Make It Happen

Specific projects need contributions to make them happen. Please may we have your support. Thank you.

Your donations can make these significant acquisitions possible

Books and publications are needed in support of specific education, research and public participation projects of the Institute. Your donation will help us have the resources to carry out our mission.

Amount requested for 2015 is $1,500

The Institute seeks a donation or series of donations to support acquiring these scientific books, monographs and reprints. The wish list also includes books to engage young people.

MPRI could really use your help to purchase the 2014 current/next issue of the Zoological Record, vol. 150, section 5 on Echinodermata, priced at $535, published by Thomson Reuters, 1500 Spring Garden Street, Fourth Floor, Philadelphi, PA 19130, telephone 215-386-0100. This is the key entrance document to the world scientific literature on starfish and other echinoderms, both living and fossil, and is essential for the MPRI research program.

Ocean: An Illustrated Atlas (National Geographic, $65)

Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway: An epoch tale of a scientist and an artist on the ultimate 5,000 mile paleo road trip. By paleontologist Kirk Johnson of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and Alaskan artist Ray Troll. 2007. ISBN: 978-1-55591-451-6 Fulcrum Press. Also the accompanying Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway map. ISBN: 978-1-55591-659-6. Book $29.95 and map $12.95

Faune dévonienne de Bolivie, by R. Kozlowski, 1923. Annales de Paleontologie 12:1-112, with 10 plates. Out of print; estimated $125.00, but price and availability varies greatly.

The study of trace fossils. R. W. Frey (ed.) 1975. Speinger-Verlag, New York. Out of print; estimated $160, but price and availability varies greatly.

Indiana Department of Geology and Natural History, Sixteenth Annual Report, 1888, 472 pp., 10 plates. Out of print; estimated $40.00, but price and availability varies greatly.

The most useful entry to the zoological literature is the Zoological Record. The electronic version is not a pdf of the printed version -- the electronic version is a datbase that does not produce search results that are as informative or as complete as examining the printed version -- I have made the comparison. The printed version is indispensible, and the database version is not a substitute. Sadly, however, the printed version is now priced out of range for individual scientists like myself, but it is so necessary that the hardship has to be endured. To support research on starfish at MPRI we need the portion of the Zoological Record that is section 5, Echinodermata. THEREFORE ----

Already listed at the top of our wish list is the 2014 current/next issue of the Zoological Record, vol. 150, section 5 on Echinodermata, priced at $535, published by Thomson Reuters, 1500 Spring Garden Street, Fourth Floor, Philadelphi, PA 19130, telephone 215-386-0100. This issue becomes available in December of 2014. The vol. 151 issue covering 2015 scientific literature comes out in December 2015 and is priced at $642.

Other back-issues that are needed by MPRI are out-of-print and almost never up for sale -- here is the want list:

Zoological Record, Section Echinodermata, volume 117 for 1980
Zoological Record, Section Echinodermata, volume 116 for 1979
Zoological Record, Section Echinodermata, volume 115 for 1978
Zoological Record, Section Echinodermata, volume 112 for 1975
Zoological Record, Section Echinodermata, volume 110 for 1973

UPDATE: The History of Life (fourth edition), by Richard Cowen, 2005, has been generously donated by Diane Granville and Ira Perelle -- Thank you for this generous support

UPDATE: The Devonian rocks of southeastern Michigan and northwestern Ohio, by G.M. Ehlers, E.C. Stumm & R.V. Kesling. 1951, has been generously donated by Diane Granville and Ira Perelle -- Thank you for this generous support

Help MPRI be an ambassador for international cooperation and understanding

Amount requested for 2015 is $4,000

Studies in marine and paleobiological science are truly international efforts. MPRI affirms the shared interests of engaged citizens, scientists and educators of all nations who are involved in studying, understanding, conserving and preserving the world heritage of living and fossil organisms. The Institute uses its presence, contacts and foreign travel to be an ambassador for international cooperation and understanding by encouraging communication and research among scientists of different countries. Many of the research projects of the Directors are international cooperative projects.

The Institute seeks a donation or series of donations to support sending scientific books, monographs and reprints to foreign scientists who do not have access to these materials in their institutional libraries or where library facilities are completely lacking, and to support travel to meet with foreign scientists, educators and interested citizens for the purpose of encouraging communication and research among scientists of different countries.

Help to preserve our world fossil heritage

Amount requested for 2015 is $6,000

The Institute seeks a donation or series of donations to support acquisition of fossils for teaching, exhibition and research and to preserve our fossil heritage.

