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Ann Arbor, Mich 10 Jan 1859
Mr R. Kennicott
Dear Sir: I hope you will have patience with me if write once more about labels. You have never yet fur= =nished me the definite information which Ineed, for since I must get up labels here for the Geological collections I must know definitely and finally, both the style and language tobe adopted, and the colors, if you accept the idea of distinguishing by color, the different collections – for on this you have said nothing I will now on my part make some propositions The University collections will consist 1st of specimens which belong to the University (including the State Geolog. & Nat. Hist. collections) – let the labels for all these be white; 2d the Trowbridge collection – let the labels for this be of a light (Cobalt ?[strikethrough]) blue; 3d my own collections. – let the labels for these be of a light (Paris) green. These colors are subdued but distinctive and agreeable. Next, for the geological collection, I propose labels of about the size and form underneath
| (1) | (2) |
|---|---|
| No. 681 | No. 1035 |
| 1832 | 2744 |
| Graphic Granite | Sandstone |
| Manchester N.H | Jackson |
| State Geological Survey |
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be pasted on the specimen on a little round bit of paper of the same color as the label. Thus should the specimen & label be separated they can be brought together again. It is inconvenient to fasten labels to geological specimens – at the same time it is very desirable to have them labeled with something more than a number referring to a catalogue. The upper one of the numbers on these labels is the serial for consecutive number – a series which extends from the 1st geological specimen to the last, independently of any classifica= =tion. This is the original catalogue number. The lower number is the number which the specimen is to bear in its class, or formation or in the fully arranged collection. In the geological collection there will not be any occasion for blue labels – as far as I am informed. My own geological specimens I propose to incorporate with the rest – number them as so many of the entire series & label them, otherwise, in the same way, except that I propose a Paris green color and instead of “State Geological Collection” at the bottom, I will put “Prof Winchell’s Collection”
Now will you adopt this system of colors for the Zoological collection? – the whole should be uniform. Your labels will necessarily be of a different shape, but the general plan may be the same. Please let me know at once. I think this time I have got you
Very respectfully A. Winchell