miss mie returns - Friends of the State Museum

The Mammoth
University of
N E B R A S K A
S T A T E
M U S E U M
A Newsletter for the Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum
AUGUST 2010
MISS MIE RETURNS
Miss Mie
Historic Japanese Friendship Doll
July 3 - October 31, 2010
On July 3, the University
of Nebraska State Museum
opened an exhibit in Morrill Hall
honoring the return to Nebraska
of the historic Japanese friendship
ambassador doll, Miss Mie, from
her year-long journey overseas.
In July 2009, the 83-yearold friendship doll was escorted
to her original home in Mie
Prefecture, Japan, by Museum
Collections Assistant Susan Curtis
to undergo expert conservation,
followed by various homecoming
celebrations and exhibitions in 10
cities across the region. Over 30,000
people attended the exhibitions
before Miss Mie’s return to
Nebraska in late May, where she
will remain a part of the Museum’s
permanent Anthropology
collections.
Members of the Japanese
Miss Mie Homecoming Committee
generously funded and arranged
the various homecoming events,
along with the doll’s assessment
and repairs. The committee used
Miss Mie’s return to Japan as a
way to educate children about
the history and purpose of the
friendship doll exchange that took
place between the children of the
United States and Japan in 1927, as
well as the craftsmanship that went
into making the dolls.
Miss Mie’s visit to Japan
and this new exhibit serve to
enhance the State Museum’s special
relationship with the citizens of
Mie, which began generations ago.
The exhibit “Miss Mie: A
Japanese Friendship Ambassador
Doll Returns to Nebraska”
celebrates the doll’s return to the
Museum and pays tribute to the
peace, goodwill, and friendship that
she continues to symbolize between
our two countries. It will be shown
on the third floor of Morrill Hall
through October. Read more on
pages 12-13.
HIGHLIGHTS
IN THIS ISSUE
Colorful Creature Day
Campaign for Nebraska
Sunday with a Scientist
Astronomy Day
Colorful Creature Day
Miss Mie Exhibit
Research Divisions Ashfall Fossil Beds
6
7
8-9
10-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
& MORE!
Read The Mammoth Online!
www.friendsofthemuseum.org
FRIENDS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MORRILL HALL
CALENDAR
AT A GLANCE
AUGUST
Aug. 15, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Sunday with a Scientist
“Beetle Mania”
Aug. 17, 6:30-8 p.m.
Astronaut Clayton Anderson
Talk and Autograph Signing
Mark A. Brohman, President
David Rowe, Vice President
Mel Thornton, Treasurer
Diane Pratt, Secretary
Karen Amen
Marcia Hollestelle
Michael Leite
Curtis Mann
Lois Mayo
Keely Rennie-Tucker
Lynn Sobotka
Diann Sorensen
Mark Sorensen
EX-OFFICIO
Priscilla C. Grew
Mike Madcharo
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Judy Diamond
Connie Pejsar
Norm Smith
Mike Zeleny
ASHFALL CHAPTER
Brandon Essink,
President
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 19, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Sunday with a Scientist
“Archaeology”
Sept. 29, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
50th Anniversary Celebration
of the Museum’s Highway
Salvage Paleontology Program
& Nebraska Dept. of Roads
Partnership
*RSVP Required. Friends
invitations will be sent.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Director’s Office
Museum Information Line
School Program Reservations
Friends Office
Mueller Planetarium
Nebraska Hall Office
Ashfall Fossil Beds
Trailside Museum
Oct. 1 - Dec. 1
“Amateur Wildlife & Nature
Photography Contest Exhibit
3rd Floor
Oct. 2, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Special Family Event in
partnership with the UNL
School of Natural Resources
See Web site for details soon!
Oct. 15, 6-8:30 p.m.
World of Viruses Reception
*RSVP Required. Friends
invitations will be sent.
Oct. 17, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Sunday with a Scientist
“Ancient People”
NOVEMBER
Nov. 21, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Sunday with a Scientist
“Native Americans”
DECEMBER
Dec. 19, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Sunday with a Scientist
“Nebraska Amphibians”
Director: Priscilla C. Grew
Associate Director: Mark Harris
Informal Science Education: Judy Diamond
Amy Spiegel
Education Coordinator:
Museum Associates:
Kathy French
Ann Cusick
Carrie Ford
Cindy Loope
Ina Van der Veen
Research Partnerships Coordinator: Brett Ratcliffe
Scientific Illustrator: Angie Fox
Research Collections Staff Secretary: Gail Littrell
Anthropology: Alan Osborn
NAGPRA/Collections Assistant: Susan Curtis
Nebraska Archaeological Survey: Alan Osborn
Botany: Robert Kaul
Collection Manager: Thomas Labedz
Collections Assistant: Linda Rader
Entomology: Brett Ratcliffe
Collection Manager: M.J. Paulsen
Geology: Samuel Treves
Invertebrate Paleontology: Roger Pabian
CONNECT WITH US ON FACEBOOK!
MORRILL HALL
South of 14th and Vine Streets
University of Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
(402) 472-2642
Open Year Around
Monday-Saturday: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursdays: 9:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Open Late!)
Sundays: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Closed Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving,
December 24-25, and January 1
Planetarium Closed Mondays and NU home football game
Saturdays
ASHFALL FOSSIL BEDS
86930 517 Avenue
(402) 893-2000
Royal, NE 68773
Located seven miles north of Highway 20 between
Royal and Orchard, Nebraska.
Open Seasonally.
For schedule, visit ashfall.unl.edu
TRAILSIDE MUSEUM
PO Box 462
(308) 665-2929
Crawford, NE 69339
Located on Highway 20 at Fort Robinson, Nebraska.
Open Seasonally.
For schedule, visit trailside.unl.edu
2
www.museum.unl.edu
OCTOBER
Oct. 1 - Nov. 30
“A Turning Point: Navajo
Weaving in the Twentieth
Century” Exhibit
Cooper Gallery, 3rd Floor
(402) 472-3779
(402) 472-2642
(402) 472-6302
(402) 472-3779
(402) 472-2641
(402) 472-2643
(402) 893-2000
(308) 665-2929
UNIVERSITY OF
NEBRASKA
STATE MUSEUM STAFF
THE MAMMOTH
Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum
Parasitology: Scott Gardner
Collection Manager: Gabor Racz
Vertebrate Paleontology: Ross Secord
Collection Manager: R. George Corner
Preparators: Gregory Brown
Robert Skolnick
Ellen Stepleton
Highway Salvage Paleontologist: Shane Tucker
Highway Salvage Preparator: Nicholas Famoso
Zoology: Patricia Freeman
Collection Manager: Thomas Labedz
Affiliated Courtesy, Adjunct, and Emeritus Faculty:
Anthropology: Thomas Myers
Entomology: Mary Liz Jameson
Geology: Robert Diffendal
Invertebrate Paleontology: David Watkins
Parasitology: John Janovy, Mary Lou Pritchard
Vertebrate Paleontology: Michael Voorhies,
Robert Hunt, Jr.
