MUSEUM NEWS FROM THE UNIVERSIT Y OF AL ABAMA MUSEUMS • SPRING 2022 • NO. 62
Weaving with Mary Smith
Chronicle
page 16
THe bout a Z Z U B BEES page 12
THE PAUL W. BRYANT MUSEUM JOINS UA MUSEUMS page 8
MUSEUM Chronicle
Published by THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA MUSEUMS Spring 2022, Edition 62 WILLIAM BOMAR, PH.D. Executive Director The University of Alabama Museums REBECCA JOHNSON Editor KARIN FECTEAU Designer Articles provided by UA Museums staff. Cover Image: This sweater (a typical uniform in the time period) was worn by Samuel Byron Slone from Lebanon, Alabama in 1896. Photo Credit: Brad Green, Curator / Photo Archivist at the Paul W. Bryant Museum
FOLLOW UA MUSEUMS ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram: @ua_museums Facebook: @uamuseums Twitter: @uamuseums TikTok: @uamuseums YouTube: youtube.com/UAMuseums Tag us in your photos and use: #UAMuseums
Museum Chronicle is published once each year and is provided as a benefit to our members. We welcome your suggestions and comments. Please send address changes and correspondence to Rebecca Johnson, The University of Alabama Box 870340, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, 205-348-6283, rljohnson8@ua.edu UA MUSEUMS CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING:
MUSEUM BOARD OF REGENTS Dr. Prescott Atkinson Birmingham, AL
Mr. Steve Johnson Northport, AL
Mr. Ron Sawyer Tuscaloosa, AL
Mr. Larry Taylor Tuscaloosa, AL
Mr. Ben Barnett Prattville, AL
Dr. J. Barry Mason Tuscaloosa, AL
Dr. Nick Tew Tuscaloosa, AL
Mr. Jeff Bentley Pelham, AL
Mr. Doug McCraw Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mr. Tom Semmes San Antonio, TX Mrs. Leah Ann Sexton Tuscaloosa, AL
Mr. James L. Bonner Camden, AL
Mr. Edmon McKinley Thomasville, AL
Dr. Edwin Bridges Montgomery, AL
Mr. Tom McMillan, Jr. Brewton, AL
Ms. Darla Graves Atlanta, GA
Mr. Howell Poole Moundville, AL
Mr. T. Wayne Hocutt Tuscaloosa, AL
Dr. Kent Reilly Austin, TX
Mr. Terry Waters Tuscaloosa, AL
Dr. Craig Sheldon Wetumpka, AL
Mr. Tom Watson Tuscaloosa, AL
Dr. Barbara V. Spencer Tuscaloosa, AL
Mr. Charles Weissinger Auburn, AL
Mr. John Steiner Mountain Brook, AL
Dr. Beverly Wingard Tuscaloosa, AL
Mrs. Kristie Howell Taylor Tuscaloosa, AL
MUSEUM CURATORS Chief Curator & Director of Research and Collections
DR. JOHN C. ABBOTT
Box 870340; 357 MHB (205) 348-0534; (512) 970-4090 cell jabbott1@ua.edu Curator of the Paul Jones Art Collections
EMILY BIBB
Box 870270; 413 MHB (205) 348-1850 ecbibb@ua.edu Curator of Southeastern Archaeology
DR. ELLIOT BLAIR
Box 870210; 25d Ten Hoor Hall (205) 348-6542; ehblair@ua.edu Curator Emeritus of Southeastern Archaeology
DR. JOHN BLITZ
100 Cherokee Road Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 jblitz@ua.edu Curator Emeritus of Gulf Coast Archaeology
DR. IAN BROWN
Box 870210; 19b Ten Hoor Hall (205) 348-9758; ibrown@ua.edu Collections Technician, Bryant Museum
KENNETH DENTON
Box 870385 Bryant Museum
Curator of Archaeological Collections
DR. MARK DONOP
Curator Emeritus of American Archaeology
Coordinator of Zoological Collections
M. WORTH PUGH
Box 870340 101 Map-D.L. Dejarnette Lab Office of Archaeological Research 13075 Moundville Archaeological Park Moundville, AL, 35474 (205) 371-2266; mcdonop@ua.edu
DR. JIM KNIGHT
Curator of Invertebrate Zoology
BRANDON THOMPSON
Curator Emeritus of Archaeological Collections
Box 870344; 307 MHB (205) 348-4052 kmkocot@ua.edu
Box 870340; The Gorgas House Museum (205) 348-5906 brandon.s.thompson@ua.edu
Curator of The Fashion Archive
Curator Emeritus of Entomology
Box 870158; 206f Doster Hall (205) 348-8137 marcy.koontz@ua.edu
Box 870340; 305 MHB (205) 535-0942 cell mward@biology.as.ua.edu
Curator of Phycology
Curator of History and Ethnology
Box 870344 309 Mary Harmon Bryant Hall (205) 348-1791; jlopez@ua.edu
Box 870158; 306E Doster (205) 348-8139 vwimberl@ches.ua.edu
EUGENE M. FUTATO
40545 Hwy 69 Moundville, AL 35474 (205) 765-9376; efutato@.ua.edu Assistant Curator of Herbarium Herbarium Collections Manager
DR. STEVE GINZBARG
Box 870344; 412 MHB (205) 348-1829 sginzbar@biology.as.ua.edu Curator of Ichthyology
DR. PHILLIP HARRIS
72 Coventry Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 vknight@as.ua.edu
Curator of Gorgas House Collections
DR. KEVIN KOCOT
DR. MARCY KOONTZ
DR. JUAN LOPEZ-BAUTISTA
Box 870344; 407 MHB (205) 348-1831 pharris@bama.ua.edu Curator of Paleontology
Curator of the Herbarium
Box 870340; 313 MHB (205) 348-7425 aaklompmaker@ua.edu
Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology
DR. ADIEL KLOMPMAKER
Box 870344; 403 MHB (205) 348-1822 mwpugh@ua.edu
DR. G. MILT WARD
DR. VIRGINIA S. WIMBERLEY
DR. MICHAEL MCKAIN Box 870344; 411 MHB (205) 348-1826; mrmckain@ua.edu
DR. ALBERTO PEREZ-HUERTA Box 870338; 2018 Bevil (205) 348-8382 aphuerta@as.ua.edu
MUSEUM CHRONICLE • 1
From the DIRECTOR The past year has been a time of great change for The University of Alabama Museums. We highlight some of these exciting changes in this issue of the Museum Chronicle. In May, we added a fifth public museum to our museum system as the Paul W. Bryant Museum was moved from the College of Continuing Studies to UA Museums in the College of Arts and Sciences. This addition increases our visibility and allows us to reach new diverse audiences. It also expands the diversity of our collections and areas of research. Alongside the Gorgas House Museum and Warner Transportation Museum, it substantially expands our activities in the fields of history and American studies. The addition of the Bryant Museum also comes at an important time as The University celebrates the 50th anniversary of the integration of the Crimson Tide football team. The Bryant Museum has chronicled this history with an exciting exhibit, Breaking Barriers. Changes have also come to the Alabama Museum of Natural History. The live honeybees in our Buzz About Bees exhibit have been so popular that we are making room for more live insect exhibits. The museum has also added a fun exhibit on weather and lightning, and another on freshwater mussels and their importance in Alabama history and the ecosystem. These exhibits have been developed to highlight faculty research at The University and each has had intensive student involvement in their development. A group of outstanding students in our Graduate Museum Studies Certificate Program developed an excellent temporary exhibit at the Warner Transportation Museum, Weaving Muscogee Creek Culture: The Artistry of Mary Smith. This
Follow us: Instagram: @ua_museums Facebook: @uamuseums Twitter: @uamuseums TikTok: @uamuseums YouTube: youtube.com/UAMuseums 2 • MUSEUM CHRONICLE
exhibit features the beautiful woven baskets, mats, and other items made by award-winning Muscogee artist Mary Smith, a familiar face at the Moundville Native American Festival for many years. You may have also seen Mary’s work at Moundville Archaeological Park, as she produced many of the items featured in the dioramas in the Jones Archaeological Museum, including the chief’s colorful and ornate turkey feather cloak. As winners of the Southeastern Museum Conference’s annual Student Work in Museums competition, the students who developed this exhibit presented their work at the SEMC Annual Meeting in Chattanooga in October. I attended the session and was very proud when session organizers said they were “blown away by the work of the Alabama students.” Of course, much of the exciting work of UA Museums happens behind the scenes, such as the important research of our curators. In this issue, you can read about the important discoveries made by our Curator of Paleontology, Adiel Klompmaker. Dr. Klompmaker has studied the predatory habits of ancient octopuses
Bill Bomar, Executive Director, University of Alabama Museums
Photo Credit: Mary Kathryn Carpenter, Strategic Communications, The University of Alabama
and found that tiny holes in fossil clams demonstrate that by 75 million years ago, octopuses were deviously drilling into their prey. The find pushes evidence of this behavior back 25 million years! The important work of The University of Alabama Museums would not be possible without the support of our members. If you are not already a supporting member, please consider joining today. You will enjoy many perks of membership, including discounts and invitations to special events and programs. I hope to see you soon in one of our museums or at one of our programs!
BILL BOMAR, PH.D.
