[meteorite-list] Was Elbert King...now Smithsonian on being territorial

From: MARK BOSTICK <thebigcollector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat Nov 20 19:10:03 2004
Message-ID: <BAY4-F109BE174AD2BC7CB637445B3C50_at_phx.gbl>

(Try this again...sorry if you get more then one of this same e-mail but
this message just doesn't want to post - Mark)


Hello Lisa King (and list),

Thanks for sharing your memories of your father with us. Should you think
of other little stories and would like to share them, I am sure that most of
us would find it very interesting.

Lisa wrote, "The Smithsonian was very territorial about meteorites during
the late 60's and early 70s."

The Smithsonian was quite territorial with meteorites from at least 1932,
when Edward Henderson became assistant curator and took over meteorites.
Before Henderson, Merrill was in charge and he did not seem to have the
interest in meteorites that his predecessor did Merrill seemed more
interested in seeing a meteorite was classified, published and that the U.S.
Museum had a specimen. After those actions were taken it didn't really
matter to him anymore.

University professors fought over stones from the Iowa falls (1875 and
1890), without competition from the national museum. And before 1932,
several other large US meteorites where lost to museums overseas, such as
the Mt. Joy meteorite, because of lack of interest in this nation.

I am not sure when Henderson retired, but I wonder how well it would line up
with the Smithsonian's lost of territorial actions regarding meteorites.

I will note that Henderson and Nininger were able to form a relationship
that helped each other out. At one time Henderson even organized a pricing
structure, and got all the large meteorite collectors to agree on. This paid
bottom dollar for finds from finders. So I would not say Henderson was
totally territorial. Perhaps, just controlling.

A nice Smithsonian Magazine article that has a lot of Henderson history and
quotes can be found here:

http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues95/may95/mall_may95.html

Clear Skies,
Mark Bostick
www.meteoritearticles.com
Received on Sat 20 Nov 2004 07:09:26 PM PST