Zoology: Hugh Genoways, Paul Johnsgard
Ashfall Fossil Beds Superintendent: Rick Otto
Museum Specialist: Sandy Mosel
Trailside Museum Staff Assistant: Susan Veskerna
Accounting Clerk: Judy Ray
Discovery Shop Manager: Leah Carpenter
Exhibit Design Specialist: Ron Pike
Graphics Design Specialist: Joel Nielsen
Mueller Planetarium Supervisor: Jack Dunn
Public Service Associate: Linda Thompson
Public Relations Coordinator, Friends Liaison, &
Mammoth Newsletter Editor: Dana Ludvik
F R O M T HE D I R E C T O R
The State Museum was very honored to help the campus
host the visit of the Japanese delegation from Mie Prefecture
in honor of our historic Japanese Friendship Doll, “Miss Mie.”
Chancellor Perlman spoke at the reception, and the delegation
events were planned in cooperation with the UNL Department
of Modern Languages and Literatures, the Kawasaki Reading
Room, and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. The
visit has already sparked new friendships between Nebraska
and Japan. Ron Pike and Joel Nielsen of our exhibits staff
found that delegation members were very keen to learn more
about Nebraska’s Fort Robinson and Western Americana.
And three members of the delegation turned out to be
members of Rotary Clubs in Japan! Mr. Suzuki and Mr. Miura
gave me a Rotary exchange banner from their club, which I
then presented to our Downtown Rotary Club #14 in Lincoln
on July 6.
Speaking of Rotary Club #14, (celebrating our centennial
in 2010), I wanted to let you know about a special opportunity.
I recently was able to purchase, from a gentleman in Lincoln,
one of the 100 limited-edition “Archie” sculptures (dated 1994)
by Nebraska artist Fred Hoppe. Many of you will recall that the
Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum sold these
1/12-scale bronze mammoths in the 1990s to raise funds to pay
for Hoppe’s life-size statue of “Archie” which was later installed
in 1998 in front of Morrill Hall. The photo of the sculpture
that was used in the Friends’ fundraising campaign is shown on
this page; the sculpture is about 12 inches tall. I am donating
the sculpture to the Rotary Club # 14 Community Service
Live Auction at Lincoln Station on October 8 and hope it will
attract some high bidders to help the Museum’s iconic “Archie”
continue to benefit good causes in our community!
You never know what will really get kids interested in
science, and this photo of Rob Skolnick shows one topic that
we discovered on July 18 is very effective – a presentation on
poop! Rob is a Preparator in our Vertebrate Paleontology
Division and usually spends his time on the intricate extraction
of delicate fossils from their stubbornly resistant rock matrix.
But Rob learned that our Sunday with a Scientist was going to
be on “Poop!” featuring an important, current DNA study of
Nebraska river otters. Rob decided to volunteer a presentation
on what scientists can learn from the study of fossil poop from
the Museum collections that is thousands and even millions
of years old. (Actually, paleontologists don’t talk about “poop
rocks” in polite company—they speak proper scientific Greek
instead and call them coprolites.) Rob made charts showing
pictures of the “eaters” and the “eaten” that lived long ago in
Nebraska. One of the most dramatic coprolites that he showed
the kids contains the tiny side hoof of a three-toed horse that
had been eaten and left in the scat of a greedy carnivore over
30 million years ago. And he let them sniff the still perceptible
aroma of a 10,000-year-old “slothpie” –left by an extinct
ground sloth in a cave in Texas. When we advertise “Come
Explore With Us” in Morrill Hall, we mean it!
Priscilla C. Grew, Director
Miss Mie Homecoming Committee members Yoshihide Miura (left) and Hideaki Suzuki present Priscilla Grew
with banner for Rotary Club of North Tsu City, Japan on July 4.
State Museum Vertebrate Paleontology Preparator Rob Skolnick shows fossil “poop” to fascinated kids at the
July 18 Sunday with a Scientist program at Morrill Hall.
Limited edition “Archie” mammoth sculpture by artist Fred Hoppe.
August 2010
3
F R O M THE PRESIDENT
The State Museum has been busy this summer, and there
are still plenty of things to come before school starts up again.
On July 2, I and several Friends of the State Museum Board
members attended a lovely reception to celebrate the return
of Miss Mie, a historic friendship doll from Japan. There was
a delegation from Japan with many of the ladies dressed in
traditional kimonos along with several local dignitaries. This
delicate doll came to the U.S. in 1927 and recently took a one
year trip back to Japan to undergo a complete conservation and
now is on display with many accessories and other Japanese
artifacts at the Museum.
The Wildlife and Nature Photo contest is underway with a
deadline of September 1. I can’t wait to see all of the incredible
photos. Last year was very exciting. The Museum will continue
to offer free Thursday nights from 4:30 to 8 pm through August
26, so if you know some folks who never get down to visit us,
tell them there is no excuse not to try it out some Thursday
night, and maybe they will decide to join the Friends or at least
return to the Museum in the future. It is also a great night for
Friends members to grab some of the neighborhood kids and
bring them down.
The “Sunday with a Scientist” program continues to be
popular, and it will continue every third Sunday of the month
through December. Kids really love to meet a scientist and ask
questions.
On August 17 from 6:30 to 8 pm, the State Museum is
very fortunate to have astronaut Clay Anderson come and
give a talk and sign autographs. Last year I took my daughter
and a neighbor boy, and they were so excited to see a real live
astronaut and even get a picture taken with Clay. I was very
impressed with the way Clay took so much time talking with
each child that approached him and made each feel special.
He also had one heck of an inspirational talk. Having a real
astronaut from Nebraska is impressive, but being one of the
last shuttle members (April 5-20, 2010) and having spent five
months aboard the International Space Station in 2007 is
remarkable. This is an event you won’t want to miss.
Don’t forget to stop by the Trailside Museum of Natural
History at Fort Robinson near Crawford and Ashfall Fossil
Beds State Historical Park near Royal this summer as you travel
around the State.
Safe Travels,
Mark A. Brohman, Board President
Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum
4
THE MAMMOTH
Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum
Friends President Mark Brohman (right) working at a booth for his job as Director of the Nebraska
Environmental Trust. Shown here with one of his Board members, Vince Kramper.
NASA Astronaut
Clayton Anderson
Morrill Hall Appearance
Tuesday, August 17 -- 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Opportunities for questions, photos, and
autographs with Nebraska’s first astronaut!
NEWS & INFO
WEAPoNS
Throughout Time
A Turning Point:
Navajo Weaving in the Late
Twentieth Century
Exhibit ends September 19.
Don’t miss it!
October 1 - December 1, 2010
Morrill Hall - Cooper Gallery
Morrill Hall
Cooper Gallery
Friends Members are invited to
participate in the State Museum's
Wildlife & Nature Photo Contest
The 2009
Grand Prize
Winning Photo
by amateur
photographer
Jesse Koch.
Mammals
Plant Life
Birds
Other Wildlife
Landscapes & Skyscapes
Nature & People
Visit www.museum.unl.edu for
official contest rules and entry form!
ALL PHOTO ENTRIES WILL GO ON EXHIBIT AT MORRILL HALL IN OCTOBER
DEADLINE TO ENTER: SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
August 2010
5
C A M PAIGN F OR NEBRASKA UPD ATE
At the University of Nebraska State Museum
Mark and Diann Sorensen.
INTRODUCING MUSEUM
CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS
MARK AND DIANN SORENSEN
The State Museum’s first Campaign for Nebraska meeting
took place May 6 at the University of Nebraska Foundation.
Below is a statement read aloud by Mark Sorensen to
kick-start fundraising efforts.
“Thank you all for giving up several hours of your time
in the middle of a gorgeous spring day to participate
in an enterprise vital to the long term health of a great
institution, the University of Nebraska State Museum.