Table of CONTENTS
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12 2 4
From the Director
20
Staff Change JOYIA DAVIS
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30
UA Museums Curator Discovers Evidence of Predation by Octopuses Pushed Back By 25 Million Years
DISCOVERING ALABAMA Wins Gold
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Generous Donation to the Paleontology Collection
DISCOVERING ALABAMA New Episodes
2021 Museum Studies Annual Scholarship
24
A Musical Time Machine
33
New Giant Fossil Marine Reptile Skull for the Museum
26
New Acquisition for The Gorgas House Museum Arrives Just in Time
34
UA Museums Staff / Faculty Curators Publications 2021
28
Run ’Round the Mounds Returns
35
Museums Membership
36
2021-2022 Museum Members
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12
IMLS Grant Awarded to Paleontology Collection
UA professor emeritus receives Alabama Avocational Paleontologist Award
In Memoriam E.O. Wilson
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29
22
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7
Resurgence of On-Campus Activity at The Gorgas House Museum
16
The Paul W. Bryant Museum Joins UA Museums Putting the "GRAND" in the Grand Gallery Weaving with Mary
MUSEUM CHRONICLE • 3
Saying Hello to
JOYIA DAVIS Written by DR. JOHN FRIEL
Joyia Davis speaks with fourth graders at Edgewood Elementary for National Alabama Day. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist
The Alabama Museum of Natural History is pleased to announce that Joyia Davis is the new Education Outreach Coordinator! Joyia holds a B.A in Anthropology from UA, and a M.A.T. in Museum Education from George Washington University. She comes from the Alabama Department of Archives and History where she worked for the past three years, first as an Education Program Specialist, and most recently, as an Education Curator. Prior to that, Joyia was a Public Programs Specialist at Dumbarton House, a historic house museum, and has done internships at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Please join us in welcoming Joyia to The University of Alabama Museums family! n 4 • MUSEUM CHRONICLE
Photo Credit: Reata Strickland, Graphic Designer
Remembering Dr. Edward O. Wilson Written by REBECCA JOHNSON
The University of Alabama lost one of its legends on December 26, 2021. its staff, but most importantly, he was Professor Edward O. Wilson was an inspiration to numerous students a giant in many ways. Known as “Darwin’s Natural Heir”, he is credited at UA over the years,” said Dr. John with the development of no less than Abbott, Director of the Department of two different fields of He was a champion Museum Research & Collections. science and among his of conservation Professor Wilson many honors, he was the the world over, but (who insisted on being recipient of two Pulitzer never forgot his Prizes. Wilson visited The called “Ed”) had been University of Alabama Alabama beginnings, a friend of Discovering Museums in 2019 and for which he was Alabama for many was admired by all who immensely proud. years and appeared in a number of Discovering knew him and his work. “He was a champion of conservation Alabama programs, presenting his environmental insights. Discovering the world over, but never forgot his Alabama beginnings, for which he was Alabama host and creator, Doug immensely proud. He was a friend and Phillips, enjoyed an interview visit with the world-renowned ecologist and inspiration to the Alabama Museum of Natural History (where many of his Alabama native. In a statement released after the news awards are currently on display) and
of Wilson’s passing, Phillips reflected on the time spent with his friend. “Farewell to my dear friend, Ed Wilson, champion for the creation and fellow advocate for the Alabama Wilds. I will miss the many enjoyable excursions with him in the Alabama backcountry and will always be humbled by his gracious participation with Discovering Alabama. In special remembrance, Discovering Alabama will again feature the renowned Alabama native, Dr. E.O. Wilson, in our upcoming show, Animal Friends, a fitting subject for his legacy of environmental leadership, and sadly, Discovering Alabama’s last opportunity to be blessed with his presence.” n MUSEUM CHRONICLE • 5
Discovering Alabama Wins Gold Written by REBECCA JOHNSON
Discovering Alabama was already a four-time Emmy-winning television series, but in February 2021, it added a Gold ADDY Award to its list of accomplishments! The Discovering Alabama exhibit located inside Smith Hall was recognized by the American Advertising Awards in the category of Out-Of-Home and Ambient Media. The American Advertising Awards honor excellence in advertising and cultivate the highest creative standards in the industry. From the perspective of Graphic Designer, Reata Strickland, the creation of the exhibit came from years of visiting museums around the world such as the British Museum, The Uffizi, Rijksmuseum, Smithsonian, and The National WWII Museum. Museums weren’t the
only influence on the design. Also providing inspiration for the exhibit were the Fiumicino airport in Rome, the Heathrow airport in London, and the Dublin Airport in Ireland. “I hope visitors recognize the depth of Discovering Alabama,” said Reata Strickland, “That they see it is more than just a television show. It is a beautifully documented and educational presentation of our beautiful state.” This award-winning exhibit, celebrating the history and depth of Discovering Alabama, is on permanent display and will continue to branch out for years to come as new episodes are produced. n
(ABOVE, TOP AND BOTTOM): Reata Strickland’s award-winning Discovering Alabama exhibit inside Smith Hall. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums’ Communications Specialist 6 • MUSEUM CHRONICLE
Discovering Alabama’s “Alabama Fossils” episode premiered in May, 2021. Photo Credit: Reata Strickland, Graphic Designer
Discovering Alabama’s “Grand Sylvan Realm” episode premiered in January, 2021. Photo Credit: Reata Strickland, Graphic Designer
Discovering Alabama’s New Episodes Discovering Alabama premiered two new episodes in 2021. “Grand Sylvan Realm” debuted in January and invited viewers to simply “regale in the presence of these lands,” as a combination of aerial cinematography and musical accompaniment pleasantly showcased first the impressive lands of Alabama’s national forests, and then Alabama’s vast, abundant private forestlands. In May of 2021, Discovering Alabama’s “Alabama Fossils” explored the natural wonders of Alabama, where you can
be sure you will always discover something new. In this program, the hunt is for things that are millions of years old. The program takes you to spots all around Alabama where fossils can be found, from the mountains in the north to the beaches in the south, and examines what this fossil record tells us about Alabama’s ancient past. Discovering Alabama premiered a brand-new episode titled “Animal Friends” on Thursday, February 24 at 8 PM on Alabama Public Television. n MUSEUM CHRONICLE • 7
THE PAUL W. BRYANT MUSEUM JOINS UA MUSEUMS Written by REBECCA JOHNSON and BRYANT WELBOURNE In 2021, the Paul W. Bryant Museum, which features numerous exhibits and artifacts celebrating Crimson Tide football and athletics, joined the Alabama Museum of Natural History, Moundville Archaeological Park, the Gorgas House Museum, the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum, the Discovering Alabama public television series, the Office of Archaeological Research, and Museum Research and Collections under the UA Museums’ umbrella. Though, “rejoining” might be a more appropriate word to use. When the Paul W. Bryant Museum first opened in 1988, it was part of The University of Alabama Museums. However, in the late 1990s, it moved from UA Museums to become a standalone entity. Several years
ago, at the same time UA Museums moved to the College of Arts and Sciences, the Bryant Museum moved to the College of Continuing Studies. In March 2021, following the retirement of longtime director, Ken Gaddy, the Bryant Museum returned home to the UA Museums family and the search for a new director began. That new director would be found in-house. Olivia Arnold, a familiar face to museum visitors, was named as the new director of the Paul W. Bryant Museum. Prior to her new position, she served in various roles at the Bryant Museum over the past 19 years, most recently as Business Operations Manager, and Interim Director. She holds a BA in History, MA in Higher Education, and is currently enrolled in the UA Graduate Museum Studies Certificate program.
(FACING PAGE): Coach Bryant’s houndstooth hat on display at the Bryant Museum. Photo Credit: Jeff Hanson, Strategic Communications, The University of Alabama; (ABOVE): The football used in The University of Alabama’s first victory over Auburn University in 1894. Photo credit: Brad Green, Curator /
Photo Archivist at the Paul W. Bryant Museum
MUSEUM CHRONICLE • 9
Museum to UA Museums makes so much sense,” said For Olivia and the rest of the Bryant Museum staff, Dr. Bomar. “Museums of all types play important roles in reconnecting with UA Museums and having opportunities connecting people to the past through inspirational and to be around other museum professionals has been a good engaging encounters with real objects and specimens. fit for them. “The museum profession is really Whether the story being told is centered on ancient Native unique in a lot of ways and being Americans, Alabama’s biodiversity with others with similar educational or the rich history of athletics at The and job backgrounds really makes a difference,” said Olivia Arnold, The Bryant Museum has grown University of Alabama, the methods Director of the Paul W. Bryant and principles behind the museum over the years to become a informal learning medium and the Museum. “One thing that has been top-notch athletic history museum with outstanding so beneficial to us is having a support preservation and management of collections and exhibits. collections are the same.” network that can easily step in and The Bryant Museum features help with different projects and exhibits, artifacts, and memorabilia programs, act as sounding boards, that celebrate the history and or provide feedback from their own experiences.” tradition of Crimson Tide football and in 2021, launched a new and permanent exhibit, Dr. Bill Bomar, executive director of The University of Alabama Museums, believes the transition benefits both Breaking Barriers, which takes visitors through a timeline of the integration of sports at The University of Alabama. the Bryant Museum and UA Museums family given that the staffs will be able to collaborate on special projects and “For our staff it has always been a significant ‘moment’ in the history of UA Athletics. We’ve helped dozens of large public programs. researchers over the years, participated in discussion panels “The administrative move of the Paul W. Bryant
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and lecture series, and told the oral history,” explained Arnold. “However, as we approached the 50th Anniversary, we knew it was time to really highlight the contributions of the players and coaches that broke the barriers.” Being closed for several months in 2020 really pushed things for the exhibit back by about a year, but in the end, those setbacks made the exhibit better. Originally planned as a temporary exhibit that would stay at the Bryant Museum for a year and then travel to different locations, the idea evolved into a permanent exhibit, considering the importance of the events. The staff sat down and discussed what their visions were and what they felt they could do to adequately pay tribute to those involved. Everyone agreed that these men permanently changed the athletic program at UA and they should be permanently recognized for their contributions. For the staff, the most rewarding part of the process has been the opportunity to share the exhibit with the players that are featured. While several of the players that were a part of the first few years of the integration process have sadly passed away, there are many still living. For the museum to have the opportunity to personally show them how much of an impact they’ve had has been an experience beyond description.
In addition to the new exhibit, visitors to the Bryant Museum will appreciate seeing Coach Bryant’s houndstooth hat, crystal footballs, championship rings, technologically advanced exhibits, the clarinet belonging to Million Dollar Band Director, Colonel Butler, an 1896 sweater (which was the football uniform at the time), cloth and leather helmets that are more than 120 years old, and even Frank Thomas’ pin from his days at Notre Dame, awarded to him by the legendary Knute Rockne. The items found in the Paul W. Bryant Museum highlight more than a century of a winning tradition. “The Bryant Museum has grown over the years to become a topnotch athletic history museum with outstanding collections and exhibits,” said Bomar. “UA Museums has also grown over the years to become a museum system with great disciplinary breadth. We are known for our strong collections in archaeology and paleontology, but we also already operate two history museums, the Gorgas House Museum and the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum. With the addition of the Bryant Museum and their outstanding collections, history is definitely another area of strength for UA Museums.” n
(FACING PAGE, LEFT TO RIGHT): The 2015 Coaches’ Trophy on display at the Paul W. Bryant Museum. Photo Credit: Lance Holloway, Video Producer
and Content Creator of Lance Holloway Productions. Jeremy Davis’ maquette of Coach Nick Saban, a roughly 3-foot tall sculpture used as an example for the final 9-foot tall statue that stands outside of Bryant-Denny Stadium. Photo Credit: Brad Green, Curator / Photo Archivist at the Paul W. Bryant Museum; (ABOVE, TOP TO BOTTOM) The Breaking Barriers exhibit at the Paul W. Bryant Museum. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist; Colonel Butler’s Clarinet. Photo Credit: Brad Green, Curator / Photo Archivist at the Paul W. Bryant Museum M U S E U M C H R O N I C L E • 11
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Putting the
“GRAND” in the Grand Gallery Written by REBECCA JOHNSON
THE ALABAMA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY’S GRAND GALLERY HAS UNDERGONE NEEDED CHANGES, BASED AROUND NEW "BEE-UTIFUL" EXHIBIT INSTALLATIONS AND RESEARCH CONDUCTED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.
