Museum Notes

SMMP NEWS

After the Tucson Show in February 2023, the Society of Mineral Museum Professionals (SMMP) held meetings at the Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Show in France in June, at the Denver Hard Rock Summit Show in Denver in September, and at the Munich Show (Mineralientage München) in October. Upcoming is the group’s meeting at the 2024 Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Show.

DIRECTOR RETIRES

Jose Santamaria retired as executive director of the Tellus Science Museum, in Cartersville, Georgia, this past October after being with the museum for twenty-seven years. Under his leadership, Tellus developed an impressive repertoire of interactive educational programming and has become an institution known for regularly hosting events that bring in thousands of visitors from across the Southeast. Additionally, his love of science and dedication to education drew experts from around the country to the museum and allowed Tellus to become the most important collection of Georgia’s geological heritage in the world.

COLOR SPONSOR for the Museum Notes column in 2024 is Laura Delano of LLD Productions, Inc.

His successor is Adam Wade, longtime (since 2003) part of the museum’s team, serving as director of exhibit acquisitions and then director of development. Santamaria continues as part-time director emeritus helping Wade transition into his new role and assisting with the collection, special projects, and fundraising efforts.

SMMP members at the 2023 meeting at the Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines Show.

Photo courtesy Eloise Gaillou.

Jose Santamaria (left), now retired as director of the Telllus Science Museum, and Adam Wade, his successor.

Photo courtesy Tellus Science Museum.

MINES EXHIBITION

There’s still time to see Collectible Minerals, now at the Mineral Museum of l’Ecole des Mines de Paris and continuing through 9 March. The exhibition is an immersive and educational experience that highlights the beauty of minerals and explores their scientific, cultural, and historical significance. It is aimed at both the novice and experienced visitors, from those who may have slipped a pebble into their pockets to those with a passion for natural science, art, and culture.

DENVER WINNER

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science received the Friends of Mineralogy’s Kay Robertson Educational Display Award for an Institution at the Denver Show this past September for its exhibit of topaz. The award is given twice a year, at Denver and at Tucson.

M.E.H.

Rocks & Minerals welcomes museum news items and photographs for this column. Correspondence should be sent to Marie Huizing, 5341 Thrasher Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45247; [email protected].

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s display that garnered the Friends of Mineralogy’s Kay Robertson Educational Display Award for an Institution at the 2023 Hard Rock Summit (Denver) Show.

Photo courtesy Mark Jacobson.