From historic Morrill Hall – home to “Archie the Mammoth”
on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln campus -- to Ashfall
Fossil Beds near Royal and the Trailside Museum at Fort
Robinson, the University of Nebraska State Museum
enriches the lives of more than 100,000 visitors and
students each year, creating lifelong memories and
inspiring a love of science and learning.
The University of Nebraska is involved in a campaign to
raise $1.2 billion to support students, faculty, research and
programs. You can choose to help the museum by making a
contribution to the Friends of the University of Nebraska
State Museum Fund.
To learn more about the museum and the campaign,
contact Connie Pejsar, [email protected],
402-458-1190 or 800-432-3216.
To give online, go to nufoundation.org/friendsofthestatemuseum
It strikes me that individually and as a group we are
fundamentally ‘caretakers’ with a bent toward the logical
and objective … really Curious Caretakers.
Our charge is the care and feeding of a state and national
treasure – the State Museum complex. Not just bricks,
mortar, bones and teeth, but a research infrastructure of
faculty, staff, scientists and ‘Ologists’ of various stripers–
anthro, paleo, ento, ornitho, geo, hydro.
Our task is a bit tougher because we don’t have a clearly defined product …we don’t produce architects or lawyers or engineers…but
we do promote thinkers, delvers, diggers, and seekers of knowledge.
What we can do to help in this endeavor is to firm up the financial foundation of this institution and to this end, we are gathered today.
With the aid of the University of Nebraska Foundation, represented by Connie Pejsar and the expert guidance provided by Priscilla
Grew, Museum Director and Mark Harris, Associate Director, we can and will bring in the bucks to ‘conserve and protect’ this
marvelous institution.”
-Mark Sorensen, Friends Board Member & Campaign Co-Chair for the University of Nebraska State Museum
6
THE MAMMOTH
Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum
E D U C AT I O N
CLIMATE
Becky Puta, a natural resources graduate student at UNL, uses a mock-up of the Missouri
River and the Gulf Coast to illustrate the effects of erosion at the May 16 “Climate” event.
A Fam
i
Program
ly
'Sunday with a Scientist' events are held the 3rd
Sunday of each month from 1:30-4:30 p.m.
at Morrill Hall. Join us to interact with scientists
and explore new topics each month!
UPCOMING
‘SUNDAY WITH A SCIENTIST’
EVENTS
Beetle Mania - Aug. 15
Archaeology - Sept. 19
Ancient People - Oct. 17
TOXIC ALGAE
Native Americans - Nov. 21
Nebraska Amphibians - Dec. 19
For more information on these and previous programs,
visit www.museum.unl.edu
POOP
POOP
Tadd Barrow, water quality extension educator for the UNL School of Natural Resources,
magnifies live algae samples at the June 20 “Toxic Algae” event.
Amy Williams, graduate assistant in the UNl School of Natural Resource’s Cooperative Fish
and Wildlife Research Unit educates museum visitors about what scientists can learn about
Nebraska’s elusive otter population based on samples of their scat at the July 18 event.
Rob Skolnick (not visible) from the State Museum’s Division of Vertebrate Paleontology
discusses what we can learn from fossilized poop dating back millions of years.
August 2010
7
Brave visitors discovered that some ancient poop still has an odor.
A S T R ONOMY D AY
Over 600 visitors celebrated space and science at Morrill Hall on April 24
From left: A member of the UNL Engineering chapter of the American Institute
of Aeronautics and Astronautics uses a model to demonstrate aircraft design
engineering; Dana Tabor of the UNL Chapter of the Society for Women in Engineering;
Jim Kvasnicka of the Prairie Astronomy Club discusses telescopes.
Astronomy Day 2010 took place Saturday, April
24 at Morrill Hall. Over 600 visitors of all ages came out
to experience hands-on stations about space, science, and
astronomy. Activities and demonstrations covered robotics,
rocketry, planets, space travel, microgravity, physics,
telescopes, meteorites, optics, the Moon and more.
The roots of National Astronomy Day go back to
the 1979 in connection with The Astronomical League (AL).
The Prairie Astronomy Club (PAC) had participated in
outreach events going back to its beginning days in the 1960’s.
As a member of the Mid-States Region of the AL, when the
AL began a nationwide celebration of amateur astronomy,
PAC was one of the early participants. The club put on
public displays in shopping malls and in various locations
in Lincoln area. These always got some foot traffic from
shoppers who stopped to see what those strange tubes were
that looked like cannons. This early history and much more is
documented in Mark Dahmke’s book, Fifty Years of Amateur
Astronomy, published just this year. To our best recollection
and records, Astronomy Day was held over the years in such
places as Gateway (now Westfield) Mall and East Park Place
but it came to the Museum in 1990. The idea was that in an
educational atmosphere, interests in astronomy and space
could be maximized. For a few years in the late ‘90s it was also
combined with “Space Day” through the Air Force Association.
Astronomy Day always found the Prairie Astronomy Club as
a solid base for displays of telescopes and activities. And for
many years it was the Museum’s main annual public event.
8
THE MAMMOTH
Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum
When the Museum’s “Dinosaurs and Disasters Day” came
on the scene, it was thought we might broaden the some
of the activities. PAC always encouraged us to bring in new
groups that might be allied in some way regarding science and
aeronautics.
This year we had several new groups participating
to compliment all the Astronomy. Last fall the Planetarium
and Nebraska Spacegrant sponsored the appearance of Nagin
Cox of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Nagin was a speaker
at Astronomy Day back in 2004. This time, as an engineer
on several different planetary spacecraft, she highlighted her
work on the 2011 Mars Science Laboratory. It brought us a
new connection to the UNL Chapter of the Society of Women
in Engineering (SWIE). Not only was SWIE at Astronomy
Day 2010, one of its officers was a member of the UNL
Microgravity University Team in the Engineering Department.
This group designed an experiment and flew it on NASA’s
special aircraft which creates short periods of microgravity.
Their flights took place just 10 days before Astronomy Day
and this was their first public appearance following the flights.
Other new displays at this year’s Astronomy Day
included a Theremin, a unique electronic instrument, and an
Air Drum. These were demonstrated by the Lincoln Children’s
Museum. Last winter the UNL nanotechnology group
contacted the Planetarium and Museum Education about
some ideas with regard to the Education and Public Outreach
part of a grant they submitted. Earlier this year they were
featured on the Museum’s “Sunday with a Scientist” program
A S T R O NO M Y D AY
Clockwise from left: A child experiments with an air drum at the Lincoln Children’s Museum station; Children prepare to ride a hovercraft; Steve Lloyd from the Prairie Astronomy Club talks about the
solar system; Museum employee Maria Manning poses with “flat” Clay Anderson; UNL Microgravity Team members use a slinky to explain forces of motion. (Photos by Jack Dunn and Dana Ludvik)
so I was happy they brought some of their demonstrations to
Astronomy Day. And to continue that engineering connection,
the same member of the SWIE who brought us the Microgravity
University group also put me in touch with the UNL chapter of
the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. This
is another group of engineering students doing aeronautical
designs. They brought along one of these designs that was really
popular with kids and adults alike.