The Alabama Museum of Natural History’s Grand Gallery has undergone needed changes based around new “beeutiful” exhibit installations and research conducted at The University of Alabama. Creating space for new exhibits, displays, and live insects is no easy task. The staff at the Alabama Museum of Natural History had to hammer, cut, and perform an entire demolition of the diorama space located on the third floor of the Grand Gallery. The taxidermy Kodiak Bear and alligator were removed from their long-standing habitats (a signature found on the walls dated back to 1972) to provide new opportunities for live insects. Spearheaded by Kendra Abbott, the Alabama Museum of Natural History’s Research & Outreach Coordinator, these updates began with a Honey Bee exhibit on the third floor titled The Buzz About Bees. Thanks to a partnership with the West Alabama Beekeepers Association, a live
beehive was built with the purpose of allowing visitors the chance to observe honey bees (including Queen Alabeena, named by the public during Bama Bug Fest) coming in from outside and into the museum. Moving the pollinators into their new home involved conversations with beekeeper Vince Wallace, Mark Allison’s carpentry skills, Celene Bennet’s expertise, and Druid City Glass drilling a hole in the window. More live animal exhibits like The Buzz About Bees are planned to showcase the animals in the museum’s Animal Room that are used for outreach and for Bama Bug Fest. In addition to the honey bee hive and the neighboring Bumblebee exhibit (featuring a hands-on game from the research of University of Alabama Associate Professor, Jeff Lozier), the Alabama Museum of Natural History also has a freshwater mussel exhibit on the third floor, presenting the work of University of Alabama Associate
(FACING PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT): A close-up view of the honey bees, hard at work in their new home at the Alabama Museum of Natural History.
Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist; Celene Bennet identifies Honey Bees in The Buzz About Bees exhibit. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist; A preschool student admires the live beehive at the Alabama Museum of Natural History. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist; The Buzz About Bees exhibit on the third floor of the Alabama Museum of Natural History. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist
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Professor, Dr. Carla Atkinson, in collaboration with The life and how species are named. Four micro exhibits will University of Alabama’s Fashion Archive and Dr. Marcy be created for Alabama schools that are unable to visit the Koontz, who helped design the overall exhibition in the cases, museum. A lightning exhibit highlighting Geology’s Dr. loaned objects from their collection, Kimberly Geneareau’s examination and developed the concept and of lightning allows visitors to see structure for the online exhibition. some of her experiments, learn how Visitors can explore Alabama’s lightning creates glass from melted Freshwater Biodiversity with a look rock, find out how fulgurites are into why they are important to our created, and test what has been environment, learn about mussel learned with the plasma ball to see biology and how to age them, and which materials conduct electricity find out how the fashion industry the best! effected the mussel populations in University of Alabama students Alabama. For Dr. Carla Atkinson, have also been instrumental in the freshwater mussel exhibit was helping design exhibits at the useful in drawing attention to the Alabama Museum of Natural fact that Alabama is number one History. Cephalopods in Alabama in freshwater mussel, fish, snail, Through Time is an exhibit that crayfish, turtle, and snake diversity. provides the “The most important thing public with the for me was communicating that chance to explore I hope that Alabama has the highest aquatic different types people biodiversity in its borders than of cephalopods start to see the rest of the United States and (octopus, that the mussels are one of the taxonomic ammonites, exhibits are groups that represent that high and nautiluses) aquatic biodiversity,” said Dr. through continuously Atkinson. “I hope visitors get Alabama’s history, changing a view into the incredible local from fossils to and that they diversity here and learn about their animals that come back biology and the connection of local live today.Moon over and biodiversity to people.” Moths From over again.” The third floor isn’t the only Around the World space inside the museum to be provides opportunities to discover rejuvenated. After designing, species of Moon Moths or Luna (FACING PAGE, LEFT TO RIGHT, CLOCKWISE) Freshwater planning, and installation, there are Moths and study the Mussel Specimen; University of Alabama student, Megan Kubala, assisting in the now new exhibits as visitors enter life cycle of a Luna Moth, design of the Freshwater Mussels Exhibit.; the museum. On the first floor, The which can be found in backyards Design for the Freshwater Mussels exhibit. State Symbols highlights four of across Alabama. Photo Credit: Dr. Marcy Koontz and Alabama’s state symbols: the state Communicating is an important Kendra Abbott; Trudie Murphy, a senior Paleo student at The University of Alabama tree, the state bird, the state rock, function of museums. Through helped design and install Cephalopods in and the state amphibian. More exhibits, research comes to life by Alabama Through Time! Photo Credit: updates are to come to the Alabama way of studies, visuals, and handsKendra Abbott, the Alabama Museum of Museum of Natural History in on activities. Natural History’s Research & Outreach Coordinator (ABOVE): A 1908 child’s double 2022. Plans are in the works for a “What’s happening at The breasted wool coat with mother of pearl new crayfish exhibit, just in time University of Alabama is changing buttons is on display in the Freshwater Mussels for the new crayfish book coming the world! We are learning and exhibit. The exhibit highlighting Dr. Kimberly out from University of Alabama discovering new and exciting Geneareau’s examination of lightning. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Press in the spring of 2022. Kendra things,” said Kendra Abbott. Communications Abbott is also working with Kevin “Updating the exhibits that help Kocot (University of Alabama Associate Professor and disseminate this research is important. I hope that people Curator of Invertebrate Zoology at the Alabama Museum start to see that the exhibits are continuously changing and of Natural History) to create an exhibit on biodiversity of that they come back over and over again.” n M U S E U M C H R O N I C L E • 15
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We a ving Wi t h Ma r y Written by REBECCA JOHNSON, RENÉ THOMPSON, and DR. ALEX BENITEZ
Mary Smith, a familiar face to visitors of the Moundville Native American Festival, shared her work in a new way through a University of Alabama student-led exhibit and event at the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum. Native Americans are a vibrant and contemporary community and during 2021’s Native American Heritage Month, the Transportation Museum and Moundville Archaeological Park teamed up with University of Alabama Museum Studies students to launch an exhibit and host a basket weaving workshop with renowned Muscogee (Creek) artist, Mary Smith, and showcase indigenous art as a facet of local culture. The students in Dr. Alex Benitez’s Museum Education and Exhibition course had already been working on different conceptual exhibit projects so the transition to a real exhibit topic with content development was a welcomed opportunity. They considered a variety of themes and topics, but the idea of focusing on one Native American artist was the most promising, mainly because there were other related events scheduled to happen at the
same time. This exhibit in Tuscaloosa would complement the Moundville Native American Festival and the Spiro exhibit at the Birmingham Museum of Art. UA Museums Executive Director, Dr. Bill Bomar, suggested Mary Smith as the exhibit’s focus because she is an award-winning Muscogee basket and mat weaver as well as widely recognized and celebrated within the Native American community. Her baskets and mats are in many museums and private collections, including the Mary Smith was chosen turkey/goose feathered cloak for the Paramount as the exhibit’s focus Chief on display at the because she is an Jones Archaeological award-winning Muscogee Museum. One of her basket and mat weaver significant contributions as well as widely to Muscogee (formerly recognized and celebrated Creek) culture is rewithin the Native discovering the double false braid rim technique American community.
