The current goal of the Department is to transform the Thomas A. Greene Geological Museum from an underutilized treasure into a true research-ready institution. Currently, the collection is digitally opaque and not accessible in any online paleobiology data aggregators. Work has already begun on increasing collection visibility to make it a meaningful resource for researchers and the Wisconsin public.
Digitization
Digitization of the fossil collection began in 2018 under the IMLS Ordovician Fossil Digitization Project to photograph and catalog Ordovician invertebrate fossils. This was a cooperative grant between the Thomas A. Greene Geological Museum, the Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM), and the Field Museum of Natural History. These digitization efforts were spearheaded by Scott Schaefer, who managed the collection until 2020 and is currently serving as Interim Director of the WESM. The database software Axiell EMu was procured as part of this grant, but lack of continued funding ultimately terminated the service. Currently, the entire Ordovician and part of the Silurian invertebrate fossil collection has been digitized. Efforts are ongoing to secure additional funding to continue these digitization and databasing goals.
Three-dimensional (3D) specimen digitization is currently underway, utilizing a novel and inexpensive method of photogrammetry. The goal is to improve the educational quality of exhibit specimens by permitting access to 3D models using QR codes within the exhibits. This effort is being led on a volunteer basis and is currently focused on fossil specimens, though both fossil and mineral exemplars will ultimately be incorporated into the project.
In addition to fossil specimens, we are currently digitizing the Thomas A. Greene library collection. A recent flood in the building emphasized its susceptibility to water and fire damage, so collaboration with the UW Libraries system has begun to ensure these delicate and historically important books and notes are digitally maintained for posterity and cataloging purposes.
Outreach
Since 2021, the Department has redoubled its outreach efforts to reinvigorate both public and Greene family interest in the collection. The first annual ‘Darwin Day at the Thomas A. Greene Geological Museum’ event was held in 2022 with the assistance of seventeen volunteers, resulting in 78 guest attendees. Our most recent Darwin Day celebration (2024) swelled over 60 volunteers, including students, staff, faculty, and outside community partners. Thanks to improved marketing, external sponsorship, an increase in available activ
ities and lectures, and growing public passion for the Museum, we achieved an attendance of 360 guests from the local Milwaukee community. The success of this event encouraged the descendants of Thomas Greene to fund a one-year Projects Assistant graduate position to continue outreach and exhibit development efforts in the Museum. This subsidy is also funding several new annual events to be rolled out starting fall 2024. These volunteer efforts highlight the value of public outreach in a holistic model for maintaining the financial health of Museum collections.
Other Projects and Goals
The renewed interest and funding opportunities for the Museum are being parlayed into several future goals. Work is currently underway on improving woefully outdated exhibits and lighting. Former office space is being annexed and renovated to house a glowing fluorescent mineral exhibit, as well as a rotating research exhibit. Communication with several
other UWM departments, as well as external institutions like the MPM, is currently underway to update and improve our displays. Other educational offerings for local schools and tour groups are also in the works to both expand the community influence of the Museum and provide a consistent income stream for continued Museum staffing and improvements. A growing cohort of graduate and undergraduate volunteers passionate about museum studies and natural history are currently involved in a variety of projects, including digitization, marketing, and branding.
The Thomas A. Greene Geological Museum contains a tremendous amount of history and research potential. It represents the life’s work of one of the most prolific avocational geologists in the region and has earned its status as one of the greatest collections of Silurian reef fossils in the world. The current goal and trajectory of the UWM Department of Geosciences is to increase the visibility of the collection, make it research-ready, and emphasize the status of the Museum as an irreplaceable piece of Milwaukee’s heritage. We hope that this precious historical collection is viewed as not just a treasure of Wisconsin, but a valuable repository of data for the global scientific community.