, that would be a terrible shame and waste to let it disappear. A friend who did collection appraisals once told me that collections should never be left to small local museums, colleges, etc...he had seen far too many of them neglected and the contents destroyed. In one, he remembered throwing away 3 specimens of Papilio himeros that had been nearly devoured by pests.
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mantisboy
Junior Aurelian
Posts: 81
Country: U.S.A.
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Post by mantisboy on Jan 21, 2015 22:04:41 GMT
Beautiful Arctia caja aberrations! That is terrible that the are going to the dermestids.
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Post by trehopr1 on Jan 22, 2015 7:41:09 GMT
Nomad, is it possible for you to directly contact someone of importance at Oxford to give a call and perhaps even better a personal visit to this great collections location? Perhaps a visit by someone esteemed may motivate the current thinking of the collections disposition into say --- a more positive direction. This grand collections potential loss to British entomology cannot be put into words..... It's hard to believe the man's wife was so quick to DUMP her husbands life's work at the local level. And just the same it amazes me that Hyde himself didn't make better plans for his beloved collection should anything happen to him. But, as I've learned through the years all too often people act as though they are going to live to 110. And, all too often their relatives could care less what happens to their STUFF once they are GONE !
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2015 9:35:40 GMT
I'm sure Kathleen thought she was doing the right thing, maybe even George wanted it left to the museum but that was when Martin Limbert was looking after it, a true lepidopterist, now it's a young girl who does'nt seem too bothered about it. Me suggesting it be given to the Hope museum would do no good at all, however, an esteemed person may have more sway, it's certainly worth a try, I estimate in 5 years the dermestid attacks will leave catastrophic damage, once they are in they can run riot and at least 5 drawers of moths and 1 drawer of butterflies were showing signs of significant infestation.
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Post by trehopr1 on Jan 22, 2015 10:16:17 GMT
I do sincerely hope Dunc that perhaps yourself or Nomad can find someone WHO WILL LISTEN to your plea's for help in salvaging that fabulous collection. What a travesty if it is lost ! If nothing else perhaps when you have another opportunity to pass by that way you could try making a photographic record of the most important drawers, species, series, or specimens. Because before too long that may be ALL the entomological world has left of a once incredible personal collection.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2015 11:15:23 GMT
It is such hard work just getting to see the collection as a ordinary Joe, communication is slow and I found a general apathy towards my visit, as I said earlier it was much better when Martin Limbert was curator, nothing was too much trouble. O ne of my best friends who is a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society offered a more than fair sum for the entire collection but was turned down as it is not for sale but in trust to the public for study which broadly translates into it's stuck in a room that nobody visits and its just too much bother. My guess is it would take someone of great standing to make them relocate it.
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Post by wollastoni on Jan 22, 2015 11:31:35 GMT
or an article in the local press explaining the disaster...
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Post by mygos on Jan 22, 2015 17:18:06 GMT
or an article in the local press explaining the disaster... Yes Olivier, certainly the best way A+, Michel
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Post by trehopr1 on Jan 22, 2015 18:51:01 GMT
Dunc, what are the possibilities of the F.R.E.S. signing a petition to relocate this valuable collection? Perhaps the collective concern put forth by this esteemed organization would lend some heavy weight to your pleas. You could so to speak be their "front man" on the ground and in doing so ( if things changed for the better) may make YOU instrumental in salvaging a historical modern day collection. Heck, some day your name could be spoken of whenever conversation of the Hyde collection is mentioned. A hero of sorts in British entomology and a savior to the general entomological community.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2015 19:52:19 GMT
Not interested in my name being mentioned or getting any plaudits, I just don't want the collection ruined through neglect. I will see my friend soon, probably in the next 6 weeks and put it to him but knowing how stubborn these organisations can be I dont feel hopeful.
I should add as well that there is an exotic collection in the same room (not George's), that has 2 pairs of papilio mayo, aeropetes tulbaghia and many other now hard to get specimens that are also open to attack.
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