(FACING PAGE, LEFT TO RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM): The Weaving Muscogee Creek Culture: The Artistry of Mary Smith exhibit at the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist; One of Mary Smith’s Corn Processing baskets on display at the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist Mary Smith gives Riva Cullinan feedback about her basket. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist; University of Alabama Museums Studies students attend the Southeastern Museums Conference to present about the Weaving Muscogee Creek Culture: The Artistry of Mary Smith exhibit. Photo Credit: Dr. Bill Bomar, Executive Director of UA Museums; Milly McKenzie compares basket weaving notes with a visitor at the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum’s Weave with Mary event. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist; Mary Smith helps guide a young basket weaver with her work. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist M U S E U M C H R O N I C L E • 17
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that was used on historic Muscogee baskets. The technique had been lost for more than 100 years prior to Mary’s work on recreating it. Mary is also highly regarded by the Muscogee Nation in Oklahoma and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in Alabama, where she regularly teaches both Native Americans and others how to basket weave. Mary was even asked to teach basket weaving to the contestants during the recent Miss USA pageant held in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the Muscogee Nation’s River Spirit Casino Resort. This new exhibit provided an opportunity to share her art and story with those outside of that community, which was particularly important, given that this part of Alabama was traditional Muscogee (Creek) territory. “I was thrilled to be asked because I love weaving and sharing my knowledge,” said Mary Smith. “It was such an honor to have been chosen to display my art at the museum. I am so pleased that the museum chose a Native American Artist to present their work to the public.” The entire class of ten students participated in the initial process. Still, the majority of the exhibit was developed by four incredible students who approached this project as complete professionals. This team of four students held regular meetings, created the exhibit video content with UA Museums Communications Specialist, Rebecca Johnson, designed the exhibit, produced the text panels, and installed the show, which included mats and a twined skirt handpicked by Smith to showcase her weaving ability. The four talented scholars who continued to meet with the artist and plan the exhibit were Riva Cullinan (MA student History), Elissa Lisle (MA History), Milly McKenzie (BA Anthropology 2021), and René Thompson (MFA). Their project proposal became an exhibition titled Weaving Muscogee Creek Culture: The Artistry of Mary Smith. Most of the students’ assignments focused on real work a museum professional would do to create an exhibit. They summarized their idea’s justifications and strengths and then the students performed research on Muscogee history, Muscogee culture, and Mary Smith, which included Zoom interviews with Mary during class periods. What is most impressive about this group of graduate and undergraduate students is that they came from various academic disciplines; there were historians, journalists, librarians, anthropologists, and even theater majors who contributed to this exhibit. They all brought their own experiences and expertise to the table. Coinciding with the exhibit, the students hosted a Weave with Mary: Meet the Artist workshop that was held on November 6, 2021, at the Mildred Westervelt Warner
Transportation Museum This special event featured basket weaving demonstrations, giving visitors the opportunity to learn how to make small baskets to take home, talk with Mary Smith, and learn about her artistic journey. The entire exhibit team volunteered to work with the public and help guide participants of all ages in their basket weaving on a beautiful sunny day on the grassy plain next to the Warner Transportation Museum. “I had not met Mary in person until that day and it was so nice to experience her authentic love for her culture, traditions, and art in general. As we are both artists, we talked about ceramics, weaving materials, and paint,” said René Thompson, a studio art Graduate Student in the MFA Program at The University of Alabama. In addition to the exhibit and basket weaving event, the Museum Studies students submitted their proposal to the Student Work in Museums competition (SWIM) and were selected to present at “It was such an honor the Southeastern Museums to have been chosen Conference (SEMC 2021) in Chattanooga, Tennessee. to display my art at Four members of our group the museum. I am attended the conference in so pleased that the person and one attended museum chose a Native virtually. They gave their American Artist to presentation via Zoom on the last day of the conference present their work to the public.” and each received an award for their participation. While attending SEMC, they were able to meet other emerging museum professionals, go to breakout sessions full of information about the field of museology, collaborate with others from various museums in the southeast, and learn about art/object display such as hanging mechanisms, moving walls, and LED flex tube lighting. It wasn’t all work without any play, though. The students also toured Chattanooga and visited the Hunter Museum of American Art and the Tennessee Aquarium. Through the efforts of the hardworking students and their passion for Mary Smith’s art, it was UA Museums’ great honor to bring more awareness to her artistic creations with those outside of the Native American community. “Mary's talents are so diverse that she can create beautiful pieces of pottery, baskets, and Native American clothing,” said Katherine Edge, Director of the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum. “Her story of artistic revival is an inspiration.” n
(FACING PAGE): Mary Smith working on the turkey/goose feathered cloak for the Paramount Chief on display at the Jones Archaeological Museum at Moundville Archaeological Park. Photo Credit: Mary Smith M U S E U M C H R O N I C L E • 19
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Resurgence of On-Campus Activity at The Gorgas House Museum Written by BRANDON THOMPSON
The number of colleges, departments, faculty, and students on campus provides a wealth of potential collaborative opportunities. The Gorgas House Museum, with its central location on campus, acts as a hub of cooperative engagements between the UA Museums system and many of the University’s communities. Although the pandemic slowed many projects, it could not end these partnerships and the Gorgas House met 2021 with a resurgence of on-campus activity. Within the Museum system, Woman in a Dress, a 2019 collaborative exhibit with UA’s Department of Fashion, Textiles, and The Gorgas House Museum, Design found new with its central location on life at the Mildred campus, acts as a hub of Westervelt Warner Transportation cooperative engagements Museum with between the Museum additional content in system and many of the a beautiful venue. The University’s communities. museums showcased seasonal stories on text panels designed by Abby Kennedy, a talented Department of Research and Collections student volunteer. Other collaborations include UA’s Department of Theatre and Dance. Theatre students performed monologues on the museum’s portico and its Costume Department is
developing an ongoing project to present historic garment reproductions throughout the Spring semester. Students in the College of Education’s Early Childhood Education program developed a small-scale virtual tour, while Josh Dolphin, a UA staff member, and volunteer, developed an interactive virtual tour now on the Gorgas House’s website. Additional student-level collaborations include those with Stephanie Kozel, a now graduate of UA’s Nursing program who developed an exhibit on the history of nursing and medicine on campus, and Steven Filoromo. Steven is a graduate student in the Department of Anthropology. He examined a ca. 1860 blue glass bead recovered in 1999 during excavations around the Gorgas House Museum. Using equipment in the Ancient People and Plants Laboratory and the Southeastern Archaeology Lab he compiled high-resolution images and studied the bead’s elemental composition. These processes help determine the bead’s origin and assist in comparing it to other artifacts found on campus. These projects highlight some of the Gorgas House Museum’s collaborations in 2021. Others include those with UA’s Early College, historic space reinterpretation with the Blount Scholars Program, and many others. With these relationships and projects as launching points, the upcoming year promises to be an equally exciting, engaging, and collaborative one. n
(FACING PAGE, TOP AND BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT): The Woman in a Dress exhibit on display at the Mildred
Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist; A text panel of seasonal stories on showcase during Haunting of the Museum. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist; University of Alabama Nursing Student, Stephanie Kozel, stands in front of the Amelia Gorgas: A History of Nursing and Medicine exhibit at The Gorgas House Museum. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist; Virtual Tour of The Gorgas House Museum created by Josh Dolphin.; A student from UA’s Department of Theatre and Dance performs a monologue on The Gorgas House Museum’s portico. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist; Steven Filoromo, a graduate student in The University of Alabama Department of Anthropology, uses equipment in the Ancient People and Plants Laboratory and the Southeastern Archaeology Lab to compile high-resolution images and determine the bead’s elemental composition. Photo Credit: Brandon Thompson (left) A ca. 1860 blue glass bead recovered in 1999 during excavations around the Gorgas House Museum. Photo Credit: Steve Filoromo MUSEUM CHRONICLE • 21
UA professor emeritus receives Alabama Avocational Paleontologist Award Written by DR. ADIEL KLOMPMAKER
Dr. Ron Buta, professor emeritus of Astronomy, has been a major force in avocational or amateur paleontology since he rediscovered his interest in paleontology in the mid-1990s. For his substantial contributions uncovering the prehistory of Alabama, he was selected as the 2021 recipient of the prestigious Alabama Avocational Paleontologist Award, which was presented during the annual celebration of National Fossil Day in the Alabama Museum of Natural History. The Alabama Avocational Paleontologist Award was created in 2020 to honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Alabama paleontology. “There are dozens of very active avocational paleontologists scouring Alabama’s surface for fossils and they play a very important role in Alabama paleontology,” said Dr. Klompmaker, UA Museums’ Curator of Paleontology. “Think of people finding fossils and making them available for study, volunteers at museums, people doing outreach activities, and folks writing papers and books about fossils.” Most of them are either a member of the Alabama Paleontological Society or the Birmingham Paleontological Society, both of which organize field trips and have regular meetings during normal times. “Ron Buta is particularly well-known in and outside Alabama for the books and scientific articles he wrote with colleagues about coal-age fossils found in northern Alabama,” said Klompmaker, a member of the award committee. Those ~315 million years old coal-age rocks contain many trackways of ancient amphibians, primitive reptiles, and
invertebrates as well as various amazing plant fossils. Ron amassed a large collection of fossil footprints and plants from the Crescent Valley Mine since 2011, but he also found many fossils at the famous Union Chapel Mine. “Over the last decade, he has graciously donated several thousand of fossils found in these open-pit mines in Walker County to the Alabama Museum of Natural History fossil collection and other collections,” Klompmaker mentioned. Ron also played a role in saving the Union Chapel Mine (Steven C. Minkin Paleozoic Footprint Site) as a fossil site and he has been active in outreach events. The committee concluded that Ron Buta is a very worthy of receiving the award. “I was very delighted to hear this,” Ron said in a first reaction. “What an honor! The motivation to do good work does not necessarily depend on the possibility of receiving an award, but it means a lot to have one’s work so recognized.” Discovering glimpses of past life is highly exciting to Ron. “I have most enjoyed the moments when, after splitting a rock, I was startled by the presence of a preserved trackway in the slab. It is a thrilling experience because when this happens, you become the first person ever to have seen the tracks exposed.” Ron is particularly proud of his research at the Crescent Valley Mine, a mine very close to where Alabama trackways were first reported in 1930. His photo database involves as many as 15,000 digital images covering nearly 5,000 specimens. n
(ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT): Dr. Ron Buta posing with a trackway consisting of three parts, all of which he found on different visits to the Crescent Valley Mine. These are primitive reptile footprints called Cincosaurus cobbi. Photo Credit: Deb Crocker; Impression of the ancient amphibian tracemaker and the tracks found in northern Alabama. Photo Credit: From Buta & Kopaska-Merkel (2016), UA Press; Ron Buta with the award plaque during National Fossil Day. Photo Credit: Dr. Adiel Klompmaker 2 2 • MUSEUM CHRONICLE
2021 Museum Studies Annual Scholarships Written by REBECCA JOHNSON
The University of Alabama College of Arts and Sciences offers an interdisciplinary Museum Studies Certificate for graduate students who are either majoring in a traditional museum content discipline such as art history, history, anthropology, American studies, geology, or biology; or students who have already completed graduate degrees in these disciplines. Courses in this program are taught by members of the UA Museums staff and students commonly work on class projects and internships in our museums. In 2021, The University of Alabama Museums awarded two annual scholarships: The Craig T. Sheldon and Elisabeth S. Sheldon Endowed Graduate Scholarship in Museum Studies and the Camilla Canty Endowed Scholarship. Students must be officially enrolled in the University of Alabama Graduate Museum Studies Program to be eligible for these awards. Priority of
consideration are given to well-rounded applicants, as evidenced by academic and extracurricular achievements. Up to $1,200 will be awarded to each recipient. UA Museums would like to recognize and congratulate Lindsey Jones, a Master of Fine Arts student at The University of Alabama, majoring in Costume Design and Production, as the recipient of the Camilla Canty Endowed Scholarship and Camille Morgan, a PhD student, majoring in Anthropology (Archaeology of Complex Societies), who was awarded the Craig T. Sheldon and Elisabeth S. Sheldon Endowed Graduate Scholarship in Museum Studies. These awards have greatly helped our Museum Studies students and we are grateful for the generosity of Drs. Craig and Elisabeth Sheldon and Ms. Camilla Canty for making graduate scholarships possible. n
(ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT) Lindsey Jones stands alongside her recreation of an 1870s Bustle Dress a at The Gorgas House Museum. Camille Morgan standing in the Grand Gallery of the Alabama Museum of Natural History. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist MUSEUM CHRONICLE • 2 3
A Musical Time Machine Written by KATHERINE EDGE and REBECCA JOHNSON
In the summer of 2020, The University of Alabama Museums was contacted by the Dean Family of Columbus, Mississippi, who had several versions of gramophones and phonographs they were looking to donate. The staff of the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum worked with the family and were able to collect the artifacts, which included a 1919 Brunswick Phonograph, but it was no easy task. “The artifacts were in an outbuilding/ workshop in the Dean’s backyard which was down a hill. It had rained and everything was just wet enough to be problematic,” explained Katherine Edge, Director of the Mildred Westervelt Warner 2 4 • MUSEUM CHRONICLE 18
Transportation Museum. “Our truck got stuck in their backyard even before we [my father and I] loaded the Brunswick. Luckily, the man who owned a local tow company was very nice and accommodating. He phoned a friend with a Jeep and we were pulled out.” The Brunswick is a heavy piece of furniture and, without the help of two rescue drivers, Edge and her father wouldn't have been able to lift and load it into the truck. It was a stressful day to say the least, but all worked out for the best. “I remember this collection outing often and my appreciation for the Brunswick grows deeper every time it plays,” said Katherine Edge.