Astronomy Day is an event that appeals to the whole
family, however, we know the average age of a young person
who gets interested in Astronomy starts somewhere around
the fifth or sixth grade. It is at that point they start to dream
of having their own telescope. Again this year, the Astronomy
Day at Morrill Hall was the only site in Nebraska recognized
by Astronomy Magazine and Celestron Telescopes. The latter
provided a Celestron “FirstScope” telescope as a giveaway for
a lucky visitor. The Prairie Astronomy Club gave away an even
more expensive Dobsonian telescope worth approximately $350
to a lucky visitor. One station at Astronomy Day demonstrated
the construction of the “Galileoscope” simple telescope kits
produced for the International Year of Astronomy. (Galileoscope
kits are available in the Museum’s Discovery Shop). And there
were several other demonstrations of optics principles to help
our young visitors on their way to understanding telescopes.
In late July, we found out that the winner of this year’s
Astronomy magzine national telescope giveaway registered at
Morrill Hall! One lucky Astronomy Day visitor will soon receive
the grand prize Celestron 6-inch NexStar 6SE telescope (valued
at $799). This is the second time a winner has been selected
from our Astronomy Day event in Lincoln!
Astronomy Day 2010 was another success following
in a tradition of now nearly 20 years in the Museum. Join us
again in 2011 (date will be near to May 7th).
-Jack Dunn, Mueller Planetarium
Astronomy Day at
Lincoln’s Gateway
Mall in 1986.
(Photo courtesy of PAC)
August 2010
9
C O L ORFUL CREATURE D AY
COLORFUL CREATURE DAY 2010
2nd annual family event brings music, art, and live animals to Morrill Hall on May 15
The Museum’s 2nd annual
Colorful Creature Day took place
Saturday, May 15 at Morrill Hall.
Over 400 museum visitors took part
in the fun-filled afternoon of music,
art and animals. The event was held
in conjunction with the opening of
the Museum’s ‘Colorful Creature’ art
exhibit, which is comprised of the
more than 500 entries received from
its statewide art contest this spring.
(The exhibit will remain on display on
the third floor of Morrill Hall through Labor Day, Sept. 6.)
Wide-eyed children and their parents roamed the
first floor of Morrill Hall, enjoying the hands-on, educational
activities provided by Museum scientists, local artists, and
animal groups. Several naturalists and 4-H members were
on hand to give children the opportunity to engage with live
creatures, including alpacas, llamas, great-horned owl, eastern
screech owl, female merlin, vulture, macaw, cockatoo, rabbits,
turtles, amphibians, and more. Artists from UNL and the
Guild of Natural Scientific Illustrators provided hands-on art
activities, answered questions, and demonstrated their creative
talents. (Special thanks to the Hixon-Lied Endowment for its
support of many of the art activities!) Lincoln musician Mike
Mennard provided two performances in Elephant Hall that
afternoon, adding to the fun atmosphere of the event.
Some children brought colorful rocks and minerals
to the Museum for a scientist to identify. Others took in a
special showing of the Planetarium show “Enchanted Reef.”
One family won an artistic rain barrel, provided by Lincoln’s
Watershed Management. Overall, it was a fantastic event. We
hope you will join us next May for more creature fun!
Special thanks to each of the volunteers from these
participating organizations:
• Pioneers Park Nature Center
• Raptor Recovery Nebraska
• Capital Humane Society
• Spring Creek Prairie Audubon
• Nebraska Parrot Rescue
• Nebraska Herpetological Society
• Star City Llama & Alpaca 4-H Club
• Rabbits R Us 4-H Club
• Beak N Wings, Inc.
• The Bead People
• Guild of Natural Scientific Illustrators
• City of Lincoln Watershed Management Division
• UNL Environmental Resource Center
• UNL Department of Art and Art History
• University of Nebraska State Museum
-Dana Ludvik, Public Relations Coordinator
FROM LEFT: Museum employee Marisa Kardell was fast friends with an alpaca from the Star City Llama & Alpaca 4-H Club; Naturalist Carri Honz shows off an eastern screech owl from Raptor
Recovery Nebraska.
10
THE MAMMOTH
Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum
C O L O R F U L C R E AT U R E D AY
FROM LEFT: Rick Simonson from the Great Plains Chapter of the Guild of Natural Scientific Illustrators demonstrates his artistic talents; Children paint a rain barrel with sea life (barrel donated by the
City of Lincoln Watershed Management Division); Collections Manager George Corner of the Museum’s Division of Vertebrate Paleontology describes fossils from ancient creatures.
FROM LEFT: Naturalist Becky Witulski from Pioneers Park Nature Center talks about snakes; A parrot from Nebraska Parrot Rescue; Musician Mike Mennard performs in Elephant Hall.
FROM LEFT: Museum Scientific Illustrator Angie Fox helps a child experiment with digital illustration; A student from UNL’s Department of Art and Art History helps a child decorate animal origami.
August 2010
11
M I S S MIE EXHIBIT
Continued from cover
Miss Mie
Historic Japanese Friendship Doll
July 3 - October 31, 2010
The exhibit “Miss Mie: A Japanese Friendship
Ambassador Doll Returns to Nebraska” opened to the public on
July 3 on the third floor of Morrill Hall.
A private reception in celebration of the exhibit was
held July 2. A 20-person delegation from Japan, made up of
members of the Miss Mie Homecoming Committee and other
dignitaries, visited the Museum for the opening. The event
was also attended by Friends members, Museum staff, various
University Deans and Directors, and other special guests.
Remarks were given by
Director Priscilla Grew, Chancellor
Harvey Perlman, and Miss
Mie Homecoming Committee
President Takekazu Takebayashi.
Many thanks to Reiko Harpending,
Director of UNL’s Kawasaki
Reading Room, for providing
Japanese translation throughout
the event.
Director Priscilla Grew
expressed appreciation on behalf of the University for the
generosity of the committee in making possible the expert
conservation of the doll, and the related exhibitions in Japan
over the past year.
“During today’s time of economic turmoil and
uncertainty, Miss Mie remains a symbol of enduring kindness
and optimism in the hearts of our children,” she said. “It is a
pleasure to know that she had such a wonderful impact during
her homecoming visit and that she continues to spread a message
of peace and friendship among the children of Mie Prefecture
and here in Nebraska. It is through the initiative and generosity
of the Committee that the doll has now been preserved for future
generations to enjoy in our Museum.”
The Chancellor presented the delegation with a
commemorative vase engraved with the Mie logo on behalf
of the Museum. The Committee presented the Museum with
numerous gifts throughout their visit, including a traditional
Japanese kimono, an oil painting by artist Hiroshi Kiyosaki, a
miniature of Miss Mie, and more.
During the delegation’s visit
to Lincoln, Miss Mie celebrations
were jointly hosted by the Museum,
the UNL Department of Modern
Languages and Literatures, the
Kawasaki Reading Room, and
the Office of the Vice Chancellor
for Research and Economic
Development.
A highlight of their trip was
a visit to Prescott Elementary, arranged by Susan Curtis, to share
the story of Miss Mie and teach origami to local schoolchildren.
The group also enjoyed Nebraska sight-seeing, including visits to
Memorial Stadium, Haymarket Farmers Market, and Lauritzen
Gardens in Omaha. On July 4, the Kawasaki Reading Room
also hosted a luncheon for the group. Additionally, Susan and
her husband Reid hosted a private gathering at their home to
celebrate the Independence Day holiday, complete with fireworks
and American-style food. -Dana Ludvik, Public Relations Coord.
"Miss Mie remains a symbol
of enduring kindness
and optimism in the
hearts of our children."
