History of the Boston Malacological Club

The Boston Malacological Club was begun in 1910 by Boston area aristocrats and was initially quite exclusive. Times soon changed, and true malacologists joined the ranks and fostered the club's direction for many years.

Bill Clench and Henry Pilsbry in the field, 1924

Clench camping in the Everglades while a graduate student at Harvard and BMC President, 1931

American Malacological Union outing to Portland, ME (with a young Tucker Abbott), 1941

All images this page copyright © The Environmental Management Project except where noted.

Charles W. Johnson, who was curator of the Boston Society of Natural History, was one of the more prominent early members. William (Bill) Clench, a student at Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology, was also a member in those early days, and later became curator of the Mollusk Department at the MCZ. This started what later became known as the Clench-Turner era of the Club, when Bill Clench and Ruth Turner were making names for themselves in the world of malacology. Dr. Clench and his staff were very active in discovering, naming, and describing new species of mollusks. They also conducted expeditions to Florida and the Caribbean to make their discoveries.

Clench and Aguayo at Jibicoa, Habana, Cuba, 1950

It was at this time that Dr. Clench published Johnsonia, a monograph of the marine mollusks of the western Atlantic, named after his mentor, Charles W. Johnson. Dr. Turner and other scientists in America and the Caribbean made significant contributions to this work; Dr. Turner later became the expert on the Teredoes (Teredinidae), more commonly known as shipworms. In the 1950s the club began to meet in its current location, room 101 of the MCZ.

Dr. Joseph C. Bequaert (Uncle Joe) at the Boston Malacological Club outing to Duxbury, MA, 1951

Arthur Clark, Clench, Louise Clark, Henry and Louise Cutler, and other members of the BMC, 1954

During the 1960s and '70s other prominent members who made their mark and served as officers of the Boston Mal Club included George Buckley, Dr. Patricia Morse, Walter Baranowski, Kay Peterson, Robert Bullock, and A. Gordon Melvin, and Faith Rubin. BMC member Robert Bullock earned his doctorate at Harvard, writing his thesis on the systematics of Polyplacophora (Chitons). A. Gordon Melvin authored the well-known shell book Seashells of the World with Values. George Buckley served twice as BMC president and currently is its auctioneer and president (2022-2024). George also serves as a board member of the New England Aquarium and the Boston Sea Rovers. George's talent at auctioneering has made the annual event a favorite for all members and newcomers alike for three decades.

Robert Robertson, Clench, and C.M. Yonge at the MCZ

American Malacological Union meeting at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, August 1952; from left, Abbott, Pulley, Clench, Bequaert, Chamberlin, & Margaret Teskey

Clench and Richard Johnson at Rye Harbor State Park, NH, 1951

Clench collecting caracoles de la terra ferma (land snails) in Cojimar, Habana, Cuba, 1950

Clench collecting Unio freshwater mussels in the Altamaha River, GA

Johnson, Richard Foster, and Clench on a BMC outing to Duxbury

Ed Michaelson, Dr. Clench & Arthur Merrill collecting at Duxbury

Drs. Clench and Turner at the MCZ Mollusk Department

Dr. Clench working with one of his famous blue-starred drawers. (In the MCZ's collection, a blue star indicates that the drawer contains one or more type specimens.)

The 1980s and beyond saw a change in the club's membership more toward amateur malacologists than professionals. The club also began attracting young shell enthusiasts from local schools where some of its members were teaching. Members Charlotte and Elliott Michaelson, who owned a local shell store, sent many prospective new members to the Club. The Club conducted its first and most memorable shell show at the New England Aquarium on the top floor of the vessel Discovery.

Until around 1980, the Boston Mal Club's officers and members primarily consisted of members of the academic community. Other prominent members included Henry Russell, Richard Foster, Ken Reid, Henry Cutler, and Morris (Karl) Jacobson. Dr. Russell served for over twenty years as Conchological Recorder and eloquently presented the latest in mollusk-related academic publications. Karl Jacobson served as the annual club auctioneer prior to George Buckley. New members in years to follow came to the monthly meetings from as far away as New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Cape Cod.

During these years the BMC enjoyed visits by R. Tucker Abbott and S. Peter Dance. Soon, the club's membership swelled to an all-time high. Members who joined or 'rejoined' during the '80s and '90s included Ed Nieburger, Warren Graff, Calvin Wright, and Zachary Zevitas. Our most artistic members, Richard Trefrey, Kristina Joyce and Mathilde Duffy also joined at this time. Michael LaFosse, who had been a member since the early '70s, became known worldwide for his expertise in origami, the art of paper folding. The Club was fortunate to add avid fossil mollusk collector Don Robak and reef diver and collector extraordinaire Scott Robichaud to its ranks. Gary Rosenberg, now Curator of Malacology at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and a member of the Philadelphia Shell Club, earned his doctorate in 1989 at Harvard while he was a member of the BMC.

Other active members include, Valerie Gould, Dan Teven, Leonor Desmarais, Jeanne Cavanaugh, Kevin Czaja, and David Gorman. Former member and Harvard Professor Owen Gingerich (deceased 2023) wrote widely on astrophysics and on the history of astronomy, and occasionally on shells. He and his wife Miriam were avid shell collectors, and built a major collection of Fusinus. Kevin Czaja and Brian Cassie have an extensive knowledge of New England mollusks which they plan to share in book on New England shells.

After celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2010 the Boston Malacological Club was thriving and attracting new members. The club will continue to provide a forum for professionals and non-professionals of all ages to explore the wonderful world of malacology. The club will also continue to foster its relationship with the Harvard MCZ's Mollusk Department, which has provided access though the years to its collections and information.

As the BMC entered the 2020’s the Covid pandemic halted in-person meetings for a year during which presentations, discussions, and club business were carried on remotely via Zoom. Although it was disappointing not to be able to get together in-person, attendance and membership remained steady and we were able to have presentations by speakers from across the United States. Before Harvard reopened the MCZ to outside guests the club used a local hotel meeting room as an alternate venue for a year before returning to the newly renovated regular MCZ room. Club meetings are now in-person at the MCZ and are available online as remote Zoom presentations. Thanks to this technology members can participate in meetings if they are not able to attend in person. The club celebrated its 114th Birthday this year, 2024, and the future looks bright.