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Description
Dr. Jesse Wedgewood Mighels was a physician whose passion was conchology, or the study of shells. He amassed a large collection of shells, many from Casco Bay.
Mighels was a founding member of the Portland Society of Natural History in 1843. Prior to moving from Portland to Ohio, Mighels sold his entire shell collection for $1,000 to the PSNH, consisting of more than 3000 mollusk species and nearly 10,000 specimens., Mighels wrote a telegram after hearing about the 1854 fire,
"My Dear Sir: Is it possible that my beautiful collection of shells is destroyed? Is it all ruined? Must I know I can see that collection no more? The work of nine years of delightful enthusiastic industry—is it all gone? . . . Your beautiful collections of shells, and birds, and minerals and fossils-alas, are they all lost?"
About This Item
- Title: Jesse Mighels, Portland,, ca. 1860
- Creation Date: circa 1860
- Subject Date: circa 1860
- Location: Portland, Cumberland County, ME
- Media: Photographic print
- Local Code: Coll. 901_B4F3 / 1991.134
- Object Type: Image
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Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
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More to Consider
Item 135807
Interior of Portland Society of Natural History showing shell display, 1927
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