Support for the San Diego Natural History Museum Paleontology Collection: Mobile Compactor System and Collection Conservation to Enhance Access and Research Use

San Diego Society Of Natural History, San Diego CA

Investigators

Abstract

This project will upgrade and reorganize the paleontology collections at the San Diego Museum of Natural History. The collections comprise over a million specimens of fossil vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants collected primarily from Mesozoic through Cenozoic sites in Southern California, and northern Baja California, Mexico. Since 1994, the paleontology collections have grown an average of 8% per year, and as a result the collection has outgrown its current space. Many items are stored in overcrowded conditions in individual specimen drawers, on open shelving, and on case tops. Databasing is incomplete. A move to a new space has made it possible to reorganize the collection and make feasible complete computerization and databasing. The computerized collections will be made available in a fully searchable, web-accessible database.