Working with a brilliant local artisan, Mr. Jamie Brewer, metal. The company even went on to develop its own record label in 1920 and featured exclusive recording to repair the Brunswick, the Warner Transportation contracts with legendary musicians like Duke Ellington, Museum had it playing after few simple tweaks! “It was like Christmas morning to hear the Brunswick Benny Goodman, Al Jolson, and Cab Calloway. This piece is the start of the Transportation Museum’s play a record in the museum! I was thrilled that it teaching collection. The museum staff is thrilled to be able worked,” said Edge. After receiving tips, instructions, and some materials to share it with the community and provide a different sense of time and space by utilizing it to enhance the from Mr. Brewer, Transportation Museum Volunteers, Riva Cullinan and Allison Mansour worked alongside story of Tuscaloosa. Featuring a spruce horn and volume control toggle and not needing electricity to play records, Katherine Edge (pictured) to clean and condition the the 1919 Brunswick will perform for wooden cabinet. By fall 2021, the “It was like Christmas morning visitors and add to the scene created Brunswick was ready to be put in to hear the Brunswick around the 1909 Maxwell automobile its official space in the museum and began to entertain once again! play a record in the museum!” and background banner depicting University Boulevard c. 1925. Adding Made by the Brunswick-BalkeCollender Co., Brunswick perhaps is best known for the music to this scene provides visitors with a first-hand perspective of the sights and sounds of Tuscaloosa in the manufacture of billiards tables, producing their first in 1845. The Brunswick Company entered the music business early 20th century. It is a type of time machine and visitors really enjoy the experience. n in 1915 and a year later, began selling Brunswick-branded phonographs using wood for the amplifier instead of (ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT) After cleaning and repair, this 1919 Brunswick now provides visitors to the Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation with a new musical experience! Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums’ Communications Specialist; (INSERT) The 1919 Brunswick Phonograph, after
it was cleaned and repaired.
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New Acquisition for The Gorgas House Museum Arrives
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The Tall Clock, known today as a grandfather clock, is approximately 230 years old, stands eight feet tall, runs smoothly, and chimes on the hour.
IN TIME Written by CAMILLA CANTY and BRANDON THOMPSON
The Gorgas House Museum recently acquired a clock made in the late 1700s by the renowned Pennsylvania clockmaker, Jacob Gorgas (17281798). Jacob is the grandfather of the museum’s Josiah Gorgas. He made clocks in their entirety including their casting, forging, cutting, and finishing all the metal parts, as well as making and finishing the wooden cases. The Tall Clock, known today as a grandfather clock, is approximately 230 years old, stands eight feet tall, runs smoothly, and chimes on the hour. The clock's face includes Jacob's hand-painted signature. Camilla Canty, a volunteer docent at the Gorgas House Museum for seven years, donated the clock. The Gorgas Tall Clock will be the centerpiece of an exhibit planned for the spring at the Gorgas House Museum. n (FACING PAGE AND ABOVE) The clock’s face includes Jacob’s hand-painted signature. Photo Credit:
Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist.; The Tall Clock stands eight feet tall. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist MUSEUM CHRONICLE • 2 7
Run ‘Round the Mounds Returns
Written by LINDSEY GORDON and REBECCA JOHNSON
On November 6, 2021, Moundville Archaeological Park hosted the fourth annual Moundville 5K Footrace as part its celebration of Native American Heritage Month. After previously hosting the race virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Moundville 5K Footrace returned to the park for runners and walkers of all ages. Running or walking at Moundville Archaeological Park provides everyone with a unique experience to explore an ancient site that was once the site of a powerful prehistoric community that, at its peak, was America’s largest city north of Mexico. “It’s a fairly easy and unique route to run or walk,” said Lindsey Gordon, Interim Director and Education Outreach Coordinator at Moundville Archaeological Park. “Visitors are able to take in the magnificent architecture of the mounds and hopefully give reverence to those who built them.” Proceeds from the 5K race went to the Moundville Education fund to continue its mission of celebrating southeastern Native American culture. n A photo finish for a Moundville 5K participant! Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums’ Communications Specialist 2 8 • MUSEUM CHRONICLE
IMLS Grant Awarded to Paleontology Collection Written by DR. ADIEL KLOMPMAKER
These specimens include the most important specimens of The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) the collection: type specimens based on which new species awarded a $39,944 grant to the paleontology collections have been described. The specimen images and records of the Alabama Museum of Natural History. The goal of this project is the rehousing, digitizing, will be uploaded in the freely accessible online database Arctos by the end of the and imaging of the cataloged part of the The paleontology historic invertebrate paleontology and collection is one of the project in 2023. type collections over the next two years. largest components of The results of the project will benefit the the Alabama Museum The paleontology collection is one of UA community, national and international the largest components of the Alabama researchers, pre-college students in of Natural History Alabama, and the general public. The Museum of Natural History collection, collection, consisting grant also provides great opportunities for consisting of at least 500,000 specimens, of at least 500,000 representing ~500 million years of time UA students to help during the project, in specimens, representing in Alabama and surrounding states. particular a number of students from The ~500 million years of University of Alabama Museum Studies The largest portion of the collection time in Alabama and consists of invertebrates, many of which Certificate Program. They will directly benefit from highly valuable work experience were collected about 100 years ago. The surrounding states. in the collections, furthering their career collection is used for research, teaching, exhibits, and outreach each year, but the collection also opportunities. Check out our website and social media faces major challenges. This grant will help to properly channels for regular updates on the project. n curate and make accessible about 100,000 specimens.
(ABOVE): The invertebrate fossils that will be digitized consists mostly of mollusks such as bivalves and gastropods, but also include echinoderms, worms
(image), crustaceans, trilobites, and brachiopods. Photo Credit: Dr. Adiel Klompmaker, UA Museums’ Curator
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UA Museums Curator Discovers Evidence of Predation by Octopuses Pushed Back By 25 Million Years Written by DR. ADIEL KLOMPMAKER and ADAM JONES New research unveiled the earliest evidence of octopus predation in the fossil record. The evidence consists of tiny holes drilled in the clams they preyed upon during the Cretaceous period about 75 million years ago. Dr. Adiel Klompmaker, UA Museums’ Curator of Paleontology, and Dr. Neil Landman, curator emeritus of Fossil Invertebrates at the American Museum of Natural History, detailed their findings in a recently published paper in Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. Octopuses from the Octopodoidea superfamily are a versatile group of marine predators comprising more than 200 species today. As these soft-bodied cephalopods do not fossilize easily because they decay rapidly, only a single body fossil species from 95 million-year-old Cretaceous rocks in Lebanon is known. Unlike other modern cephalopods, octopodoids leave behind tiny oval-shaped drill holes in many shells of their molluscan and crustacean prey. These octopuses then inject a venom through the hole that paralyzes and relaxes the prey’s muscles to facilitate consumption. “These holes provide a great opportunity to track their
presence and behavior in deep time, even though their body fossils are absent,” Klompmaker said. Such holes have been documented from the fossil record up to 50 million years ago until now. The team’s findings document the oldest recognized drill holes made by octopodoids, found in nearly 75 million-year-old bivalve shells from the Cretaceous period in South Dakota. This shows the ability of these animals to drill their prey evolved early in the evolutionary history of Octopodoidea, a remarkable 25 million years earlier than was previously known. Klompmaker discovered the drilled shells in the collection of the American Museum of Natural History in New York in October 2018. “I could not believe what I saw initially, but after cleaning and studying the specimens carefully later on, we became convinced that these holes are the oldest evidence of predation by octopuses,” Klompmaker said. “I was not specifically searching for holes made by octopuses, so it was a great surprise. This goes to show the importance of maintaining and exploring museum collections.” The fossil bivalve specimens now stored in a museum
(ABOVE): The octopus Muusoctopus johnsonianus at a modern cold seep off Grenada. From Klompmaker & Landman (2021) with permission of the Ocean Exploration Trust Inc. (FACING PAGE): Two drilled specimens of the bivalve Nymphalucina occidentalis and close-ups of drill holes. Photo Credit:
Klompmaker & Landman (2021)” 3 0 • MUSEUM CHRONICLE
Unlike other modern cephalopods, octopodoids leave behind tiny oval-shaped drill holes in many shells of their molluscan and crustacean prey. were once living in a shallow ocean. Nearly 75 million years ago, a broad seaway covered much of North America, called the Western Interior Seaway. Most of the ocean bottom was featureless with occasional signs of life such as fish swimming by and occasional gigantic clams on the seafloor. “However, methane bubbled up from the bottom in spots, forming rich diverse communities called methane cold seeps, with ammonites, sponges, starfish, crabs, snails, sea urchins, crinoids, “I was not clams, fish, and, as it specifically turns out, octopus,” searching for Landman said. holes made by Even though octopuses octopuses, so it was are commonly seen a great surprise. in today’s cold seeps, This goes to show evidence of the presence the importance of of Octopodoidea had maintaining and never been found in fossil exploring museum seeps. Klompmaker and collections.” Landman’s research thus adds a new predator to the ecosystem of ancient cold seeps. The team’s findings also mean Octopodoidea contributed to the rise of shell-destroying predators during a revolution of predators and their prey in the Mesozoic era, 252 to 66
