Collections

Collections of the Draper Museum of Natural History are used for scholarly reference/research, exhibition, and education. The Trustees of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center approved the addition of the DMNH with the understanding that the scholarly reference/research collection would be limited in scope, and would not attempt to duplicate the vast research series of other major natural history museums.

The financial aspects of fulfilling the DMNH's continuing obligation to preserve, maintain, and use materials it collects necessitates restrictions in acquisitions. Responsibility for the selection, care, and use of the DMNH collections rests with the DMNH Curator-in-Charge. Collections development began in 2002, and is guided by the following priorities in 2007:

• Greater Yellowstone Sights and Sounds Archive: Audio, video, and film recordings and photographic images collected systematically to fulfill research objectives and document geological, biological, and human cultural features found in Greater Yellowstone Area ecosystems. Special emphasis is focused on documenting wildlife diversity, distribution and behavior, and natural and anthropogenic landscape changes.

• Educational Specimen Collection: specimens and associated materials required for current exhibits and educational programming

• Research Specimen Collection: selected reference and research voucher specimens acquired by staff or outside researchers to document geological, biological, and archaeological features and track ecosystem dynamics in the Greater Yellowstone Area

• Greater Yellowstone Explorers’ Archive: Letters, papers, journals, scientific equipment, etc. of scientists and explorers in the Greater Yellowstone Area
  

Greater Yellowstone Biodiversity Collections Database Network

The Draper Museum of Natural History is developing a strategy and building partnerships with other museums and government agencies to establish a database network that would identify and link all biological specimens collected from the Greater Yellowstone Area and currently housed in institutions across the world.

Greater Yellowstone Digital Ecosystems Documentation Initiative (ECODOC)

We are collecting and digitizing audio, video, and film recordings and photographic images that help document ecosystem dynamics in the Greater Yellowstone Area. As we continue to acquire these materials and develop appropriate storage and server platforms, our intent is to make these materials available to researchers, students, educators, and the public to serve their needs and our mission.

For information on how you can help us develop the Greater Yellowstone Biodiversity Database Network and ECODOC, please contact Charles R. Preston.