Our collections
The Joseph Moore Museum displays just a small portion of its research collection, which comprises more than 60,000 specimens. The collection documents the biodiversity of our region as well as illustrating many species from around the world. It is a resource for teaching and research worldwide.
Anthropology
The JMM has an ethnographic and archaeological collection that includes everything from Babylonian tablets to Roman lamps, stone tools from local Native American mound sites and and the mummified remains of Ta’an, a young Egyptian woman. The collection contains more than 2,000 objects. It houses objects from around the world including Egypt, Japan, Africa and the Americas. The JMM is not actively collecting archaeological or ethnographic materials but maintains its current collection for educational purposes.
Herpetology
The herpetology collection is devoted to the maintenance and care of our 1,290 specimens that includes 456 genera and 684 different species. Almost half of all the specimens are from Indiana and the surrounding area, providing a catalog of both native and invasive species. The collection contains reptiles and amphibians from over 30 states and 19 countries.
Mammalogy
The Mammal Collection at the Joseph Moore Museum includes more than 4,000 specimens from 26 countries and 44 different states. Almost 2,000 of these have been collected throughout Indiana, making the museum a vital resource for research on native species. Of particular note is the museum’s extensive collection of bats from around the world collected by Jim Cope. For decades much of the collection has been prepared by Earlham College students and faculty working side by side, demonstrating how JMM values being able to provide opportunities for students to obtain hands-on experience.
Ornithology
With over 6,500 individual specimens, the scope of which extend over four continents, the bird collection at the Joseph Moore Museum has been a resource in avian research for decades. Many of the specimens have been used in genetic sampling and population surveys by both Earlham College students and researchers across the country. The collection maintains over 400 genera and 700 species from 43 countries; among them are several Passenger Pigeons, (Ectopistes migratorius), a Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja), an Ostrich (Struthio camelus) and Whooping Cranes (Grus americana).
Vertebrate paleontology
The Mammal Collection at the Joseph Moore Museum includes more than 4,000 specimens from 26 countries and 44 different states. Almost 2,000 of these have been collected throughout Indiana, making the museum a vital resource for research on native species. Of particular note is the museum’s extensive collection of bats from around the world collected by Jim Cope. For decades much of the collection has been prepared by Earlham College students and faculty working side by side, demonstrating how JMM values being able to provide opportunities for students to obtain hands-on experience.