Mammalogy - Sam Noble Museum

Dating back to 1899, the collection of mammals at the Sam Noble Museum has developed into a significant resource for research, museum exhibits and science education programs. Containing roughly 66,000 cataloged specimens, this collection represents 26 orders, 65 families, 412 genera and more than 850 species; it is the 13th largest collection in the Western Hemisphere. In 2011, the mammal collection from the University of Memphis was transferred to the Sam Noble Museum with funding from the National Science Foundation. The collection contains the largest number of mammalian specimens from Oklahoma and Tennessee; specimens from all 50 U.S. states are represented. This collection covers a wide geographic range; it is one of the ten largest collections of specimens from Mexico and we maintain the largest series of specimens from Argentina outside of that country. The collection received accreditation by the American Society of Mammalogists in 1975, 1982 and 2010. We support a wide range of scientific research by curators, professional staff and associates. And, we provide opportunities for discovery through teaching, training, and learning for teachers, students, interns and volunteers.

Support the Mammalogy Department

Are you interested in supporting the museum? By donating to the Mammalogy Department, you will help us continue to inspire minds to understand the world through collection-based research, interpretation, and education. Any dollar amount can help your museum continue to serve the people of Oklahoma.

Review the following area to see where your donation can make a difference:

Donate to the Department of Mammalogy Support Endowment: The earnings from this fund are used to support the Mammalogy Department’s collection operations and research by museum curators, staff, and students.