Mineral Museum Receives Major Collection from Meieran Family
By Dean Woodbeck, Michigan Tech

OCTOBER 6, 2003 -- Michigan Tech's A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum has received a portion of the Gene and Rosalind Meieran Mineral Collection valued at $200,000.

The gift includes more than 200 specimens donated by Andrew and Christy Meieran, the son and daughter-in-law of Gene and Rosalind Meieran.

Some highlights include an elegant 20-centimeter crystal of smoky quartz enrobed with rose quartz crystals from Brazil and a stunning group of emerald crystals up to 7 centimeters long from Russia. A portion of the gift is on display in the museum's Hampel Gallery. The museum, located in the Electrical Energy Resources Center at MTU, is open to the public 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. Admission is free.

Andrew Meieran has been fascinated by minerals and crystals from an early age, often accompanying his father on collecting trips in the US and abroad. The collection he and his wife have donated to the Seaman Museum includes many international specimens and unique crystals that had been in his father's collection, accumulated over more than 50 years. The Arizona Mineral Museum and Harvard Mineral Museum also include specimens donated by the Meierans.

Gene Meieran, a research fellow with the Intel Corporation, said the family chose the Seaman Museum to receive their collection "because it combines two important aspects of mineral collecting: display of fine specimens in a way that captivates the visitor, and scientific interest illustrating both the nature of the specimens and their relation to economy, ecology, science, technology."

Meieran said the museum's association with a university was also key. "The Seaman Museum obviously fulfills a role unlike a museum that just shows pretty rocks," he said.

"Plus, in terms of display, the museum is very good," he added. "The specimens are easily seen; they are well arranged; the labels are good; the logic is good.

"So, Seaman obviously comes to mind when one wants to put specimens into a museum with some 'clout.'"

Andrew and Christy Meieran live in Hollywood, where Andrew is involved in building restoration, including the restoration of Charles Chaplin's original house in Hollywood, where he and Christy will reside. Christy is a teacher.

For more information on this story contact:
Email: Dean Woodbeck
Phone: 906/487-3327