Highlights of the Fryxell Geology Museum History

Highlights in the History of the Fryxell Geology Museum

1878-1888. Dr. Josua Lindahl, first Professor of Natural History organizes Augustana’s collection of plants, animals, rocks, minerals, and fossils into a Museum of Natural History. “The Museum is, for want of special museum rooms, stored partly in the library, partly in one of the large classrooms, and in two other rooms of the school building.” The “school building” referred to is the only college building at the time. It was located between what is now Old Main and the College Center.

1888. The museum is moved to a large room at the northwest corner of the third floor of the “New College Building,” now known as Old Main.

1888-1911. The museum collections grow under the direction of Dr. Johan A. Udden. Dr. Udden’s collecting expeditions ranged from the limestones of the St. Louis area to the Appalachian Piedmont of Maryland, the Mesozoic of South Dakota and Wyoming, the Proterozoic of Upper Michigan, and the Cretaceous of West Texas. Also during this period the museum received the Richard Mansill Collection, “hundreds of archaeological, paleontological, mineralogical, and chonchological specimens.”

1911-1923. Under the direction of Ira Nothstein, college librarian, the collections continue to grow, particularly historical and ethnological materials.

1924. Dr. F. M. Fryxell joins the faculty and advocates separation of the historical and natural history collections. Fryxell begins to assemble specimens for a geological museum at the east end of Cable Hall, on the second floor of Old Main. The geology classroom occupies the west end of Cable Hall.

1934. A need for more library space and a diminishing interest in the museum on the third floor of Denkmann Hall results in the elimination of the museum. The contents of the museum are distributed among the various interested departments of the college. Fryxell adds the geological specimens to the growing museum in Cable Hall.

1935. The museum moves to newly constructed Wallberg Hall, occupying the northwest room on the second floor.

1935-1968. The collection continues to grow through the efforts of Fryxell and students and alumni, among whom are James W. Collinson, Wendel B. Swanson, Earl Manning, Troy Pewe, and Roald Fryxell. In addition, dealers and collectors make available specimens for purchase, and in many cases have donated specimens. Notable among these are Charles H. Sternberg and his sons Charles M., Levi, and especially George F.; F. H. Ward, for many years head of Ward’s Natural History Establishment at Rochester, New York, and his associate, David Jensen; Dr. F. Kronz. Bonn, Germany; E. P. Bottley, London; Allan Graffham, George Langford, Joliet, Illinois; Otto Geist, Fairbanks, Alaska; Carlyle B. Campbell, Knoxville, Iowa; P. K. Hurlbut; Jack Saxon; Teresa Wickkizer; and Mr. and Mrs. Harrel Strimple. The Illowa and Blackhawk Gem and Mineral clubs donate notable gifts to the museum.

1960. The Museum Endowment Fund is established by Dr. Rudolph W. Edmund.

1968. The museum moves to new quarters on the first floor of the remodeled former library of the Augustana Theological Seminary. It occupies a central location among the classrooms and laboratories of the Department of Geology. It is now officially known as the Fryxell Geology Museum.

1978. Richard T. Johannesen appointed as curator. A retiree, he devotes much time and energy to acquiring specimens from dealers and fellow amateurs from around the world.

1981. William R. Hammer appointed Director of the Fryxell Geology Museum.

1999. Florence Schyberg Memorial Endowment 
established.

2001. The museum is enlarged and remodeled. Dr. Hammer’s Antarctic dinosaur is displayed prominently in the foyer of the Swenson Hall of Geosciences.