12
THE MAMMOTH
Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum
MISS MIE EXHIBIT
MISS MIE’S JOURNEY
Page12 photos, clockwise from left:
Director Priscilla Grew and Anthropology
Collections Assistant Susan Curtis hold up
a traditional Japanese Kimono, a gift from
the Committee; Chancellor Harvey Perlman
accepts a miniature of Miss Mie on behalf of the
Museum from Committee President Takekazu
Takebayashi. The doll was a gift from the people
of Mie Prefecture; Ladies from the Committee
dressed in traditional kimonos; The 20-person
Japanese delegation congregates for a group
photo.
Page13 photos, clockwise from top left:
Masaru Aoki, expert doll conservator from the
historic Yoshitoku Company in Tokyo, poses
with Miss Mie; Friends Board member Marcia
Hollestelle and her husband Cliff Hollestelle
look at story boards that explain Miss Mie’s
journey; Committee Director Hideaki Suzuki
with UNL Nisei alumnus Tom Miya and his
wife Peggy Miya; Committee Vice President
Sayo Noro teaches origami to a group of
schoolchildren at Prescott Elementary;
Director Priscilla Grew accepts a painting from
artist Hiroshi Kiyosaki.
(Photos by Dana Ludvik, Maria Manning, and
Susan Curtis)
THE MISS MIE EXHIBIT
The exhibit features the newly
restored doll and her intricate accessories,
along with several Japanese cultural objects
from the Museum’s Anthropology collections.
The exhibit was curated by Anthropology
Collections Assistant Susan Curtis and
Intern Karen DeCristoforo, with assistance
from Alan Osborn, Anthropology Research
Associate Professor and Curator, and Exhibit
Specialists Joel Nielsen and Ron Pike. Special
thanks to Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing
Corp., USA for its sponsorship of the exhibit.
Miss Mie’s visit to Japan
and return to Nebraska are part of an
ongoing commitment by the Museum
and the Miss Mie Homecoming
Committee to continue an international
friendship that began over 80 years ago.
Miss Mie has been in the
Museum’s Anthropology collections
since 1928. The doll first arrived in
the U.S. in 1927 when 58 friendship
dolls were sent to the U.S. as gifts to
American children from the children of
Japan, intended as a gesture of goodwill.
Japanese children received American
Blue Eyed Dolls in exchange. Small
groups of these “goodwill ambassadors”
traveled to 479 cities throughout the
country that year. After the tour, some
of the dolls found homes in museums
and other institutions throughout the
U.S., including the State Museum.
In Sept. 2008, the 80th
anniversary of Miss Mie’s arrival in
Nebraska, Japanese members of the
Miss Mie Homecoming Committee
visited Lincoln to see the doll, examine
the letters written by the schoolchildren
that accompanied the doll, and make
arrangements for her visit to Japan the
following year.
In July 2009, Anthropology
Collections Assistant Susan Curtis
transported Miss Mie, along with
her collection of accessories, to Mie
Prefecture in south-central Japan. Mr.
Masaru Aoki, expert doll conservator
from the historic Yoshitoku Company
in Tokyo, performed much-needed
conservation work on the doll’s delicate
complexion. Her face and body had
developed cracks over the years which
made the doll too fragile to study or
exhibit.
After the repairs were
performed, Miss Mie was the center
of several homecoming events in the
region, including visits to the Governor
of Mie Prefecture and various schools,
as well as exhibitions in Mikimoto
Pearl Museum and Tsu Matsubishi
department store.
Curtis also coordinated the
loan of more than 150 friendship letters
written by the Japanese schoolchildren
who participated in the friendship
doll exchange. Over the past year, the
committee translated many of the
letters into English and located 12 of
the original authors or their family
members.
August 2010
13
R E S E AR C H DIVISIONS
BOTANY DIVISION REACHES
DATABASE MILESTONE
100,000th specimen cataloged in July.
Recently, the Bessey Herbarium of the Botany Division
surpassed a milestone of sorts with the 100,000th specimen
being entered into the database. To those of us working closely
with the collections, the individual specimen that became the
100,000th entry is no more (or less) important than all the
others, it just happened. The specimen is Ribes odoratum more
commonly known as a clove currant or buffalo currant and
was collected by Steve Rolfsmeier on 27 May 1990 at Bohemia
Prairie Wildlife Management Area in Knox County, Nebraska.
By the way, this specimen was databased by our volunteer
Veronica Basnayake on 15 July 2010.
How did we get to the 100,000th specimen?
The first database project in Botany began in 1998
with a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant being written
by the then curator and collections manager, Dr. Margaret
Bolick and Linda Rader. Linda is now a collections assistant
and continues database work. Before the first specimen could
be entered the collections needed a very large organizational
overhaul headed by Linda resulting in specimens being
sorted, nomenclature updated, folder labels produced and
color coded to locality, and everything carefully organized
in cases so retrieval for databasing and everyday work would
be manageable. Linda’s organizational efforts continue to be
admired by many visitors from other herbaria as well as her
fellow staff. The database effort would never have gotten this
far without her work. A view of the herbarium layout and
list of angiosperm families is on the Botany Division Web site
museum.unl.edu/research/botany/index.html.
Numerous student workers, work study students,
graduate students, volunteers, and regular staff have
contributed to data entry over the years. The database has had
two big pushes, the first being in the late 1990s and early 2000s
with about 64,000 specimens being entered from Nebraska
and other states. Data entry languished after the budget cuts
of 2003. An Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
grant written by Dr. Kaul and Dr. Rachel Simpson in 2006
allowed continuation of data entry for about 20,000 specimens
from Nebraska only. After the conclusion of the IMLS grant
student workers and staff have continued to chip away at the
backlog. Also, all newly cataloged specimens and outgoing
loans are databased. A recent NSF grant to Black Hills State
University in Spearfish, South Dakota is allowing Dr. Kaul
and Linda Rader to concentrate database efforts on specimens
from the Missouri Plateau region of the Dakotas, Nebraska,
Wyoming and Montana. It was during this recent effort that
the 100,000th mark was passed.
14
THE MAMMOTH
Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum
FROM LEFT: Botany volunteer Veronica Basnayake, Collections Manager Thomas Labedz, and
Research Professor and Curator Dr. Robert Kaul with the 100,000th specimen catalogued.
What does this milestone mean?
The larger and more complete the database the easier
it is to answer inquiries about the collections and conduct
research. Questions arise from researchers, writers, and
students from all corners of the globe, and we have questions
ourselves. Having 100,000 records in the database means
something else too. It means that we are only about 32 percent
done. Based on the current numbering system we should have
over 315,000 specimens in the herbarium. We’ll likely finish
the flowering plants from Nebraska first, the red folders. That
is where most interest and inquiries fall. But we still have
enormous holdings from other states and around the world
that need to be entered. Also needing work are the tens of
thousands of specimens of algae, fungi, lichens, liverworts,
mosses, etc. maintained in the Bessey Herbarium. Much, much
work is yet to be done.
Where can we go with the database?