million years ago, called the Mesozoic Marine Revolution. During this time, predators such as marine reptiles, teleost fish, some sharks, and decapod crustaceans became more abundant and diverse, putting extra pressure on their prey. In response, prey such as gastropods and brachiopods and ammonites fortified their shell. Klompmaker and Landman argue more research can be done on drill holes made by Octopodoidea. Little is known about how common this type of predation was, where these octopuses lived through time, and how they behaved toward their prey. To continue this line of research, Klompmaker worked with Alex Kittle, collection manager of mollusks at the Delaware Museum of Natural History, on predation by octopuses on cowries living in Florida 2 to 3 million years ago. In another recently published paper in Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, they found cowries are commonly drilled by octopuses and these predators aimed for the muscle. “It is very possible that new evidence of predation by octopods can also be discovered in fossil shells from Alabama and other places in the world,” Klompmaker said. n
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Generous Donation to the Paleontology Collection Written by DR. ADIEL KLOMPMAKER
On Friday, October 8th, 2021 a fossil turtle, a fish, and various crustaceans were donated to the Alabama Museum of Natural History collection by UA Museums’ “New specimens Research Associate Mr. George like these help to Martin. George found spur research on all specimens himself in Alabama’s very Alabama and prepared them by rich prehistory.” removing the surrounding rock and stabilizing the fossils using a specialized resin as needed. The 40 cm (16") long turtle
specimen, in particular, took George countless hours to prepare and is now ready to be studied in more detail. The specimens were donated during the OLLI course “Ancient Life in Alabama” taught this Fall by Dr. Bill Deutsch and George Martin, after a tour in the paleontology collections in Mary Harmon Bryant Hall. New specimens like these help to spur research on Alabama’s very rich prehistory. A part of new fossils added to the museum collection each year have been collected and are donated by avocational paleontologists, who collect and study fossil as a hobby. The museum is very grateful for this generous donation! n
(ABOVE): George Martin and Curator of Paleontology Dr. Adiel Klompmaker posing with the remarkable turtle specimen. Photo Credit: Bill Deutsch 3 2 • MUSEUM CHRONICLE
New Giant Fossil Marine Reptile Skull for the Museum Written by DR. ADIEL KLOMPMAKER
A 75-million-year-old mosasaur fossil from Alabama was graciously donated to the paleontology collections of the Alabama Museum of Natural History. The 2-foot-long skull is remarkably complete and warrants further study by specialists. Mosasaurs are ancient marine reptiles that were the top predators during the late part of the Cretaceous period (~100 to 66 million years ago). These giants could grow up to about 60 feet (18 m) and were common hunters in the shallow ocean covering most of Alabama during this time. The newly donated specimen, identified as Plioplatecarpus was found near Safford in Dallas County in 1996 by students of Northwest Florida State College, Niceville, Florida. Dr. Jon Bryan (professor at Northwest Florida State College) directed the collecting, preparing, and initial study of the specimen. Earlier this year, he and UA Museums’ Curator of Paleontology Dr. Adiel Klompmaker revisited the site near Safford with permission, but no additional bones were discovered. “The skull was discovered during a field trip led by former NWFSC faculty member (and University of Alabama geology graduate student) Ms. Mona Williams (now deceased),” Dr. Bryan said. “Williams took her Historical Geology class to the area, and with permission of the landowner, surveyed the area for fossils. Some students found a handful of bone fragments and teeth, brought them
to Mona and asked. “Ms. Williams, is this anything?” Mona told them to go stand right where they found that! More was there. Some scraps were brought back to the college. That’s when I got involved. We had some instruction in field collecting of vertebrate fossils, then launched an “expedition” to recover the skull,” Dr. Bryan explained. The skull is ~75% complete, but most of the rest of the skeleton was not found. Only some ribs, vertebra, and limb elements were preserved in addition to the skull. The mosasaur lived in an environment together with at least fish, worm tubes, oysters, and giant clams, all of which were found very close to the skull. Dr. Bryan transported the mosasaur to Tuscaloosa on November 11th for the official donation. When asked why he donated the skull to the museum, Dr. Bryan said, “The specimen was found in Alabama and belongs in the Alabama Museum of Natural History, which has one of the largest mosasaur collections in the world.” Long-term volunteer, research associate, and mosasaur enthusiast Dr. Bing Blewitt agrees, and he has determined that the museum collection contains more than 1000 mosasaur specimens. The mosasaur specimen is now stored in the paleontology collections in Mary Harmon Bryant Hall on the University of Alabama campus. This collection consist of at least 500,000 fossil specimens. “This specimen is an important addition to our continuously expanding fossil collection,” Dr. Klompmaker said. “In fact, the research on this specimen is already ongoing, so stay tuned for more news about this specimen in years to come! n
(ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT): Dr. Jon Bryan posing with the Safford mosasaur. Photo Credit: Dr. Adiel Klompmaker, UA Museums’ Curator of Paleontology; Unpacking the Safford mosasaur. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums Communications Specialist; (INSET): Postcard with the reconstruction of this mosasaur by Daniel W. Varner. Photo Credit: Rebecca Johnson, UA Museums’ Communications Specialist MUSEUM CHRONICLE • 3 3
UA MUSEUMS STAFF / FACULTY CURATORS PUBLICATIONS 2021 (scientific articles & books) Alger, E. I., Platts, A. E., Deb, S. K.,…McKain, M. R. & Edger, P. P. 2021. Chromosomescale genome for a red-fruited, perpetual flowering and runnerless woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca). Frontiers in Genetics, 12, 671371, doi: 10.3389/fgene.2021.671371. Álvarez-Lloret, P., Benavides-Reyes, C., Lee, C. M.,…Pérez-Huerta, A. & Terrizzi, A. R. 2021. Chronic lead exposure alters mineral properties in alveolar bone. Minerals, 11, 642, doi: 10.3390/min11060642. Bicknell, R. D. C., Smith, P. M., Holland, T. & Klompmaker, A. A. 2021. Cretaceous clam chowder: the first evidence of inquilinism between extinct shrimps and bivalves. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 584, 110669, doi: 10.1016/j. palaeo.2021.110669. Blair, E. H. 2021. Reconsidering the Precolumbian presence of Venetian glass beads in Alaska. American Antiquity, 86, 638–642, doi: 10.1017/aaq.2021.38. Blair, E. H., Jefferies, R. W. & Moore, C. R. 2021. Itineraries and networks of the Mission San Joseph de Sapala beads. In: Mattson, H. V. (ed.) Personal Adornment and the Construction of Identity: A Global Archaeological Perspective. Oxbow Books, Oxford, 115–134, doi: 10.2307/j.ctv24q4z2g. Brown, I. W. 2021. Production of salt in the Onondage Lake region of New York. In: Dumas, A. A. & Eubanks, P. N. (eds) Salt in Eastern North America and the Caribbean: History and Archaeology. The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa, 61–71. Bybee, S. M., Kalkman, V. J., Erickson,…Abbott, J. C., et al. 2021. Phylogeny and classification of Odonata using targeted genomics. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 160, 107115, doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107115. Cappelli, C., Pérez-Huerta, A., Alam, S. B. & Prozorov, T. 2021. Atom probe tomography analysis of mica. Microscopy and Microanalysis, 1–14, doi: 10.1017/S1431927621012940.
from their Plio-Pleistocene cowrie prey (Gastropoda: Cypraeidae). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 567, 110251, doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2021.110251. Klompmaker, A. A. & Landman, N. H. 2021. Octopodoidea as predators near the end of the Mesozoic Marine Revolution. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 132, 894–899, doi: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab001. Klompmaker, A. A., Jakobsen, S. L. & Lauridsen, B. W. 2021. Deepwater reefs in the early Paleocene of Denmark. Grondboor & Hamer, 76, 126–130. Knight, V. J. 2021. Merging art historical and anthropological approaches in PreColumbian iconography. In: Giles, B. T. & Lambert, S. P. (eds) New Methods and Theories for Analyzing Mississippian Imagery. University of Florida Press, Gainesville, 247–268. Knight, V. J. & Worth, J. E. 2021. A Cuban origin for Glades pottery? A provocative hypothesis revisited. In: Cordell, A. S. & Mitchem, J. M. (eds) Methods, Mounds, and Missions: New Contributions to Florida Archaeology. University of Florida Press, Gainesville, 193–206. Lu, M., Ikejiri, T. & Lu, Y. 2021. A synthesis of the Devonian wildfire record: implications for paleogeography, fossil flora, and paleoclimate. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 571, 110321, doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2021.110321. Lu, M., Lu, Y., Ikejiri, T., Sun, D., Carroll, R., Blair, E. H., Algeo, T. J. & Sun, Y. 2021. Periodic oceanic euxinia and terrestrial fluxes linked to astronomical forcing during the Late Devonian Frasnian–Famennian mass extinction. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 562, 116839, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2021.116839. Luis Godínez-Ortega, J., Cuatlán-Cortés, J. V., López-Bautista, J. M. & Van Tussenbroek, B. I. 2021. A natural history of floating Sargassum species (Sargasso) from Mexico. In: Hufnagel, L. (ed.) Natural History and Ecology of Mexico and Central America. IntechOpen, 1–35. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.97230.
Cappelli, C., Smart, S., Stowell, H. & Pérez-Huerta, A. 2021. Exploring biases in atom probe tomography compositional analysis of minerals. Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 45, 457–476, doi: 10.1111/ggr.12395.
Neusser, T. P., Bergmeier, F. S., Brenzinger,…Kocot, K., et al. 2021. Shallow-water interstitial malacofauna of the Azores. Açoreana, Suplemento, 11, 103–123.
Cobo, M. C. & Kocot, K. M. 2021. On the diversity of abyssal Dondersiidae (Mollusca: Aplacophora) with the description of a new genus, six new species, and a review of the family. Zootaxa, 4933, 63–97, doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4933.1.3.
Nguyen, A., Gabitov, R., Jimenez,…Pérez-Huerta, A., et al. 2021. Retaining geochemical signatures during aragonite-calcite transformation at hydrothermal conditions. Minerals, 11, 1052, doi: 10.3390/min11101052.
Dauphin, Y., Werner, D., Corado, R. & Pérez-Huerta, A. 2021. Structure and composition of the eggshell of a passerine bird, Setophaga ruticilla (Linnaeus, 1758). Microscopy and Microanalysis, 27, 635–644, doi: 10.1017/S1431927621000301.
Smith, C. I., McKain, M. R., Guimond, A. & Flatz, R. 2021. Genome-scale data resolves the timing of divergence in Joshua trees. American Journal of Botany, 108, 647–663, doi: 10.1002/ajb2.1633.
Davis-Berg, E. C. & Kocot, K. M. 2021. Innovation in teaching and learning invertebrate zoology in remote and online classrooms. Invertebrate Biology, 140, e12329, doi: 10.1111/ ivb.12329.
Sun, J., Li, R., Chen, C., Sigwart, J. D. & Kocot, K. M. 2021. Benchmarking Oxford Nanopore read assemblers for high-quality molluscan genomes. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 376, 20200160, doi: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0160.
De Baets, K., Huntley, J. W., Scarponi, D., Klompmaker, A. A. & Skawina, A. 2021. Phanerozoic parasitism and marine metazoan diversity: dilution versus amplification. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 376, 20200366, doi: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0366.
