Curiosity Cabinet (subject file) | Archives and Special Collections Catalog

Curiosity Cabinet (subject file)

File contains information regarding the existence of a Cabinet of Curiosities maintained by the Calliopean Society in the early years of Denison, including notes copied from their meeting reports indicating a desire to build a policy for the collection.  A letter from the University Archivist to Professor Emeriti Richard Mahard inquires about any knowledge he may have regarding the collection that was said to maintain rock samples, pieces of coal, burnt wood and local Indian artifacts.  Mahard speculates in his response that the collection existed to supplement the coverage of ancient artifacts with some of more local origin.  Mahard explains that the assumption was that the "cabinet" may have been housed in Barney Science building and lost during the 1905 fire in Barney.  Mahard offers a couple of other possible sources to investigate along with an article he wrote in the 1970's about the history of the Geology and Geography Department at Denison.

Letter from University Archivist, handwritten response letter along with an article entitled, "A History of the Department of Geology and Geography, Denison University, Granville, Ohio" by Richard Mahard.  File also contains note cards with copied excerpts from the Calliopean Society's reports and minutes in 1836-1837.

SUBJ 018