Today, for our natural history collections, we are fortunate enough to purchase acid free products to collect and store our specimens to protect them from elements that might degrade or damage them. But long ago, when many of the specimens in our coral collection were collected, collectors often used what they had access to or had very elaborate containers. These boxes or newspapers in or on which we find specimens give us a snapshot of what was going on during the time the specimens were collected or stored. As Emily was resurveying the collection, she came across some small pieces stored in match boxes, perfume boxes and powder puff cases.