The specific fossils to be purchased are usually based on windows of opportunity as collectors put specimens up for sale. We have many examples of lost opportunities due to insufficient funds at the time of offer. However, in a few situations, a collector or dealer will cooperate with MPRI and hold specimens while we seek donors to enable the purchase.

A pressing need is to have friends and supporters who will act to acquire scientifically important specimens at the moment that the specimens are available for acquisition. Lost opportunities cannot be recaptured. In many instances the specimens are so rare or special that they are simply one-of-a-kind. In other instances the supply is so limited that the window of opportunity may last only a few weeks or months. These quick-action circumstances preclude going through a grant-seeking cycle to make the acquisition. We know of at least one museum where there are friends of the collection who will respond to the moment by bidding on eBay or taking similar instant action to try to acquire specimens that are significant to the public and scientific mission of the institution. Please let us know if you would like to support the MPRI Fossil Heritage Collection in this participatory, exciting, and satisfying way.

OPPORTUNITY: page 24 of Geological Enterprises, Inc., Ardmore, OK [www.geologicalenterprises.com] catalog BULLETIN No. 61, has for sale ($600) a Urasterella specimen, Middle Ordovician age, found at Duck Creek Quarry, near Howard, Wisconsin. The specimen is on the MPRI Fossil Heritage wish list because the occurrence at this locality is not in the scientific literature and the specimen is nearly complete.

Your donations can make these significant acquisitions possible The Institute provides a learning and cultural opportunity for the community of Martha's Vineyatd Island by exhibiting and lecturing on ancient sea life at the public schools, libraries, environmental and conservation groups, and any other schools or groups that express interest. MPRI collaborates with the venue/host individuals to publicize the event. It is hoped that the exhibit will be on display in a public venue more-or-less continuously throughout the year. After exhibition and research the fossil specimens are deposited into the permanent collection of a museum such as the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University.

Please help us acquire the following materials for classroom use:

portable display cases for classroom and lecture venue:
model 075 (Allstate Mfg. Co., Perth Amboy $111 each)

Fossils from the oldest fossil-bearing rocks, to show students the earliest parts of the fossil record. These fossils are from the Pre-Cambrian and Cambrian Eras. Wish list includes stromatolites, archaeocyathids, Hyolithes, Helicoplacus, brachiopods, trilobites, monoplacophoran mollusks, trace fossils, ediacaran fossils, soft-body fossils, etc. Looking for quality specimens that students will be interested to see and handle. Price ranges in the Geological Enterprises, Inc., Ardmore, OK, catalog are $60 to $1500.

UPDATE: Funds to purchase the below Ordovician sea stars from the Czech Republic were generously donated by Dan and Anne Pruzan. -- Thank you for making this acquisition possible

Significance: Specimens of the large and rare Ordovician sea star Bohemura from the Czech Republic are seldom available for acquisition, and material of this type is underrepresented in institutional collections. This acquisition preserved an important part of our world fossil heritage and makes the specimens available for education, research and museum display. In 2010 MPRI deposited these specimens into the Yale Peabody Museum for greatest access and impact for science and society.
bohemura

Photos by Hensken Fossils.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MPRI was not able to hold any events in 2020 but below is a summary of our past events.

2019 EVENTS:

In October, our annual National Fossil Day took place at the Oak Bluffs Public Library. See pictures from this event on the Oak Bluffs Library's Facebook page here.

In May, we took fossil programs for seniors to Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and in June to The Anchors Senior Center in Edgartown in collaboration with the Martha's Vineyard Center for Living and in collaboration with the MV Museum.

In April, Susie Bowman
and Fred Hotchkiss presented
Horseshoe Crabs: A Story of Beach Trysts and Blue Bloods,
a free lecture and slide show about lives and history of horseshoe crabs and opportunities to be involved in the Horseshoe Crab Citizen Science Survey Project -- at the West Tisbury, Edgartown and Oak Bluffs libraries

In March, we visited two 8th grade science classes of Mrs. Connie Alexander in Tisbury, bringing a range of fossils for study and discussion.

In March, we brought touchable fossils to preschoolers at the Island Children's School in West Tisbury.

In February, we visited the 7th grade science classes of Ms. Lea Dorr in Oak Bluffs as they studied geology and the history of beach pebbles found on the Vineyard.

