PULLMAN, WA – When museum space is at a premium, walking aisles are inefficient. Thanks to Terry and Faye Whitworth, longtime supporters of Washington State University’s Department of Entomology, the M.T. James Entomological Collection will be able to eliminate unused space and boost its collection size.
The James collection, the largest insect repository in Washington state, houses millions of specimens. But it has outgrown its current storage capacity. The only way to expand in the current physical space is by compacting cabinets and installing a sliding storage system.
To do that, all the cabinets will be placed on rails. Then, if someone needs to access a specific item, they can turn a hand crank and open the walkway for the needed cabinet. The process involves removing the cabinets, adding support in the subfloor, laying down the rails, re-installing the cabinets, then completing the hand crank system.
That installation wouldn’t be possible without the Whitworths, who see value in maintaining and growing the James collection. The couple recently donated $250,000 to pay for the compactor system and installation, which will allow the museum to potentially double its storage capacity.
“It’s important to have large insect collections like WSU has,” said Terry Whitworth, a retired entomologist and former owner of a pest control company in Puyallup, Washington. “Documenting the historic and current insect population allows scientists to study population variations and determine why some species go extinct while others thrive.”
Terry Whitworth’s decades of experience with his company and his own collecting expertise makes for an ideal partnership with the James collection.
“Terry and Faye understand the museum’s needs and appreciate its mission,” said Elizabeth Murray, museum director and a WSU assistant professor in the entomology department. “Our collection is growing with new specimens collected by WSU scientists and donations of large personal collections from around the state. The expanded storage space will allow us to soar to new heights.”
The Whitworths got involved with WSU through Extension programs when Terry was starting his business in the late 1970s. Terry, who has a PhD in entomology, could easily talk with WSU scientists and build relationships. That led to him co-teaching industry training classes on pest management and eventually becoming a WSU adjunct professor.
“We have traveled all over the world collecting insects,” Faye Whitworth said. “We wanted to do something positive to help the WSU collection. We’ve seen compactor systems in other museums and know how much it will benefit the James collection. We’re excited to help.”
The financial support comes not a moment too soon, as the museum has run out of room more quickly than expected.
“The collection has been in its current space for more than 30 years and we’re completely full,” said Rich Zack, entomology professor and longtime museum curator. “We hope this donation will allow us to grow for another 10 years or more. It will have a huge impact.”
Zack and Terry Whitworth have been friends for decades, going back to when Zack travelled the state to talk with pest control specialists. Because of that relationship, the Whitworths trust Zack when he says the compactor system is vitally important, and Zack knows the Whitworths care deeply about helping the museum continue to flourish.
“Support like this from Terry and Faye means everything,” Zack said. “Without it, the museum would die. Having the support to grow, and not just maintain what we already have, shows that people value the work we do. Now we can continue thriving for years to come.”
