PRESS RELEASE
October 29, 2002
Conserving Testudo Progam
To Recognize Class of 1933
“Conserving Testudo” will be the theme as Catharine Hawks, a highly respected natural history conservator and consultant to many museums, describes her analysis and conservation treatment of the original Testudo, on Thursday, Nov. 7, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Nonprint Media Lecture Hall at Hornbake Library.
Two years ago when Testudo, long preserved through taxidermy, developed cracks in its shell, the Libraries’ Preservation Department contracted with Ms. Hawks to clean and conserve the mascot which is housed at Hornbake Library.
As part of the Nov. 7 “Conserving Testudo” program, members of the Class of 1933, nearing their 70th reunion, will be recognized for donating the Testudo statue, which now stands in front of McKeldin Library, as well as for their contributions to the vital preservation project. Four of the 13 surviving class members are expected to attend including Harry Hasslinger of Mayo, MD, Norman Prince of Solomons, John Krasauskas of Silver Spring, and L. Melvin Roberts of Towson. The event will take place just as the UM campus begins its annual Homecoming Weekend for alumni.
Testudo is the centerpiece of the University of Maryland, College Park, campus, and the act of rubbing the statue’s nose for good luck is the students’ most-enduring tradition.
Even though the United States was in the midst of the
Great Depression, the 268 members of the Class of 1933, who felt it was
time that the University of Maryland had an official mascot,
managed to gather enough funds for the sculpture by holding
their prom on campus, rather than in a fancy hotel in downtown Washington.
They also contributed their profits from the 1932 Reveille yearbook, cancelled
the publication of the Old Line magazine, and gathered other donations.
Student Government Association president Ralph Williams then took a live
terrapin north to Providence, RI, by train to be captured in bronze by
sculptor Aristide Cianfarani and the Gorham Manufacturing Co., which cast
the statue.
After dedication ceremonies on Class Day in May 1933, Testudo assumed watch over the campus from a pedestal in front of Ritchie Coliseum next to Route 1. Although he was not a light-weight at 300 pounds, he was subject to capture by students from rival schools, usually before major athletic contests. To avoid a repeat of such incidents, campus officials later filled Testudo with cement and steel rods, bringing his total weight to approximately 1,000 pounds, and permanently attached him to his base. They also decided to move Testudo to a more secure location, and, after several shifts, positioned him in front of McKeldin Library in1965, where he remains to this day.
Catharine Hawks is an Objects Conservator in private practice, specializing in the care of natural history collections. She has over 20 years of experience in the field and has worked with over 70 institutions in the US and abroad on issues relating to the housing, care, treatment, and exhibition of natural science collections. She has given numerous presentations and workshops and published extensively.
Ms. Hawks is a Research Associate in the Department of Vertebrate Zoology of the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution; Professional Associate, American Institute for Conservation; Fellow, International Institute for Conservation; Liaison, ICOM Committee for Conservation to the American Institute for Conservation; and is a member of the Adjunct Faculty and Coordinator for Collections Care Internships, Museum Studies Program, George Washington University.
“Conserving Testudo” is the fourth activity in the Libraries’
ongoing Hornbake Showcase celebrating the valuable and unique Special Collections
located there. More information on other Showcase programs is available
at: www.lib.umd.edu/HBK/showcase.
