Restoration of the Invertebrate Paleontology Collection, Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Phase 1

在20世纪60年代至80年代初的快速扩张之后，自然历史俄克拉荷马州的无脊椎动物古生物学收藏馆经历了一段时间的最小增长，这是在馆长帕特里克K.萨瑟兰 由于没有馆长，收藏活动大幅减少，许多原始木箱因白蚁侵袭而受损。 然而，该藏品是博物馆中最大的藏品之一（25万件标本），其中包括数千件来自俄克拉荷马州和邻近州的古生物学里程碑式研究的标本。 俄克拉荷马州大学重新承诺，聘请了一位新的策展人，他将由一位新的全职策展人专家协助。 已为Sam Noble自然历史博物馆的收藏品分配了一个大的储藏区（约3，200平方英尺），这是一个新设施，将于1999年初启用。 修复收藏品将是一个多年期项目，第一阶段将确保标本迅速打开包装，并妥善存放在金属盒中。 随后的阶段将涉及以传统印刷和电子（基于网络）媒体制作一个模式标本和图形标本目录，并将目前储存在一套索引卡上的收藏记录计算机化。 该项目将完成用新的金属箱取代陈旧的木制储藏柜的工作，并支持雇用临时工作人员，协助在搬迁到新设施后对收藏品进行开箱和重组。 该项目显然对顺利完成后续阶段的修复工作至关重要。

After rapid expansion in the 1960 to early 1980s, the Invertebrate Paleontology Collection of the Oklahoma of Natural History underwent a period of minimal growth that followed the retirement of the curator, Patrick K. Sutherland. Without a curator, collection activity declinced significantly and many of the original wooden cases have been damaged through termite infestation. And yet, the collection is among the largest in the museum (250,000 specimens) and contains several thousand type and figured specimens from a number of landmark studies on the paleontology of Oklahoma and contiguous state. The University of Oklahoma has renewed its commitment to the collection with the hiring of a new curator who will be assisted by a new, full-time curatorial specialist. A large storage area (approximately 3,200 square feet)has been allocated to the collection in the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History, a new facility which will be available early in 1999. Restoration of the collection will be a multi-year project, the first phase of which will ensure that the specimens are unpacked promptly and adequately housed in metal cases. Subsequent phases will involve production of a catalogue of type and figured specimens in both conventional print and electronic (web-based) media, and computerization of collection records, which are currently stored on a set of index cards. This project will complete the replacement of antiquated wooden storage cabinets with new metal cases and support the hiring of temporary staff to assist with the unpacking and reorganization of the collection following the move to the new facility. This project is clearly critical to the successful completion of subsequent phases of the restoration.