Bell Museum of Natural History

The Bell Museum of Natural History had its roots in the formation of the Minnesota Geological and Natural History Survey organized in 1872. A museum was mentioned in the original plans but no formal action was taken until 1875 when Newton Horace Winchell, Survey Director, brought up the subject in his annual report. As a result, quarters were allotted to the Museum collection in Old Main where the material remained until 1889, when the collection was moved to the newly built Pillsbury Hall.

Professor Winchell, as director of the Geological Survey, was also appointed as director of the Museum (1872-1889). In 1890 the survey was separated into three divisions: Geological, Zoological and Botanical. The Museum collection was also divided, the zoological material falling under the direction of Henry Nachtrieb. The work of the Zoological Survey came to a halt in 1903 when the funds from the sale of state lands, which had been the Survey’s financial support, ran out. The Museum continued to exist but no material was added to it except by gift, with the exceptions of the purchase of the Albert Lano collection of bird-skins in 1912. On May 6, 1915 Thomas Sadler Roberts was appointed associate curator of the Zoological Museum and professor of ornithology in the Department of Animal Biology. Henry Nachtrieb remained director until 1919 when Roberts assumed this position.

In 1916 the Zoological Museum was moved to the Animal Biology Building (later named the Zoology Building and razed in 1994) where it remained until 1939 when the Museum of Natural History was built. The Zoological Museum was a separate unit of the University of Minnesota. Its only tie with a college or department was through the Ornithology class, established in 1916, which was offered through the Department of Animal Biology. From 1903-1919, the Museum was largely by donations and a small supply fund maintained by the University. On December 9, 1919 a conference was held in President Burton’s office; for the first time, the Museum was given a budget for maintenance and staff salaries. Dr. Roberts was able to have William Kilgore appointed curator of the Zoological Museum in 1921.

The Museum is referred to in the University President’s reports as the Zoological Museum of the Zoological Survey until 1928 when the name was changed to Museum of Natural History. In 1967 it was renamed the James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History to honor James Ford Bell who was one of the Museum’s greatest benefactors.

Thomas Sadler Roberts remained as Director of the Museum until his death in 1946. He was succeeded by Walter J. Breckenridge who had been on the Museum staff since 1926. William Kilgore retired two years after Roberts’ death. A more detailed history of the Museum can be found in T.S. Roberts’ Annals of Museum of Natural history, University of Minnesota, 1872-1939 . In addition to Dr. Roberts’ account of the Museum’s early history, the book contains a chronological list of the more important events in its history from 1872-1939, as well as the annual reports of the Director from 1918-1938.

Thomas Sadler Roberts, M.D. (1885) University of Pennsylvania. Professor of pediatrics (1901-1913), clinical professor (1906-1913), professor of ornithology (1915-1946), and director of the Bell Museum of Natural History (1915-1946) at the University of Minnesota. Expert in ornithology and author of Birds of Minnesota .

Thomas Sadler Roberts was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, on February 16, 1858, the son of John Roberts. His family moved to Minnesota in 1867 hoping to find a healthful climate for the elder Roberts who was suffering from tuberculosis. Inspired by his father, Thomas Roberts began his interest in natural history at a young age. In 1875 Roberts and some of his friends formed a club which they named the Young Naturalists’ Society.

In 1877 Roberts attended the University of Minnesota but was forced to withdraw in his second year due to ill health. He spent four years in the field as a surveyor in the land department of Northern Pacific Railroad. He attended Medical School at the University of Pennsylvania receiving his medical degree in 1885. After interning in Philadelphia, Dr. Roberts returned to Minneapolis and started a general practice. He retired from active practice in 1915. In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Roberts had been appointed professor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota in 1901. In 1906 he became a clinical professor, a post he held until 1913 when he retired from teaching medicine as Professor Emeritus.

Dr. Roberts’ contact with the Museum began long before his appointment in 1915. He had written several reports on birds and botany, which appear in the reports of the Minnesota Geological and Natural History Survey. When P.L. Hatch, who had been State Ornithologist since 1876, left his post in 1892 or 1893, Roberts more or less took over the direction of research in this area under Henry Nachtrieb, the State Zoologist. Whether or not he was ever officially appointed State ornithologist is uncertain but from 1893-1898 he used the title while directing a survey of the birds of Minnesota.

His acquaintance with many of the area’s wealthy citizens, especially James Ford Bell, was an important factor in the solicitation of donations, which enabled the Museum to carry on some its more ambitious projects. Perhaps his greatest accomplishment, however, is his monumental Birds of Minnesota, published in 1932 and revised in 1936. This book still stands as the source book for information on Minnesota birds. Thomas Sadler Roberts died on April 19, 1946.

Additional biographical information regarding Dr. Thomas Roberts can be found in the following articles: “Among Those We Know” by Harry Woodworth which appeared in the Minneapolis Golfer and Sportsman in December 1938, and an obituary on Dr. Roberts by W.J. Breckenridge and William Kilgore, which appeared in the October 1946 Auk .

From the guide to the Bell Museum of Natural History records, 1849-2006, (bulk 1915-1946), (University of Minnesota Libraries. University of Minnesota Archives [uarc])