Interpreting
Natural History
Early natural history museums often presented
simple displays of mounted specimens accompanied
by identification labels. They were"cabinets
of curiosity." Little effort was given
to interpretation and even less on putting
the specimen into context.
As natural history
museums evolved throughout the 19th and
20th century, their emphasis shifted toward
public education. New techniques for improved
taxidermy provided better mounts and with
the addition of illustrations and life size
habitats, specimens were associated with
their environments.
These
upgrades in presentation and philosophy
gained momentum with each new generation,
leading eventually to the present trend
of hands-on and exploratorium type exhibits.
The Reading Public Museum was among the
earliest pioneer museums to incorporate
hands-on learning. Levi Mengel started exploring
the value of having students handle actual
specimens during their visit to the Museum.
Natural
History League Collections are
the preserved assemblages of organic (living)
and inorganic (nonliving) materials that
document the biodiversity and natural resources
of our planet. Natural History League specimens
and their associated data have always been
and continue to be valuable resources for
scientific research. They are used by a
variety of science disciplines including
medicine, toxicology, biochemistry, and
even law enforcement. Today, only about
10% of all the types of living things have
been collected and identified.
Study
Mount Specimens are prepared to
allow close observation and comparative
study of the organism's physical attributes.
When a skin is prepared, specific information
is recorded about the animal including;
the date it was collected, who collected
it, and the location where it was taken.
Live
Mounted Specimens are prepared
to resemble the organism as it would normally
appear in the wild. They may lack significant
scientific data and are primarily used in
exhibitions or in educational programs.
Sculptures,
models, dioramas, reproductions, and facsimiles
are frequently used in exhibitions and noted
on labeling as aids to portray original
objects, specimens, events or subjects not
otherwise possible.
Collections
are most valuable when they contain authentic
data about the objects in the collection.
Scientists record the location, habitat,
and environmental conditions at the moment
they collect; also when the specimen is
prepared for preservation, the physical
parameters of the organism are recorded.
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