“The Flies that Bind” – the (little known) shared history of the Manitoba Museum and Nature Manitoba

One hundred years ago, with the formation of the Natural History Society of Manitoba (Nature Manitoba) in 1920, the Society became a key player in the creation of a permanent public museum. With incredible perseverance, by the likes of prominent Society members such a A.G. Lawrence, B.W. Cartwright and H.M. Speechly, Manitoba’s first public museum opened in 1932, its collections and exhibits the work of Natural History Society members. These specimens became the foundation for the collections of the present Manitoba Museum that opened in 1970.  To celebrate this shared history during the 100th anniversary of Nature Manitoba and the 50th anniversary of The Manitoba Museum, this talk will explore the fascinating personalities and stories behind the collections and the growing pains of creating a museum, and the incredible contributions that Society members have made to understanding the natural history of the province.