Shell Collection

The Larson and Hanscomb Shell Collection of Whitman College contains thousands of molluscan shells from around the globe, collected by George and Mary Hanscomb and Douglas and Mary Larson, Whitman alumni and spouses. Mary Larson (class of 1930), a nurse and public school teacher, has been especially active in establishing the collection. The shells are individually labelled and cataloged with collection site, date, and family and species name. Collection locations include all coastlines of the U.S. (including Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico), parts of Mexico and South America, the Mediterranean, East and South Africa, Australia, Indonesia, and Pacific islands including the Marshalls and New Zealand. Specimens are mostly marine, although there are some terrestrial snail shells. The collection is open for use by anyone with an appropriate need.