Fossil
Heritage
Collection

Specimens purchased
with the help of our generous donors.

| |



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Make It Happen Specific projects need contributions to make them happen. Please may we have your support. Thank you. Your donations can make these significant acquisitions possible Books and publications are needed in support of specific education, research and public participation projects of the Institute. Your donation will help us have the resources to carry out our mission. Amount requested for 2015 is $1,500 The Institute seeks a donation or series of donations to support acquiring these scientific books, monographs and reprints. The wish list also includes books to engage young people. MPRI could really use your help to purchase the 2014 current/next issue of the Zoological Record, vol. 150, section 5 on Echinodermata, priced at $535, published by Thomson Reuters, 1500 Spring Garden Street, Fourth Floor, Philadelphi, PA 19130, telephone 215-386-0100. This is the key entrance document to the world scientific literature on starfish and other echinoderms, both living and fossil, and is essential for the MPRI research program. Ocean: An Illustrated Atlas (National Geographic, $65) Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway: An epoch tale of a scientist and an artist on the ultimate 5,000 mile paleo road trip. By paleontologist Kirk Johnson of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, and Alaskan artist Ray Troll. 2007. ISBN: 978-1-55591-451-6 Fulcrum Press. Also the accompanying Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway map. ISBN: 978-1-55591-659-6. Book $29.95 and map $12.95 Faune dévonienne de Bolivie, by R. Kozlowski, 1923. Annales de Paleontologie 12:1-112, with 10 plates. Out of print; estimated $125.00, but price and availability varies greatly. The study of trace fossils. R. W. Frey (ed.) 1975. Speinger-Verlag, New York. Out of print; estimated $160, but price and availability varies greatly. Indiana Department of Geology and Natural History, Sixteenth Annual Report, 1888, 472 pp., 10 plates. Out of print; estimated $40.00, but price and availability varies greatly. The most useful entry to the zoological literature is the Zoological Record. The electronic version is not a pdf of the printed version -- the electronic version is a datbase that does not produce search results that are as informative or as complete as examining the printed version -- I have made the comparison. The printed version is indispensible, and the database version is not a substitute. Sadly, however, the printed version is now priced out of range for individual scientists like myself, but it is so necessary that the hardship has to be endured. To support research on starfish at MPRI we need the portion of the Zoological Record that is section 5, Echinodermata. THEREFORE ---- Already listed at the top of our wish list is the 2014 current/next issue of the Zoological Record, vol. 150, section 5 on Echinodermata, priced at $535, published by Thomson Reuters, 1500 Spring Garden Street, Fourth Floor, Philadelphi, PA 19130, telephone 215-386-0100. This issue becomes available in December of 2014. The vol. 151 issue covering 2015 scientific literature comes out in December 2015 and is priced at $642. Other back-issues that are needed by MPRI are out-of-print and almost never up for sale -- here is the want list: Zoological Record, Section Echinodermata, volume 117 for 1980 Zoological Record, Section Echinodermata, volume 116 for 1979 Zoological Record, Section Echinodermata, volume 115 for 1978 Zoological Record, Section Echinodermata, volume 112 for 1975 Zoological Record, Section Echinodermata, volume 110 for 1973 UPDATE: The History of Life (fourth edition), by Richard Cowen, 2005, has been generously donated by Diane Granville and Ira Perelle -- Thank you for this generous support UPDATE: The Devonian rocks of southeastern Michigan and northwestern Ohio, by G.M. Ehlers, E.C. Stumm & R.V. Kesling. 1951, has been generously donated by Diane Granville and Ira Perelle -- Thank you for this generous support Help MPRI be an ambassador for international cooperation and understanding Amount requested for 2015 is $4,000 Studies in marine and paleobiological science are truly international efforts. MPRI affirms the shared interests of engaged citizens, scientists and educators of all nations who are involved in studying, understanding, conserving and preserving the world heritage of living and fossil organisms. The Institute uses its presence, contacts and foreign travel to be an ambassador for international cooperation and understanding by encouraging communication and research among scientists of different countries. Many of the research projects of the Directors are international cooperative projects. The Institute seeks a donation or series of donations to support sending scientific books, monographs and reprints to foreign scientists who do not have access to these materials in their institutional libraries or where library facilities are completely lacking, and to support travel to meet with foreign scientists, educators and interested citizens for the purpose of encouraging communication and research among scientists of different countries. Help to preserve our world fossil heritage Amount requested for 2015 is $6,000 The Institute seeks