Dear Helmut-
This is a very strange note for me to write, I guess it was always at the
back of my mind, but you know how we all neglect the ideas back there. For
years I have tole everyone, especially the people I trade with, that at some
time in the future I wanted to donate my collection to a museum or school
that would appreciate the gift, not just accept it along with a lot of
others and then break up the collection for who knows what purpose.  I have
tried to collect along several very specific lines.
1. the shells must be the best quality I can get, especially if purchased.
2. the data must be as complete as possible.
3. where possible look for range, or habitat extentions.
Why all the rules? Because I hoped that the receiving institution might use
the collection for study purposes.
I am now in my fifties and expect to collect for a few years more, but when
either the knees won't let me get in and out of the boats to dive anymore,
or the eyes go, it will be time to find a new home for my treasures. I
collect only marine species and have around 3,000 at the moment. Many are
not rare. There is a catalog, but it is in great need of updating, which
will be done over the next year or so.  If you can wait a few years, and
perhaps work with me on "collecting stratagies" to improve the collection,
while I have it, I would offer it to you for the Museum when the time comes.
I would even be willing to sign an agreement to this effect now so that
there would be no question, if something happened to me before I planned to
let it go. Would this be of interest to you? I know there would be many
details to work out, you are not "around the corner" from me, I live in the
USA, but there is also much time to do it in. Let me know your feelings.
Karen
-----Original Message-----
From: Helmut Nisters <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Saturday, May 20, 2000 1:16 AM
Subject: AW: Re: it is better to quit the list or not


>Dear Karen,
>
>thank you for your nice words. Without help from other persons I couldn't
do very much
>in my endeavour for the museum. If you once have some extras I would like
them for the
>museum.
>As there are many friendly e-mails to me I'll stay further on the list.
Because when I am opening
>every morning the computer at 6.30 a. m. I am interested and courios in the
new messages.
>with best shelling greetings.
>Sorry if the private part goes also to Conch-l.
>thanks
>Helmut
>
>Helmut "Helix" Nisters
>
>Franz-Fischer-Str. 46
>A-6020 Innsbruck / Austria / Innsbruck
>phone and fax: 0043 / 512 / 57 32 14
>e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>web:    www.netwing.at/nisters/
>           (please visit it and sign guestbook)
>
>office:
>Natural History Department of the
>Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum Innsbruck
>Feldstrasse 11 a
>A-6020 Innsbruck / Austria / Europe
>phone: 0043 / 512 / 58 72 86 - 37
>
>----------
>Helmut-
>The only ones annoyed here are the few who feel compelled to hassle you!
>Those of us who have been on the list for a while and understand that
>museums all over the world are in tough straits trying to keep up what the
>have and to continue to acquire more specimens for their collections.
>Without institutions like yours, where would most of us go for answers? And
>how are you to be able to supply those answers without material to study!
>Don't give up the ship!!! I for one enjoy the comments you supply on many
>subjects. And if I had extras of what you ask for, I would give them gladly
>as a small price for your expertise!
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Helmut Nisters <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Friday, May 19, 2000 10:19 AM
>Subject: it is better to quit the list or not
>
>
>>Dear People of the Conch-List
>>
>>I feel that many persons of the list don't understand my endeavour for the
>shell collection
>>of the museum and the askings for shells, as today I got a very bad
answer.
>I really don't
>>want to be annoying, but for me in Innsbruck it is the only possibility to
>do so. I'll never
>>ask any more for shells public on the list. Sorry for this, but I hope
>you'll understand me,
>>that this really was one of my few possibilities to get some shells for
the
>collection which
>>I love as it is mine. But it is really the collection of the museum and my
>mother and I
>>are really volunteers. We also spend our cash for excursions for
collecting
>material, which
>>always will be shared with the museums collection. So I was really
>dependent on help
>>by other collectors too and I'll give my thank to all, that have
>contributed to the shell
>>collection of the museum. I hope that anybody believe that ii is not my
>private collection,
>>it is the collection of the Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum in
Innsbruck.
>The museum
>>is mainly a museum of art and history and of entomology. Besides these
>collections and
>>studying fields the museums collection consists of a botanic collection,
>mineralogy,
>>imbalsamted mammals and birds, beetles and last but not least the shell
>collection, where
>>we have been responsible as volunteers since 1972 when the natural history
>department
>>has been founded. You all can read this in La Conchiglia Year XXX - nr
288.
>July September
>>1998.
>>So I ask me again if it would not better for you, that I am quitting the
>list. I don't like to do
>>it but this bad e-mail from today nearly convince me to do it. This letter
>made me sad,
>>as I really want to do the best for the museum.
>>I hope to hear from you as soon as possible. I don't joke any more. Sorry
>for annoying
>>with best regards
>>Helmut Nisters from Innsbruck
>>
>>
>>
>>Helmut "Helix" Nisters
>>Franz-Fischer-Str. 46
>>A-6020 Innsbruck / Austria / Innsbruck
>>phone and fax: 0043 / 512 / 57 32 14
>>e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>>web:    www.netwing.at/nisters/
>>           (please visit it and sign guestbook)
>>
>>office:
>>Natural History Department of the
>>Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum Innsbruck
>>Feldstrasse 11 a
>>A-6020 Innsbruck / Austria / Europe
>>phone: 0043 / 512 / 58 72 86 - 37