History of the Puget Sound Museum

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For close to 100 years, the Puget Sound Museum has been an invaluable institution in the Puget Sound region.

Museum Timeline - Images from the archives

slater — James R. Slater begins teaching at the University of Puget Sound in 1919. In 1926, he creates a small reptile & amphibian collection that marks the beginning of the Puget Sound Museum. Pictured: James Slater filming a snake.

alcorn with students — In 1930, Gordon Alcorn begins teaching at the University of Puget Sound and starts the ornithology collection at the museum. Pictured: Alcorn with students.

In 1946, the Puget Sound Museum is officially established as a research collection by James Slater, Gordon Alcorn, and Murray Johnson. Pictured: James Slater (left), Gordon Alcorn (standing left), and UPS professors in the museum.

In 1949, Murray Johnson becomes the first Director of the museum and significantly grows the mammal collection to over 30,000 specimens. Pictured: Murray Johnson and students in the museum.

thompson — In 1968, the museum collection moves into the newly constructed Thompson Hall. Pictured: visitors at a museum open house in the original Thompson Hall location, 1987.

In 1990, Dennis Paulson becomes the director of the museum. During his 14 years in the role, he grows the bird collection to over 20,000 specimens and digitizes all collection catalogs. Pictured: Dennis Paulson.

In 2006, Peter Wimberger becomes the new museum director and receives an NSF grant to upgrade the museum storage facilities. Peter serves as director for 16 years. Pictured: Peter Wimberger.

In 2013, Peter Wimberger creates a strong Education & Outreach program at the museum by establishing the museum docent program and creating our popular Nature in the Classroom kits. Pictured: Gary Shugart (Collections Manager, standing left) and student docents.

2022 — In 2023, the museum boasted record-breaking numbers in its docent program with 40 UPS student volunteers! Pictured: docents before our popular Halloween Night at the Museum event.

At the end of the '22-'23 academic year, Kena Fox-Dobbs is appointed as the new Museum Director following Peter Wimberger's retirement from the University of Puget Sound and his museum directorship.

Changing Our Name

In May of 2023, the University of Puget Sound made the decision to remove the name James R. Slater from the museum and return it to its original name, Puget Sound Museum of Natural History. This decision came after Slater's problematic history was brought to light by Grace Eberhardt ’20.

History of Eugenics at Puget Sound

Learn about the problematic history of James Slater, eugenics at the University of Puget Sound, & the renaming of the museum.

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A Sound Past

Search for archival images of the museum through the University Archives.

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Gordon D. Alcorn, Museum Founder, museum history through 1974

Written by Gordon A. Alcorn, one of the founders of the Puget Sound Museum.

James R. Slaterm Museum Founder, Archives in Collins Library

Interested in knowing more about the Puget Sound Museum's founder, James R. Slater?

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Murray L Johnson, museum founder

History in progress

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The Puget Sound Museum has changed immensely over the decades, but our love of collections & specimens has never changed!

Pictured: visitors enjoying museum specimens at the museum's open house event in its new Thompson Hall location, 1987.