a donation or series of donations to support acquisition of fossils for teaching, exhibition and research and to preserve our fossil heritage. The specific fossils to be purchased are usually based on windows of opportunity as collectors put specimens up for sale. We have many examples of lost opportunities due to insufficient funds at the time of offer. However, in a few situations, a collector or dealer will cooperate with MPRI and hold specimens while we seek donors to enable the purchase. A pressing need is to have friends and supporters who will act to acquire scientifically important specimens at the moment that the specimens are available for acquisition. Lost opportunities cannot be recaptured. In many instances the specimens are so rare or special that they are simply one-of-a-kind. In other instances the supply is so limited that the window of opportunity may last only a few weeks or months. These quick-action circumstances preclude going through a grant-seeking cycle to make the acquisition. We know of at least one museum where there are friends of the collection who will respond to the moment by bidding on eBay or taking similar instant action to try to acquire specimens that are significant to the public and scientific mission of the institution. Please let us know if you would like to support the MPRI Fossil Heritage Collection in this participatory, exciting, and satisfying way. OPPORTUNITY: page 24 of Geological Enterprises, Inc., Ardmore, OK [www.geologicalenterprises.com] catalog BULLETIN No. 61, has for sale ($600) a Urasterella specimen, Middle Ordovician age, found at Duck Creek Quarry, near Howard, Wisconsin. The specimen is on the MPRI Fossil Heritage wish list because the occurrence at this locality is not in the scientific literature and the specimen is nearly complete. Your donations can make these significant acquisitions possible The Institute provides a learning and cultural opportunity for the community of Martha's Vineyatd Island by exhibiting and lecturing on ancient sea life at the public schools, libraries, environmental and conservation groups, and any other schools or groups that express interest. MPRI collaborates with the venue/host individuals to publicize the event. It is hoped that the exhibit will be on display in a public venue more-or-less continuously throughout the year. After exhibition and research the fossil specimens are deposited into the permanent collection of a museum such as the Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University. Please help us acquire the following materials for classroom use: portable display cases for classroom and lecture venue: model 075 (Allstate Mfg. Co., Perth Amboy $111 each) Fossils from the oldest fossil-bearing rocks, to show students the earliest parts of the fossil record. These fossils are from the Pre-Cambrian and Cambrian Eras. Wish list includes stromatolites, archaeocyathids, Hyolithes, Helicoplacus, brachiopods, trilobites, monoplacophoran mollusks, trace fossils, ediacaran fossils, soft-body fossils, etc. Looking for quality specimens that students will be interested to see and handle. Price ranges in the Geological Enterprises, Inc., Ardmore, OK, catalog are $60 to $1500. UPDATE: Funds to purchase the below Ordovician sea stars from the Czech Republic were generously donated by Dan and Anne Pruzan. -- Thank you for making this acquisition possible Significance: Specimens of the large and rare Ordovician sea star Bohemura from the Czech Republic are seldom available for acquisition, and material of this type is underrepresented in institutional collections. This acquisition preserved an important part of our world fossil heritage and makes the specimens available for education, research and museum display. In 2010 MPRI deposited these specimens into the Yale Peabody Museum for greatest access and impact for science and society. Photos by Hensken Fossils.				Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MPRI was not able to hold any events in 2020 but below is a summary of our past events. 2019 EVENTS: In October, our annual National Fossil Day took place at the Oak Bluffs Public Library. See pictures from this event on the Oak Bluffs Library's Facebook page here. In May, we took fossil programs for seniors to Windemere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and in June to The Anchors Senior Center in Edgartown in collaboration with the Martha's Vineyard Center for Living and in collaboration with the MV Museum. In April, Susie Bowman and Fred Hotchkiss presented *Horseshoe Crabs: A Story of Beach Trysts and Blue Bloods,* a free lecture and slide show about lives and history of horseshoe crabs and opportunities to be involved in the Horseshoe Crab Citizen Science Survey Project -- at the West Tisbury, Edgartown and Oak Bluffs libraries In March, we visited two 8th grade science classes of Mrs. Connie Alexander in Tisbury, bringing a range of fossils for study and discussion. In March, we brought touchable fossils to preschoolers at the Island Children's School in West Tisbury. In February, we visited the 7th grade science classes of Ms. Lea Dorr in Oak Bluffs as they studied geology and the history of beach pebbles found on the Vineyard. Fossil Heritage Collection Specimens purchased with the help of our generous donors.
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