Grab a computer with Internet access, we are going
on an Internet trip. Point your browser to www.rmh.uwyo.
edu, the Internet address of the Rocky Mountain Herbarium
(RMH) at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. You can
come back later and look at all the other links, but for now find
the “Specimen Database” link under the “Quick Links” column
on the right side of the screen. You should now see a search
screen titled “RM Herbarium Specimen Database” with an
inset map of the western United States under a traditional data
search form. On that map click the zoom in button (+) about
3 times and move the map to where the northwestern part of
Nebraska’s panhandle is visible. Click the “Create Polygon”
button. Using the cursor click on the towns of Lusk, Wyoming,
Chadron, Nebraska, Edgemont, South Dakota, and again on
(Continues on page 15)
PARASITOLOGY:
A SLICE OF LIFE IN MONGOLIA
On June 21, the Division of Parasitology’s expedition to
study Mongolian vertebrate parasites entered the Gobi Desert.
Water is the limiting factor for life, and this water trough near a
shallow well is a lifeline for both research scientists and domestic
animals alike. In this photo, the researchers refresh themselves
with some cool water after the thirsty horses had their fill.
For more information on this expedition, visit http://
lamarck.unl.edu/mongolia/index.html. Also, look for fulllength story in the next issue of The Mammoth!
-Scott Gardner, Professor and Curator for Parasitology
FROM LEFT: Jean-Pierre Hugot from the National Museum of Natural History in
France, Gabor Racz, Collection Manager for the Museum’s Division of Parasitology,
and Altangerel Tsogtsaikhan, a student from the National University in Mongolia.
RESEARCH DIVISIONS
ENTOMOLOGY RESEARCH AND
CURATION IN TEXAS
State Museum Entomology Curator Brett Ratcliffe and
University of Florida Associate Professor of Entomology Ronald
Cave traveled to Texas in June to identify specimens and capture
label data from Texas A&M University in College Station and
the private collections of Jim Wappes and Don Thomas in San
Antonio. -Brett Ratcliffe, Curator of Entomology
FROM LEFT: Texas A&M University Insect Collection Associate Curator Ed Riley, State Museum
Entomology Curator Brett Ratcliffe, and University of Florida Entomology Associate Professor
Ron Cave study the collections at Texas A&M University in June. (Photo Rob Williams.)
(Botany continued.)
Lusk, creating a shaded triangle search area. Click “Search”
below the map and see all the collection localities (red dots)
and specimen list for that area recorded in the RM Herbarium.
Okay, play with it. Zoom in the map, click the dots, see what it
can do. This is where I envision the Bessey Herbarium database
heading. How cool is this! Others can do this, can we?
Is it important to have the data on the Web?
The primary medium of information transfer today is
via the Internet. People look first to the Web for information.
The specimens and their data are pertinent, valid, and useful in
ways we might not even be imagining yet. Virtually every active
division in the State Museum is databasing its holdings with
whatever resources can be spared. What will that amount to?
With just the currently cataloged material in the State Museum
we could be looking at multiple millions of records, perhaps
over ten million. How does that compare? The University of
Nebraska Library system just a couple of years ago cataloged its
3 millionth book into the system. We can top that!
I’d better get a move on the next 100,000 plant
specimens. Thank you for your support, and visit the Botany
Web site for updates.
-Thomas Labedz, Collections Manager
Check out the new
“SCARABS FOR KIDS” Web page at:
http://www-museum.unl.edu/research/entomology/
Scarabs-for-Kids/scarabs.html
August 2010
15
A S H F ALL
ASHFALL FOSSIL BEDS CONTINUES TO GROW
Donation enables construction of on-site housing for guest scholars and installation of a video system to enhance the visitor experience
Construction of three cabins was completed
in May to house Ashfall interns participating in
paleontology research. The new cabins provide all
the comforts of home within a short walk to the
park worksite. Each unit features a common living
area and kitchen, a bathroom and private bedrooms.
The location affords students without vehicles the
opportunity for employment, whereas housing
off-site required them to have a reliable form of
transportation to work each day. Prospective interns
will now know what their living arrangements will be
prior to application and park staff won’t have to spend
precious time searching for adequate rental housing
each spring. These wonderful new units are a great
asset to Ashfall’s staffing needs. Funding for the project
was generously provided by the Theodore F. and Claire
M. Hubbard Family Foundation of Omaha.
Ashfall’s new on-site cabins.
Ashfall Fossil Beds is fortunate to have six capable interns for the
2010 season. These six interns spend their days excavating in the
Hubbard Rhino Barn, working in the prep lab, giving geology talks,
and working in the Discovery Pavilion… all while interpreting what
they are doing for site visitors. All of the internships have been
sponsored by generous gifts from the David B. Jones Foundation,
Allen and Virginia Overcash, and Explorology Paleo Expeditions.
Ashfall visitors view fossil dig activities on the new closed circuit TV system in the
Hubbard Rhino Barn.
To help Ashfall visitors better see the live work
conducted in the fossil beds, a closed circuit TV system
was installed in the Hubbard Rhino Barn in May to
provide a close-up experience of the fossil dig. This
project was made possible by funding from the Theodore
F. and Claire M. Hubbard Family Foundation of Omaha.
-Rick Otto, Ashfall Fossil Beds Superintendent
16
THE MAMMOTH
Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum
Ashfall Fossil Beds interns for the 2010 season. Top row from left: Ben Miller, Bill Mausbach, and
Stephanie Chorkawciw; Bottom row from left: Maria Brown, Amanda Millhouse, and Rachel Short.
ASHFALL
ASHFALL SUMMER EXCAVATION STAFF AT WORK
Amanda Millhouse from Grand Blanc, Michigan, a current graduate student at University
of Kansas, brushes ash from the skull of one of several new finds. Three new rhino skulls
appeared in the ash by midsummer.
Cautious and careful troweling in the fossil bed is essential. Stephanie Chorkawciw is a
second-year intern at Ashfall. Steph is from Morton Grove, Illinois and currently attends
Metropolitan State College in Denver.
The pelvis of a rhino comes to light as Rachel Short scrapes away ash from what appears to be
another intact skeleton. Rachel is a second-year intern. Originally from Creve Coeur, Illinois,
Rachel is a student at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
Meticulous detail excavation by Maria Brown is another essential aspect of the Ashfall dig.
Skeletons are left in-situ which allows visitors to view the fossil remains as found. Maria is
from Pennsylvania, and attended Millersville University.
Diligence and patience reward Bill Mausbach of Orchard, Nebraska, with two overlapping rhino
skeletons. This is an interesting and complicated find in the new Hubbard Rhino Barn this
summer. Bill is a student at Wayne State College.
The delicate whisks of an artist brush reveals the details of a barrel-bodied rhino skull. Ben
Miller is a native of Chevy Chase, Maryland and recent graduate of Grinnell College in Iowa.
(Photos by Rick Otto.)
