Treasured Legacy, Bright Future for Renowned MTU Mineral Museum
John “Jack” and Phyllis Seaman celebrated Jack’s 103rd birthday with a reward to Michigan
Technological College that assures the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum will proceed
to influence pupils, researchers and the general public for generations to occur.
The John and Phyllis Seaman Endowment for Curation of the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum will offer perpetual assistance for a museum curator. Current director and curator
John Jaszczak has been named the inaugural appointee to the recently endowed posture.
The curator holds the obligations of caring for, growing and employing the museum’s
collections of minerals and similar objects for show, education and investigate.
museum named in honor of the first curator, his grandfather A.E. Seaman. (Impression
Courtesy John Jaszczak)
Jaszczak, who has served as a professor in Michigan Tech’s Office of Physics since 1991, has been an avid mineral collector due to the fact childhood. His appreciate of minerals
inspired him to turn out to be a scientist and his profession achievements involve finding new minerals.
“We believe that the vitality, benefit and stature of the museum is joined the two to the incredible
quality of its collection as perfectly as to the integrity, enthusiasm and creative imagination of its
people — from supporters and donors to workforce earlier and present,” mentioned Jaszczak.
“We are most grateful to Jack and Phyllis for their visionary help, and for partnering
with us in pursuit of ongoing excellence as we operate alongside one another to share and uncover
the wonders of minerals.”
led to new discoveries. Exciting truth: his preferred minerals aren’t flashy or sparkly coloured,
they’re gray (like graphite).
The Seamans also established a Student Help Fund for learners concerned with the
museum in honor of Jean Petermann Kemp Zimmer ’39, who served as museum curator from
1975-86, and Jack’s sister, Jeanne Seaman Farnum. These two groundbreaking girls analyzed
geology less than Wyllys Seaman.
“Many users of the Seaman relatives have served as pioneers in Michigan Tech background,
and we’re very pleased to carry on their tradition of excellence here,” said Bill Roberts,
Michigan Tech vice president for development and alumni engagement. “We are thankful
to Jack and Phyllis for this gift and their longtime commitment to Tech. Their exceptional
generosity will depart a lasting legacy on the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum, which provides
benefits to the College and higher community. We deeply enjoy their assistance
and friendship.”
A Legacy to Treasure
Archives.
The endowment is a fitting honor to Jack’s grandfather, Arthur Edmund Seaman (1858-1937), and father, Wyllys A. Seaman (1886-1972). Arthur founded the museum and served as its initially curator 120 years
in the past, when Tech was identified as the Michigan College or university of Mines, and Wyllys served as the
museum’s 3rd curator. Both ended up Michigan Tech alumni and college associates.
Nationally and internationally identified as 1 of the greatest mineral museums in North
America, A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum’s mission to curate a detailed collection
of minerals and teach folks about their importance traces back again to the condition of
Michigan’s Enabling Act (#207) of 1861 trying to get to create the Michigan Mining College
“at or in close proximity to the village of Houghton.” Now, the museum curates roughly 40,000
cataloged objects in the Michigan Tech collection and the University of Michigan selection,
held under the Michigan Mineral Alliance. The museum homes the world’s very best selection
of indigenous copper and other Higher Peninsula minerals, a superb assortment of minerals
from all around the Terrific Lakes Area and a wide illustration of great minerals from
about the earth, exhibited in its 8,000-square-foot building. The museum and reward shop are positioned on the south conclude of Michigan Tech’s campus with simple obtain off Sharon
Avenue in Houghton. Observe this Mineral Museum mini-tour from Keweenaw Conference and Readers Bureau to learn a lot more about the museum’s background
and collections.
shake hands, representing 120 several years of historical past and a special moment for both people.
(Picture Credit: John Jaszczak)
on the Michigan Tech campus.
Michigan Technological College is a general public investigation college launched in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is household to more than 7,000 college students from 55 nations around the earth. Persistently ranked among the the ideal universities in the place for return on financial commitment, the University offers much more than 125 undergraduate and graduate degree systems in science and technological know-how, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health and fitness professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Top-quality in Michigan’s Higher Peninsula, presenting 12 months-spherical possibilities for outdoor adventure.