Sutherland, B. L., Barrett, C. F., Beck, J. B.,…McKain, M. R., et al. 2021. Botany is the root and the future of invasion biology. American Journal of Botany, 108, 549–552, doi: 10.1002/ ajb2.1642.
Gabitov, Rinat, Migdisov, A., Nguyen, A.,…Pérez-Huerta, A., et al. 2021. Uptake of uranium by carbonate crystallization from reduced and oxidized hydrothermal fluids. Chemical Geology, 564, 120054, doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2020.120054. Gabitov, Rinat I., Sadekov, A., Dyer, J., Pérez-Huerta, A., Xu, H. & Migdisov, A. 2021. Sectoral and growth rate control on elemental uptake by individual calcite crystals. Chemical Geology, 585, 120589, doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2021.120589. Heyduk, K., McAssey, E. V., Grimwood, J., Shu, S., Schmutz, J., McKain, M. R. & LeebensMack, J. 2021. Hybridization history and repetitive element content in the genome of a homoploid hybrid, Yucca gloriosa (Asparagaceae). Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 573767, doi: 10.3389/fpls.2020.573767. Heyduk, K., Grace, O. M. & McKain, M. R. 2021. Life without water. American Journal of Botany, 108, 181–183, doi: 10.1002/ajb2.1615. Kashindye, B. B., Manda, B. K., Friel, J. P., Chakona, A. & Vreven, E. 2021. Chiloglanis msirii, a new species of African suckermouth catfish (Teleostei: Mochokidae), from the Upper Congo basin. Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, IEF-1158, 1–14. Kim, S. Y., Lee, H. W., Yang,…López-Bautista, J., et al. 2021. Resurrection of the family Grateloupiaceae Emend. (Halymeniales, Rhodophyta) based on a multigene phylogeny and comparative reproductive morphology. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9, 775627, doi: 10.3389/fevo.2021.775627. Kintsu, H., Pérez-Huerta, A., Ohtsuka, S., Okumura, T., Ifuku, S., Nagata, K., Kogure, T. & Suzuki, M. 2021. Functional analyses of chitinolytic enzymes in the formation of calcite prisms in Pinctada fucata. Micron, 145, 103063, doi: 10.1016/j.micron.2021.103063. Klompmaker, A. A. & Kittle, B. A. 2021. Inferring octopodoid and gastropod behavior
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Taylor, J., Devey, C., Le Saout, M.,..Kocot, K. M., et al. 2021. The discovery and preliminary geological and faunal descriptions of three new Steinahóll vent sites, Reykjanes Ridge, Iceland. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 520713, doi: 10.3389/fmars.2021.520713. Thompson, A. & Koontz, M. L. 2021. Determining the true color measurements of historic dress with a mobile spectrophotometer and an adapted zone grid system. The International Journal of the Inclusive Museum, 15, 119–134, doi: 10.18848/1835-2014/CGP/v15i01/119134. Tolan, G., Rebbe, C. C., Carmody, S., Blair, E. H., Dye, D. H. & Russ, J. 2021. Organic residue analysis of two Mississippian period human effigy pipes. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 35, 102686, doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102686. Valcárcel Rojas, R., Knight, V. J., Guarch Rodríguez, E. & Hoogland, M. L. P. 2021. Fakes, copies and replicas in Cuban archaeology. In: Real, Recent, or Replica? Amerindian (and Neo-Amerindian) Iconography in the Caribbean. The University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa, 167–190. Varney, R. M., Brenzinger, B., Malaquias, M. A. E., Meyer, C. P., Schrödl, M. & Kocot, K. M. 2021. Assessment of mitochondrial genomes for heterobranch gastropod phylogenetics. BMC Ecology and Evolution, 21, 6, doi: 10.1186/s12862-020-01728-y. Varney, R. M, Speiser, D. I., McDougall, C., Degnan, B. M. & Kocot, K. M. 2021. The ironresponsive genome of the chiton Acanthopleura granulata. Genome Biology and Evolution, 13, evaa263, doi: 10.1093/gbe/evaa263. Wood, J. E., Pugh, M. W., Harris, P. M., McGregor, S. W. & Sandel, M. W. 2021. Range extension of Blackfin Darter and Tennessee Dace, and first collection of Western Blacknose Dace from Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River in 80 years. Southeastern Naturalist, 20, N30–N36. doi: 10.1656/058.020.0117.
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA MUSEUMS MEMBERSHIP GIVING LEVELS & BENEFITS
Much of the natural beauty of Alabama is found among its many rivers. To recognize the vital role these rivers play in making our state unique, The University of Alabama Museums has designated gift membership levels with the names of some of Alabama’s best-known and beloved rivers. All membership levels are important to the Museum. We hope you will be as generous as your circumstances allow.
Note: Each membership level receives the benefits listed plus all benefits of levels that precede it.
ALABAMA RIVER ($40–$99)
COOSA RIVER ($500–$999)
• Unlimited admission (except for special events) to Moundville Archaeological Park, Alabama Museum of Natural History, Gorgas House and Paul W. Bryant Museum) • Membership newsletter • Discounts on Museum programs and Summer Expedition • Membership card and decal • Recognition in newsletter • Invitations to special member events
• Unlimited admission to Museums for two additional guests (seven total) • Reduced rental rates for Museum facilities
BLACK WARRIOR RIVER ($100–$249) • Discovering Alabama DVDs 10% discount at University of Alabama Museum Shops
CAHABA RIVER ($250–$499) • • • •
Free admission to Moundville Native American Festival Unlimited admission to Museums for five guests A one-year gift membership at Alabama River level Additional 10% (20% total) discount at University of Alabama Museum Shops
SIPSEY RIVER ($1,000–$2,499) • Unlimited admission to Museum for three additional guests (10 total) • Two additional one-year gift memberships (three total), all at Black Warrior level
DOUGLAS E. JONES SOCIETY ($2,500–$4,999) • Unlimited admission to Museums for two additional guests (12 total) • Special recognition in Smith Hall Foyer • Three one-year gift memberships upgraded to Cahaba River level
EUGENE ALLEN SMITH SOCIETY ($5,000+) • Book on natural history from The University of Alabama Press • Unlimited admission to Museums for three additional guests (15 total)
YES! I/WE WANT TO SUPPORT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA MUSEUMS. Full Name_________________________________________________________________________
Amount of Gift _______________________
Address____________________________________________________________________________
❑ Alabama River ($40–$99)
__________________________________________________________________________________
❑ Black Warrior River ($100–$249)
Home Telephone____________________________________________________________________ Employer__________________________________________________________________________ Email______________________________________________________________________________
❑ Check (payable to The University of Alabama Museums) ❑ American Express ❑ Discover ❑ MasterCard ❑ Visa Credit Card Number__________________________________ Expiration Date_________________
❑ Cahaba River ($250–$499) ❑ Coosa River ($500–$999) ❑ Sipsey River ($1,000–$2,499) ❑ Douglas Epps Jones Society ($2,500–$4,999) ❑ Eugene Allen Smith Society ($5,000+)
Signature __________________________________________________________________________
Box 870340, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 205-348-9826 • give.ua.edu MUSEUM CHRONICLE • 3 5
2021-2022
MUSEUM MEMBERS AND DONORS THANK YOU TO OUR MEMBERS AND DONORS WHO HAVE GENEROUSLY DONATED TO UA MUSEUMS DURING THE 2021-2022 YEAR. UA MUSEUM MEMBERS ALABAMA RIVER LEVEL Mr. Bruce H. and Mrs. Janice R. Anderson Mrs. Barbara Bost Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bomar Mrs. Joyce Cattelane Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Coyle Mr. and Mrs. Johnny L. Hewitt Dr. Stephen Katsinas Mr. and Mrs. Thomas D. Lavender Dr. Evguenia Malaia Mr. and Mrs. William L. Mason Jr. Ms. Elizabeth A. May Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. McKane Dr. and Mrs. M. Stephen McNair Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Morris Dr. Debra M. Nelson-Gardell Dr. and Mrs. Charles B. Osburn Mr. William Pitts Ms. Patricia Pitts Dr. and Mrs. William H. Rabel Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence L. Robey Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Skelton Mr. David Snipes Dr. and Mrs. James A. Stallworth Mr. and Mrs. Bill R. Sutton Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Swain Miss Karen and Mr. Owen C. Thomas Ms. Annette Tidmore Mrs. Janell Urban Ms. Maia Wendt Mr. and Mrs. Justin R. Williams
BLACK WARRIOR RIVER LEVEL Mr. Drexel Beck Dr. and Mrs. William F. Bomar Mr. James L. Bonner Mrs. Elizabeth J. Bradt Dr. Nancy R. Campbell and Mr. Charles L. Day Mr. and Mrs. D. Wayne Harmon Mr. and Mrs. Joel Hoogestraat Mr. Gary R. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence H. Mohr Mr. and Mrs. Ronald A. Moore Ms. Barbara E. Motherwell Dr. and Mrs. Paul D. Nelson Mrs. Linda Reynolds Mr. and Mrs. H. Phillip Sasnett Mrs. Marcia H. Scott Mr. and Mrs. Charles Scribner Mr. Timothy E. Stevens Mr. Howard J. Turner Jr. Mrs. Kim Wendt Mr. and Mrs. Franz Winkler Dr. Steven D. Yates
CAHABA RIVER LEVEL Dr. and Mrs. Bennett L. Bearden Mr. Charleigh R. Davis Dr. Richard A. Diehl and Mrs. Nancy T. Little Dr. Victoria L. Evans Mr. and Mrs. Troy R. Free Mrs. Helen Grimes Mr. Russell H. Grimes