August 2010
17
FRIENDS of the UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA STATE MUSEUM
C U R RENT FRIENDS MEMBERSHIP
18
The Abel Foundation
Jeff & Melissa Abele
Jerry & Ora Adler
David & Alicia Admiraal
Mrs. Jeanette Alexis
Eval & Irit Alkalay
Karen Amen
Steve & Carol Andersen
Harold W. Andersen
Drs. Robert & Kathy Anderson
Betty & Bruce Anderson
Marci & Jon Anderson
Dan & Cristi Anderson
The Andrews/Sawyers Family
Lindsey & Michael Anker
Ramond Arter & Kate Ratigan
The Ashe Family
Shiri & David Attia
Beverly R. Austin
Tiffany & Rex Baker
The Baker Family
The Ballin/Akselrod Family
Ella Barak & Ronen Kofman
Richard & Elise Barnhart
Kate Barrow & Mary Churchill
The Basch/Kaden Family
The Baumfalk Family
Tim & Jennifer Bausch
Mary G. Beavers
Brendelyn & Chris Beck
Lucinda E Beckmann
The Beecham Family
The Bell Family
Ann Benson and Dean Suing
The Berensohn Family
The Berthold Family
Marjorie Birkmann
The Bishop Family
Jodi Biskup & Carlos Blanco
James & JoAnn Bitner
The Blahak Family
Kathy & Brian Boes
Ray Boice
Tracy & Kate Boman
Diana L Borysenko
Rita C Brennan
The Brestel Family
Norma J. Brockmoller
The Brogie Family
Mark & Anessa Brohman
Theodore J. Browne
Vernon & Margaret Bruce
Shane Cahoon & Laura Clevenger
Tom Callahan
Jessica & Damon Cammarano
Douglas & Pam Cast
Rebecca & Carl Cederberg
William Cenovic
Melvin & Linda Cerny
Douglas Chapman
Carrie & Peter Clarke
Tim & Colleen Classen
Mr. Haldane Cleminson, III
Robert G. Coble
Julie & Andy Coen
Leigh F. Coffin
Denise & Joe Cole
The Coleman Family
Morris & Aleta Collier
Jim & Laura Commers
Mr. & Mrs. James R. Cook
THE MAMMOTH
Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum
Philip & Hannah Corey
The Cowan Family
Kenneth & Tracy Crouch
Eileen Cunningham
The Curry Family
The Curtiss Family
The Cusick Family
Dan & Nikki Konz
Dan Keigert & Taresa Furnas
Dancing Leaf Earth Lodge
Elizabeth A. daSilva
Janell & Shaye Daughenbaugh
The Davies/Jones Family
Rebecca & John Dean
Manqi Deng & Minyi Zhang
The Dickhaut Family
Robert & Anne Diffendal
Dan & Sha’mene Dixon
Krassen & Irina Draganov
Sara & Keith Dubrow
Mary & Frank Dupuis
Werner & Leslie Dziuvenis
Mr & Mrs Don C Eakins
Deb & Troy Eberspacher
Nick & Sandra Egger
The Elram Family
Tom & Holly Emberson
Talia & Yoni Engelhart
Aaron Epps
Amy & Diane Eriksen
The Essink Family
James & Nancy Estes
Yaniv & Eiselle Etzion
G. Steven Ferris
Tranda S. Fischelis
Gary & Marilyn Fitch
Tom & Linda Fowler
Steve Fowler
Barb & Charles Francis
Susan & Edward Furman
Mary Ann & John Gabel
George & Joyce Gallu
Nir & Doron Galpaz
Michal & Joshua Garren
Jay & Ruth Gerber
Sheri & Greg Gillham
Joe Gilvary
Joyce Gleason
Carole Goebes
Sheila & Kenneth Green
Alana Greene & Jennifer Eddington
Priscilla C. Grew
Perry Grossman & Carrie James
The Gutshall Family
The Hagbi/Kreimer Family
Mark & Jennifer Hammer
Tim & Anna Hanway
Mira & Stefan Hariskov
Norm & Bernice Harris
Sherod A. Harris
Jane & Corina Harrison
Karla & Scott Hartz
Bryce & Sandra Hilsabeck Hastings
The Hastings Family
Kristin & Scott Heaton
The Hedrick / King Family
Carey & Michelle Hennig
Patricia & Brian Herbel
Amber Herrick & Patrick Timmer
Ellen Walsh High
Davina & Karsten Hiller
Sally & Mike Hillis
Ernie & Jane Hines
D.J. Hogan
Mary Hogan Borakove
& Andrew Borakove
Larry & Dee Hogya
Cliff & Marcia Hollestelle
Ms. Theresa J Holtzen
The Hrabik Family
Ted & Colleen Hubbard
Robin R Huebner
Barbara C. Hughes
The Hutchins Family
Sarah & David Hwang
Karen & John Janovy
Palmer & Shirley Johnson
Rose & Ken Johnson
Clayton & Lois Johnson
Rhonda & Martin Jonas
The Jorgensen Family
Kathy & Jerry Joyce
Hye-Kyung Jung & Xiaoyuan Gu
Ying Fen Kao & Chi-Kuo Hu
The Kaspar Family
Shari & Victor Kelemen
Robert & Ann Kelley
Yupin and James Kendrick
Alice & Lee Kenitz
Shiri & Omri Kessel
Emily & Owen Killham
The Kincanon Family
Roger & Helga Kirst
Mary Klein
Kevin & Diane Klein
Jennifer & Esteban Klor
Ted Kooser & Kathleen Rutledge
Ralph Krause &
Elizabeth Kernes Krause
The Krohn/McEntarffer Family
The Kunz Family
Laura & Shun Kwong
Michael and Carol LaCroix
David & Melissa Lair
The Lang Family
Joseph M. Larson
Melissa & Benjamin Lass
The Laursen Family
Quang Le & Sherri Pham
The Leija Family
Jeffrey Lentsch &
Kimberly Mercure Lentsch
Bob Levin
The Levine/Montes Family
Lou & Rose Leviticus
Shirley & Yong Li
Ryan Liebig
Lincoln Gem & Mineral Club
Jim & Gail Linderholm
Nellie Littrell
Jerry & Marie Lodwig
The Loope Family
Loup Valley Gem & Mineral Society
Mark & Nola Luttich
Ronit & Matias Machtinger
Lori Mack
Mike & Kelly Madcharo
Dr. Eugene I Majerowicz
Shari & A. Malgieri
Curtis K. Mann
Tamara & Mike May
Lois & Z.B. Mayo
Carrie & Anthony McKenzie
Marj McKinty
Jeff & Heather McNear
Jenny & Charlie Medinger
The Meier Family
Edith A Meints
Noit & Dror Meiri
Mendelsohn Family
Kevin Menefee & Joy Strayer
Karen & Charles Messenger
Lisa & Chad Michel
Sundance Miller
John E Millington
Melissa Jo Mills
The Missionary Benedictine Sisters
The Moore Family
The Morales/Nunez Family
Brian & Abbey Moreland
The Morgenson Family
Rosalind Morris
Ronald & Virginia Morse
The Moser Family
William and Christine Moser
The Moy Family
Robert E. Muller
The Mundhenke Family
The Muslimin Family
Joel & Louise Myers
Tim & Tara Mykris
Michal & Eran Nadler
John & Ann Neal & Aletha Biggs
Marjorie M Neill
Raymond & Bernita Neujahr
Diana Nevins
Mark A. Nickolaus
Dan & Regina Noble
Ben Ami & Rama Novogrodsky
Elaine Nowick
Kathleen Oberg
James & Ruth O’Gara
Curtis Olson
Allen & Virginia Overcash
Carol & Mark Pace
Carlton & Judy Paine
The Papproth/Seaton Family
Timothy Parsons
The Patterson Family
Keith & Ruth Pearson
Linda & Jennifer Pearson
Bryce & Nadine Pearson
Gorden Peden
Michael & Carol Pedersen
Connie & Steve Pejsar
The Peterdi/Molnar Family
Kent & Susanne Peters
Jerry & Mary Ann Petr
Ms. Deanna S. Pierce
Marian Pierce
Mike & Kari Pierson
Yana Piralkova & George Naumov
Karen & Lewis Plachy
The Plano Clark Family
Tom & Diane Pratt
Krista & Roy Prebble
Robert Pribil
Mary Lou H. Pritchard
Brad & Katie Provancha
The Putensen Family
Shannon & Jake Quible
Mary Rabenberg & Richard Allen
