History of the NSRL

A key component of Texas Tech University’s mammalian research and education program has been the activities associated with the growth of its extensive mammal collection. In 1962, Robert L. Packard (seated in chair, image at right) established the collection with approximately 350 specimens that he brought to Texas Tech University from Stephen F. Austin State College, where Packard had been a faculty member for three years. Although originally housed on the second floor of the Science Building, the collection was later moved to the basement of the Museum of Texas Tech University. In the early 1970's, the Natural Science Research Laboratory was conceived out of the need to establish appropriate facilities to house the mammal collection.

Initially, the Natural History Collections housed in the NSRL included mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, and the paleontology collection. Although the early Natural History Collections of the NSRL were diverse, representing most phyla of the animal kingdom, the primary research focus of the NSRL always has been mammals. This reflects the collection-based mammalogical research focus of the faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences. In 1996, the paleontology collection received autonomy and became a separate division under the Museum umbrella, and was moved to the basement of the Museum. In recent years, this emphasis had left the reptile, amphibian, and fish collections underutilized at Texas Tech University. Similarly, the mammal and bird collections of the Texas Memorial Museum of the University of Texas at Austin were underutilized due to that museum’s strong focus on herpetological research. To make more effective use of these resources, ensure the collections were properly curated, and to make specimens more readily available to scientists and students, Ed C. Theriot, Director of the Texas Memorial Museum, initiated negotiations with Robert J. Baker and Gary F. Edson, Director of the Museum of Texas Tech University, to exchange the NSRL’s reptile, amphibian, and fish collections with the Texas Memorial Museum’s bird and mammal collections. This exchange occurred in 2001. The collection acquired by the NSRL consisted of nearly 7,000 mammals, 1,700 birds, 800 clutches of eggs, and nearly 300 taxidermy mounts. The Texas Memorial Museum collection was primarily the result of work by noted Texas naturalist W. Frank Blair and his students, and the collection included many specimens of historical significance. As the NSRL mammal collection prior to the exchange had consisted primarily of recently collected material (1959 forward), the addition of the Texas Memorial Museum collection added a valuable historical component concerning the mammalian fauna of Texas. Although the trade reduced the overall vertebrate diversity of the NSRL collection, this realignment of specimens with faculty strengths not only benefited both universities and improved the care of both collections, but it also served to strengthen the biodiversity programs that provide critical natural history information to society.

The growth of the NSRL collections necessitated a complete remodeling of the NSRL building in 1997-1998. During those renovations, which were supported by a National Science Foundation grant, collection areas, office areas, and preparation areas were isolated from each other to maximize safety and efficiency and to minimize potential contamination problems. A new room, equipped to house up to 11 ultra-cold freezers, was designated for frozen tissues.

Since those renovations were completed in 1998, the traditional mammal collection has grown by more than 25,000 specimens, and the collection of frozen tissues has exceeded the current capacity of the freezer room, necessitating the temporary housing of additional ultra-colds in an adjacent room. The rapid growth of the mammal collections in the past six years, and expectations for continued growth in the years to come, spurred the recent commitment of Texas Tech University to construct a new wing of the NSRL building. The funds for this expansion generously were donated by the Ben E. Keith Company. The expansion more than doubles the existing size of the NSRL facilities to accommodate the growing collections as well as provide additional space for research and teaching activities, student offices, and an expanded library.

For more information on the History of Mammalogy at Texas Tech University please consult:
Mammalogy at Texas Tech University: A Historical Perspective, Occasional Paper No. 243

© Museum of Texas Tech University