3 6 • MUSEUM CHRONICLE
Commander and Mrs. Lee Hallman Dr. and Mrs. David Mathews Mr. and Mrs. R. Scott Taylor
COOSA RIVER LEVEL Mr. and Mrs. Ben T. Barnett Dr. Ronald Buta and Ms. Deborah Crocker Mr. and Mrs. James R. Jones Mr. and Mrs. William D. Seagrove Colonel Gregory and Dr. Victoria Smith
SIPSEY RIVER LEVEL Mr. and Mrs. Ronald H. Sawyer Mr. and Mrs. Terry H. Waters
DOUGLAS E. JONES SOCIETY Dr. Beverly and Mr. John F. Wingard
GIFTS TO MUSEUM SUPPORT FUNDS MUSEUM EXPEDITION FUND Dr. Ian W. Brown and Mrs. Easty E. Lambert-Brown Mr. and Mrs. Mark R. Cullen Mr. Alan Dorian Ms. Lauren E. Parker Mrs. Carolyn A. Purcell Mr. and Mrs. G. William Quinby Dr. Helen M. Robinson Drs. Elisabeth and Craig Sheldon Ms. Melissa Twaroski Mr. and Mrs. Peter E. Zappala Mrs. Matha Zierden
DISCOVERING ALABAMA GIFT FUND Alabama Wildlife Federation, Inc. Dr. and Mrs. James D. Askew Mr. and Mrs. Ben T. Barnett Dr. Sheila R. Black Mr. Loren D. Bredeson and Mrs. Dianne King Mr. and Mrs. Wade Burgess Mr. and Mrs. Kendall D. Coats Delta Air Lines Foundation Lyndonwood Foundation Ms. Anne H. Maura Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Ritchie Ms. Kathy L. Smith South Alabama Land Trust Submarine Deluxe LLC The Arts & Letters Club The Solon and Martha Dixon Foundation Tuscaloosa Rotary Memorial Foundation
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA MUSEUMS SUPPORT FUND Alabama Chapter 'N' P.E.O. Chief Tuskaloosa Chapter NSDAR Mr. J. Bennett Graham Dr. and Mrs. Robert F. Olin
MUSEUM COLLECTION ENHANCEMENT Dr. John H. Blitz and Dr. Lisa J. LeCount Mr. William G. Daniel II
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Dean Mrs. Debbie Ferdinand Mr. Scotty F. Hardin Dr. Lisa J. LeCount and Dr. John H. Blitz Mr. Joseph S. Unger Drs. Grover M. and Amelia Ward Ms. Kathy Yarbrough
BRYANT MUSEUM GIFT FUND Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Allen S. Crumbley Mr. and Mrs. Mike M. Hand Mr. and Mrs. Willis A. Michaels III Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Montgomery
ALABAMA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY GIFT FUND Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Richard B. Goodsell Mr. and Mrs. Steve A. Johnson Ms. Barbara E. Motherwell Colonel Gregory and Dr. Victoria Smith
MUSEUM BOARD OF REGENTS FUND Dr. Beverly and Mr. John F. Wingard
PAUL W. BRYANT, JR. MUSEUM GIFT FUND Dr. Margaret Purcell and Mr. Jon Fleenor
MOUNDVILLE - JONES MUSEUM RENOVATION FUND Mrs. Virginia H. Joiner
NATIVE AMERICAN GIFT FUND Bank of Moundville Mr. Timothy R. Collins EBSCO Industries, Inc. Moundville Telephone Co. Mr. Larry P. Taylor
GORGAS HOUSE GIFT FUND Community Foundation of West Alabama Mr. W. Robert Harrison Mr. and Mrs. Andrew G. Linn Jr. Mr. Billy McFarland Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John P. McGiffert Price McGiffert Construction Co., Inc. Ms. Anna Catherine M. Snyder
Ms. Sarah Vetoe Mr. Kevin P. Wright Ms. Ashley L. Yarnell
MOUNDVILLE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK PROGRAM GIFT FUND Mr. Timothy R. Collins EBSCO Industries, Inc. Dr. Gary R. Johnson Mrs. Carolyn F. Johnson
VIRGINIA SCHREFFLER WIMBERLEY ENDOWED SUPPORT FUND Dr. Virginia and Mr. John Wimberley
ALABAMA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY PROGRAMS GIFT FUND Ms. Jo A. Gentine Ms. Mary Anne T. Hodges Mr. Thomas J. Kallsen Mr. Jake D. Marler Mr. Gregory R. Norton Mr. Robert W. Norton Dr. and Mrs. Bradley S. Rice Drs. Elisabeth and Craig Sheldon
PALEONTOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS ENHANCEMENT FUND Mr. Bruce Thiel
WALBURN MUSEUMS SUPPORT FUND Dr. and Mrs. James H. Walburn Jr.
NED UEHLING GORGAS HOUSE ENDOWED SUPPORT FUND Dr. Edward R. Uehling
UA MUSEUMS STUDENT MEMBERSHIP FUND Ms. Marie N. Burns Ms. Bridget M. Murray Ms. Mary B. Prondzinski
DREW LINN GORGAS HOUSE MUSEUM SUPPORT FUND Mr. and Mrs. Andrew G. Linn Jr.
MOUNDVILLE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK GIFT FUND Alabama Bicentennial Commission Ms. Georgia P. Ayers Dr. Alexander V. Benitez Ms. Pamela Bennett Best Western Ms. Jay Lamar Mrs. Sharon Lopez Ms. Joyce L. Meyer Mr. Steven M. Polunsky Ms. Henny and Mr. William D. Sands The Walt Disney Company Mrs. Erinn M. Townsend Ms. Jane Varner Malhotra
This list reflects donations fully processed as of December 22, 2021.
CONTACT US ALL PHONE NUMBERS USE AREA CODE 205.
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA MUSEUMS
Smith Hall—Box 870340 Bomar, Bill Executive Director Johnson, Rebecca Communications Specialist Jones, Angi Administrative Secretary Mathews, Victoria Accountant II
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ALABAMA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Smith Hall—427 6th Avenue Friel, John Director Abbott, Kendra Research & Outreach Coordinator Davis, Joyia Education Outreach Coordinator Duncan, Valerie Reservation Specialist
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH, OFFICE OF
13075 Moundville Archaeological Park 371-2266 Gage, Matt Director 371-8718 Barrett, Myra Cultural Resources Assistant 371-2266 Brown, Donald Cultural Resources Assistant 371-2266 Coppage, Reid Sr. Cultural Resources Assistant 371-2266 Donop, Mark Deputy Director 371-8714 Hoskins, Emily Cultural Resources Assistant 371-2266 Houston, Jon Cultural Resources Assistant Houston, Matt Cultural Resources Assistant 371-2266 Huff, Samantha Cultural Resources Tech. Writer 371-2266 Jamison, Jan Cultural Resources Assistant 371-8707 Koors, Kristen Cultural Resources Analyst 371-8721 McClure, Sean Cultural Resources Assistant 371-2266 Mielke, Genevieve Cultural Resources Assistant Mizelle, Sam Cultural Resource investigator/IT Manager 371-8708 Pearson, Rose Cultural Resources Specialist 371-2266 Poncela, Nicole Cultural Resources Assistant Schaffield, Danielle Graph. And GIS Tech. 371-2266 Smith, Darrell Cultural Resources Assistant 371-2266 Stager, Jeremiah Cultural Resources Assistant 371-8712 Stallworth, Ronald Cultural Resources Assistant 371-2266 Tagman, Jamie Cultural Resources Specialist 371-2266 Vanwagenen, Ciarra Cultural Resources Assistant 371-2266 Watkins, Joel H. Cultural Resources Analyst 371-8717
Fax 371-2494 mdgage@ua.edu mfbarrett@ua.edu brown321@ua.edu wrcoppage@ua.edu mcdonop@ua.edu elhoskins@crimson.ua.edu
Follow @uamuseums on TikTok to see the creative ways that Gorgas House Museum student workers and volunteers are promoting UA Museums!
mwhouston@ua.edu sjhuff@ua.edu jmjamison@ua.edu reed052@ua.edu shmcclure@ua.edu gmmielke@ua.edu smizelle@ua.edu rgpearson@ua.edu dmschaffeld@ua.edu darlsmit@ua.edu jlstager@aalan.ua.edu rstall@ua.edu jaide@ua.edu ccvanwagenen@ua.edu jwatkins@ua.edu
DISCOVERING ALABAMA
Smith Hall-Box 870340 Phillips, Douglas Environmental Educator/Executive Producer drdoug@discoveringalabama.org 348-3553 Fax# 348-4219 Hamilton, Heather Program Assistant 348-2039 hkhamilton@ua.edu McCracken, Mike Technical Assistant 792-5584 mcdesign@dbtech.net Sloan, Pam Education Outreach 348-9077 ptsloan@ua.edu
THE GORGAS HOUSE MUSEUM
810 Capstone Drive Thompson, Brandon Director 348-5906 thomp034@ua.edu
MOUNDVILLE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK
634 Mound State Parkway, Moundville, AL Bates, Carlton Maintenance Worker Gordon, Lindsey Education Outreach Newman, John Maintenance Supervisor Rasco, Lisa Museum Education Assistant Smith, Amanda Program Assistant Wyatt, Janet Jones Arch. Museum Manager
371-2234 371-6303 371-8732 371-6303 371-8732 371-2234 371-2572
cwbates@ua.cdu fgordon@aalan.ua.edu jnewman@ua.edu llrasco@ua.edu adsmith18@ua.edu jlwyatt1@ua.edu
DEPARTMENT OF MUSEUM RESEARCH & COLLECTIONS
Mary Harmon Bryant Hall—500 Hackberry Lane Abbott, John Director of Research & Collections 348-0534 jabbott1@ua.edu Allen, Bill Collections Manager, Archaeology 371-8736 wrallen1@aalan.ua.edu Bota Sierra, Cornelio Postdoctoral Researcher cabotasierra@ua.edu Denton, Kenny Film Repair Technician Green, Brad Curator/Photo Archivist 348-2207 bgreen@ua.edu Klompmaker, Adiël Curator of Paleontology 348-7425 aaklompmaker@ua.edu
THE MILDRED WESTERVELT WARNER TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM 1901 Jack Warner Parkway North East Edge, Katherine Director Scott, James Museum Education Assistant
248-4932 248-4930
kbedge@ua.edu scott3j@gmail.com
348-4668 348-6171 348-6536 348-8459
oarnold@ua.edu alaaron2@ua.edu dmize@ua.edu Icreedy@ua.edu
THE PAUL W. BRYANT MUSEUM
300 Paul W. Bryant Drive Arnold, Olivia Director Aaron, Asia Cashier Mize, David Audio Visual Specialist Reedy, Tasha Business Operations Manager
MUSEUM CHRONICLE • 3 7
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
20 22
BIRDFEST • APRIL 23, 2022 • Moundville Archaeological Park
BAMA BUG FEST
GROWING UP WILD PRESCHOOL FRIDAYS (VERTEBRATES)
• APRIL 9, 2022 • Alabama Museum of Natural History
• MAY 6, 2022 • Alabama Museum of Natural History
GROWING UP WILD PRESCHOOL FRIDAYS (TRACKWAYS)
MUSEUM MONDAYS (HIBERNATION)
• APRIL 15, 2022 • Alabama Museum of Natural History
SWIMMING TOGETHER • APRIL 19, 2022 • Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum • In Partnership with Flow Tuscaloosa
• MAY 16, 2022 • Alabama Museum of Natural History