[meteorite-list] Was Elbert King...now Smithsonian on being territorial

[MARK BOSTICK]

(Try this again...sorry if you get more then one of this same e-mail but 
this message just doesn't want to post - Mark)


Hello Lisa King (and list),

Thanks for sharing your memories of your father with us.  Should you think 
of other little stories and would like to share them, I am sure that most of 
us would find it very interesting.

Lisa wrote, "The Smithsonian was very territorial about meteorites during 
the late 60's and early 70s."

The Smithsonian was quite territorial with meteorites from at least 1932, 
when Edward Henderson became assistant curator and took over meteorites.  
Before Henderson, Merrill was in charge and he did not seem to have the 
interest in meteorites that his predecessor did  Merrill seemed more 
interested in seeing a meteorite was classified, published and that the U.S. 
Museum had a specimen.  After those actions were taken it didn't really 
matter to him anymore.

University professors fought over stones from the Iowa falls (1875 and 
1890), without competition from the national museum. And before 1932, 
several other large US meteorites where lost to museums overseas, such as 
the Mt. Joy meteorite, because of lack of interest in this nation.

I am not sure when Henderson retired, but I wonder how well it would line up 
with the Smithsonian's lost of territorial actions regarding meteorites.

I will note that Henderson and Nininger were able to form a relationship 
that helped each other out. At one time Henderson even organized a pricing 
structure, and got all the large meteorite collectors to agree on. This paid 
bottom dollar for finds from finders.  So I would not say Henderson was 
totally territorial. Perhaps, just controlling.

A nice Smithsonian Magazine article that has a lot of Henderson history and 
quotes can be found here:

http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues95/may95/mall_may95.html

Clear Skies,
Mark Bostick
www.meteoritearticles.com