The Rabinowitz/Kimeldorfer Family
CURRENT FRIENDS MEMBERSHIP
Rositza & Kiril Rachev
Russell & Charlene Rasmussen
Neal & Izen Ratzlaff
The Rees Family
The Reesman Family
Roger & Karen Reynolds
Mr. Tom Richter
Frederick & Margaret Rickers
April & Jeff Rimpley
Lydia & Roberto Rivera
Holly Robey
David L. Rogers
The Rohrs/Hudson Family
The Rosenblum Family
David & Martha Rowe
Kerensa & Tait Rowley
The Rudolph Family
The Russ/Ramirez Family
Lynne B. Ruth
Amie Sabatka & Chris Campbell
Hallie & Charles Salem
Ronald & Susan Samson
Bruce & Heidi Sands
The Sanner Family
Kim & Chris Santora
Tom & Sandy Sawyer
Larry & Lois Schaffer
Marilyn McDowell & Ed Schmidt
Iris & Chen Schor
James & Angie Schorn
Sue Schreiber
The Schryver Family
David Lind Scott
Bill & Ruth Scott
Perry & Janeanne Severson
Vern & Cindy Shad
Maerav & Amir Shahal-Schiffer
The Shavelsky Family
The Shoop Family
Dan L. Shoop II & Jeffry Dwight
Vickie & Scott Shurmur
Robert & Margaret Sieber
Kris Sieckmeyer-Hajny &
Mark Johnson
Rachel Simpson &
Donald Umstadter
Ruthelen Sittler
Robyn & Tom Slunecka
Norman & Judith Smith
Michael J. Smith
Randall B. Smith
Lynn Sobotka
Mark & Diann Sorensen
William D. Sorensen
Bill & Betty Splinter
Thomas & Denese Stalnaker
The Stander Family
Donald & Susan Steinegger
Sara L Stephenson
Jane & Matt Stricker
The Suckerman Family
Daniel & Christina Sweeney
James B. Swinehart
Jim & Sue Symonds
Idith Tal-Kohen & Gabriel Kohen
The Tamir Family
Ron & Lynn Tanner
Katherine & Bagher Tarkian
Liz & Harold Tarr
Tobie & Zak Tempelmeyer
Craig & Lyla Thompson
Daniel & Martha Thomson
Mel & Rosemary Thornton
Mary Lou Thornton
Janet Thurman
Erica Timperley
Irit & Amir Tirosh
The Toohey Family
Richard Toren & Sara LeRoy-Toren
The Trutna Family
Shane Tucker &
Keely Rennie-Tucker
Morrie & Amy Tuttle
Igor Ulitsky & Liad Carmel-Ulitsky
Guy & Bina Vachtel
Dorothy Van Brocklin
Erin & Mike Van Cleave
Kristin & Jonathan Van Meter
Stephanie Vap-Morrow &
Kirk Morrow
Grace A. Varney
Larry Voegele & Cristina Thaut
Marlene Vogel & Mary Walsh
Ken & Erny Von Bargen
Ben Vrana
John A. Wagoner
Dick & Doris Walker
Valerie Walker
David & Rose Wallman
Charles & Betty Watt
Dr. Donald C. & Diane Weldon
Linda & Vance West
The Weyeneth Family
Robert & Deborah Wigton
Linda Willard
David & Dixie Willats
Ann Willet & Mark Butler
The Williams Family
William & Barbara Woito
Lisa & Gary Wolterman
The Wood Family
Colleen & Tim Woolard
The Worth/Richards Family
Michal & Nir Yacovi
Hadas & Yanai Yedvab
Rose Yonekura & R. Tamio
Margo Young & Richard DeFusco
The Young/Hinkley Family
Shezhina & Giorgos Zacharia
Ora & Adam Zawel
Mike Zeleny
Donal Ziegenbein
Inbar & Eyal Zimlichman
Don & Millie Zimmer
Shari Zinnecker
Marcus & Amy Zinsmaster
Staci & Joel Zuerlein
Teresa & Doug Zulauf
Arthur & Christine Zygielbaum
Thank you
for your
continued
support!
LIFETIME
FRIENDS MEMBERS
Bill & Ruth Scott
David Lind Scott
Douglas & Pam Cast
Morrie & Amy Tuttle
Betty & Bruce Anderson
Palmer & Shirley Johnson
Raymond & Bernita Neujahr
James & Nancy Estes
Norm & Bernice Harris
Lifetime memberships are awarded for
exemplary service to the Friends Organization.
Your membership in the Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum helps to support
Museum development, exhibits, and programs both at the Museum and around the State.
BENEFITS
˚ Unlimited FREE admission to Morrill Hall, Trailside Museum of Natural History, and
Ashfall Fossil Beds (Note: Each visit to Ashfall Fossil Beds & Trailside requires a park
entry permit: $4 one-time / $20 annual.)
˚ Free subscription to The Mammoth, the Museum’s quarterly newsletter
˚ 10% discount on purchases from our gift shop
˚ 10% discount on Museum birthday parties
˚ Discounted Planetarium admission (Adults $2.50, Kids $2)
˚ Invitations to our Annual Meeting, events, and exhibit openings ˚ Your name listed in Friends publications
˚ Free or reduced admission and/or discounts at thousands of museums belonging
to the Association of Science- Technology Centers (ASTC) “Passport Program.”
Visit www.astc.org for a current list of participating institutions.
˚ In addition, many museums belonging to American Association of Museums (AAM)
offer discounts. Visit www.aam-us.org for a list of accredited museums.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP LEVELS
Basic Membership Levels: Individual $30 OR Family $45
(Family memberships include two adults with their children or grandchildren under age 18.)
Donor Membership Levels (includes Individual or Family membership):
Tusker’s Club – donations between $60 and $99
Fossil Funder – donations between $100 and $249
Nautilus Club – donations between $250 and $499
Scarab Society – donations between $500 and $999
Mammoth Circle – donations $1,000 and above
*Special incentives are included at each donor level. Visit us online for details!
Add membership with the Ashfall Fossil Beds Friends Chapter: $10 / year
For more information, visit www.friendsofthemuseum.org, call (402) 472-3779, or email [email protected].
Remit dues to: Friends of the University of Nebraska State Museum, 307 Morrill Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0357. Thank you for your support!
August 2010
19
FRIENDS OF THE
STATE MUSEUM
Friends of the University of
Nebraska State Museum
307 Morrill Hall
PO Box 880357
Lincoln, NE 68588-0357
Mineral Collection Giveaway
ENTER
TO WIN!
Enter for a chance to win a collection
of Earth’s fascinating minerals at
Morrill Hall! Drawing will be held
August 22. (Retail value $300.)
Check out the Discovery Shop’s new (and growing!) stock of colorful minerals -from India, Morocco, Brazil and other exotic places.
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is an equal opportunity educator and employer with a comprehensive plan for diversity.
© 2010, The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska. All rights reserved.
Non Profit
US Postage
PAID
UNL
HELP US GO GREEN!
If you would like to support the Museum and the environment
by receiving the Mammoth electronically, please send an e-mail
with your name and preferred e-mail address to
[email protected] or phone (402) 472-3779.