Cabinets of Curiosity: Insect Collection and Natural Resources Library
Wed, Feb 7, 2024, 1pm
Insects—some we love to watch, like butterflies—but others genuinely bug us. If you are curious about insects in their astonishing variety, plan to join the UMRA Cabinets of Curiosities tour at the Department of Entomology on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus in St. Paul. Biologist E. O. Wilson said that insects, along with other invertebrates, are "the little things that run the world."
Curator Robin Thomson will tell us about the amazing UMN collection of more than 4,000,000 specimens and 53,000 species in stacks of cabinets housed in Hodson Hall. She will open up the drawers and allow us to look closely at butterflies, moths, beetles and even smaller insects housed behind their research laboratory space. We will also have a special opportunity to see the collection of rare illustrated natural history books in the Natural Resources Library under the watchful eye of Natural Resources librarians Amy Gmur and Philip Herold. Given the space available among the cabinets and in the library, we have relatively limited registration space for this tour.
The event is free. Registration is now closed, but you can contact us to get on the wait list. Join us on February 7, from 1-3 pm at Hodson Hall on the St. Paul Campus.
There is relatively close parking for Hodson Hall in Lot 106. Once again, we will likely gather at a local eatery for friendly conversation after the event, with more details to come.
Can’t attend this time? Look for more Cabinets of Curiosity outings in the coming months, including a visit to the College of Biological Sciences Conservatory on April 4.
Questions are welcome to Sally Gregory Kohlstedt ([email protected]), Jan Morlock ([email protected]), or Cathy Lee Gierke ([email protected]).
Upcoming Events
UMRA's special event for this winter will again be a celebration of brighter days and the approaching end of winter. We'll have food, fellowship, and music provided by Urban Sound, one of the U of M’s premier student a cappella ensembles.
Our February 3 hike will be around Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis, with an option to add Bde Maka Ska, weather permitting. No matter how far we hike, let’s go to Isles Bun & Coffee for treats after the hike. Their buns are delicious!
Cabinets of Curiosity will seek out the University of Minnesota Herbarium on the St Paul Campus. Collections Manager Tim Whitfeld will share his knowledge of that amazing collection and explain its critical importance in the 21st century. Botanists study these pressed plants, individually and collectively, to establish a history of plant life, often over centuries, because they contain compelling evidence of the ever modulating geographical distribution of plants and evidence of how climate, pests, and other factors have changed species over time.
"Things that drive me crazy" will be the theme when the UMRA Photo Club meets on February 11. Newcomers are welcome.
Many life challenges that get in the way of quality of life and good health at home have little to do with medical issues. Cathy Lauring, our presenter for UMRA’s February 18 workshop, will explore a variety of resources to assist in keeping us healthy at home—including physical, emotional, cognitive, and financial services.
John Bantle will lead the discussion of A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson when the UMRA book club meets via Zoom on February 21.
Join UMRA members to watch two of the best hockey teams in the nation. UMRA has negotiated a discounted ticket price of $33.
Barbara Klick, RN, MBA, the presenter for UMRA’s February 25 Forum, has decades of experience working in human and veterinary medicine, and will bring her wisdom and perspective to our discussion about what we can learn from our pets about facing end-of-life challenges and decisions.
The Fourth Friday Book Club will meet via Zoom on February 28 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. CST to discuss The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.
Will Craig discusses using local sources for family history.
The UMRA Hiking Club will explore wildlife along the Mississippi River in Fort Snelling State Park. The 3.9-mile Pike Island Loop is generally considered an easy route and takes just over an hour. Hikers can leave at that point, or stay to add another short loop. The trail is located below the bluff on which the historic fort sits. The last time we were there we saw a lot of deer, and the river always provides fascinating views.
The University of Minnesota Archives, with its major holdings largely tucked away in two huge underground caverns along the Mississippi River under the West Bank campus, holds the essential records of our University of Minnesota’s past. University Archivist Erik Moore will explain the holdings and role of our extensive university archive and bring out a sampling of what it holds. At the end of our visit, he will conduct a tour of the literally cool caverns (Minnesota Library Access Center), revealing where these precious materials are housed, including the original tapes of KUOM, now Radio K.