Chruszcz and Birch shed light on history of the Georgia Museum of Natural History

Did you know that the Georgia Museum of Natural History is as old as the University of Georgia itself? A paper recently published by former intern Savannah Chruszcz and her faculty mentor, Suzanne Pilaar Birch, in Journal of the History of Collections outlines the history of the Georgia Museum of Natural History and contextualizes the many changes the museum has endured throughout its existence. 

The founders and early developers of the university believed heavily in the importance of natural history as a means of preserving and showcasing the past. Unfortunately, the museum’s early development is not widely known, but we are learning more with the help of scholars like Chruszcz and Birch. There are several layers to GMNH’s history waiting to be explored. Here is one of many impactful moments in the history of the museum. 

Persistence & the Power of Alum: 

From the 1800s to today, the museum has experienced many uncertainties, with some challenging its very existence. In the early days, collections were hidden in the basement of buildings. This made the collections an accidental secret even amongst the student population. It was a small battle to create one of the first museum exhibits in 1901: the Biological Museum. Unfortunately, that win was short-lived, as the building it was housed in burned down only two years later. All the specimens were lost. However, professors and museum contributors persisted and gained both funds and specimens, which helped restore some of the inventory and garnered the museum national attention. 

In the aftermath of the 1903 Biological Museum fire, a UGA alum had a pivotal role in securing more specimens for GMNH. A lack of funds slowed the rebuilding of the zoology collection, delaying the recovery process and impacting student learning in the zoology course. Coincidentally, a UGA alum was on the Board of Regents at the Smithsonian Museum. His connection led to a sizeable donation of specimens from the Smithsonian, greatly adding to the zoology collection. Students have the power to make great changes within GMNH even after they graduate and enter a new chapter of their lives. They will always be an invaluable part of the museum’s history. 

The Georgia Museum of Natural History extends a special thank you to Savannah Chruszcz, Dr. Suzanne Pilaar Birch, Megan McPherson, and Dr. Byron Freeman for their exceptional work in compiling historical accounts of the Georgia Museum of Natural History. Their work has provided important context to include in the public discourse.