Join curator emeritus Don Luce and retired Professor of History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Sally Gregory Kohlstedt for an exclusive behind the scenes visit to the collections of the Bell Museum. Following our visit with Don Luce, we’ll convene at Stouts Pub nearby for refreshments and conversation. 

Professor Kohlstedt has for years developed contacts with curators of the most obscure and fascinating collections at the University of Minnesota so that she could introduce her students to these “Cabinets of Curiosity” and we’re delighted that, beginning with this event on February 8, she will make these experiences available to UMRA members.  The February event has reach our maximum attendees.

Upcoming visits to UMN “Cabinets of Curiosity”

Look for future invitations to join curious colleagues to visit several significant museums and collections on campus as we talk with curators and explore what’s behind the scenes in their exhibits and collections. While written words have been central to university life, the University of Minnesota has historically acquired meaningful objects in the arts, humanities, and sciences that complement book learning. These material collections are housed on every campus, most are accessible, but many are often largely used by specialists and not highly visible. Individually, these carefully curated objects are fascinating, while collectively they reveal the history and nature of higher education over more than a century.

Behind the curtain at the Bell

For our first outing on February 8 to the Bell Museum, recently retired Curator Don Luce will lead a tour of the museum and perhaps pull back the curtain on objects not currently on display. He was a major figure in moving the collections from the Minneapolis campus to St. Paul and largely responsible for saving the marvelous dioramas that reflect nature in Minnesota nearly a century ago. Himself an artist, Don will discuss the ways in which both art and nature have been integral to our campus natural history museum. To anticipate what we might discuss, see https://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/blog/windows-to-nature/.

This is a good opportunity for new and seasoned UMRA members to become better acquainted with each other and the extraordinary resources of the UMN. Participants are invited to meet for refreshments at a location nearby after the tour to discuss what they have seen and consider other collections on campus that might be visited in the future, such as the Wangensteen Library of Medicine and Biological Sciences and the Tretter Collection of LGTBQ+ materials.

Each tour will be limited to no more than 18 people given space limitations at these sites. The February event has reach our maximum attendees, although we look forward to seeing you at a future Cabinets of Curiosity outing.

Participants will be responsible for their own entry and parking fees, and optional food and beverage costs. Entry fee at the Bell Museum is $10 for participants 65+ years of age, or free to members of the museum. The UMRA discount QR code will work at the Bell Museum parking lot, lot 103.  After the tour we will gather at Stouts Pub, located at 1611 Larpenteur Ave W, Falcon Heights.

Questions are welcome to Sally Gregory Kohlstedt ([email protected]), Jan Morlock ([email protected]), or Cathy Lee Gierke ([email protected]).