The Short of It... Brief Stories from IUMAA's Records
Location: Reading Room
Lead Curator: Kelsey Grimm, Curator of Archives and Library Resources
This ongoing, rotating exhibit investigates the deeper tales of how museum materials get here, how they’re cared for, and what relationships they have with the world. Below is a record of past topics:
Megafauna & Megajeff (Fall 2025 & Spring 2026)
Indiana was once home to very large animals, including the American mastodon (Mammut americanum) and giant ground sloth (Megalonyx jeffersonii). These stories of two sets of fossilized bones at Indiana University are more complex when you dive into the records.
“Megajeff” is a digitally fabricated life size skeleton of Indiana University’s lost Megalonyx jeffersonii, a giant ground sloth, consisting of 54 cardboard bones that were laser-cut and hand-glued on a steel mount. Created by the Indiana Geological and Water Survey with support from the IU Office of the Bicentennial, Megajeff tells complex story of survival, tragedy, and loss that reminds us of the essential use of collections in research and education and the importance of responsible stewardship.
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