The Levi Stermer Collection

The Department of Geology recently acquired a large collection of rocks, minerals, and fossils from the Stermer family. The Stermer Collection is a significant addition to the Department's teaching and museum resources. Many of the samples are displayed in Pasteur Hall-you can easily identify pieces of the Stermer Collection because many have been meticulously mounted and labeled on wooden boards.

The late Levi Stermer, a one-time Winona resident and amateur geologist, searched for the unique and the rare, as well as for the natural variety represented in the Earth's most common specimens. Levi's love of Earth materials is obvious from the care he put into the preparation of this collection. His quest for variety and completeness was exceptional The Department is proud to house, display and learn from his years of studied interest, meticulous gathering and detailed preparation.

The Department of Geoscience has incorporated many of the samples into its teaching collection, particularly the many fossils into the historical geology and paleontology collections. Other pieces have been placed on display in eight cases in the hallway of the first floor of Pasteur Hall. Here, students, faculty, staff and visitors to Winona State can enjoy and learn from the care and meticulous attention to detail and obvious love of Earth materials to which Levi Stermer devoted a large part of his life. Other samples remain to be inventoried and cataloged before space is found to display the collection in its entirety. The curating process has been an enjoyable learning experience for students and faculty alike, and continues as an ongoing departmental endeavor. Many pieces in the collection have been prepared for display by students in the department. They cleaned them, they learned about them, and identified those whose tags had fallen off with time. The collection has already become a wonderful teaching tool and learning experience for WSU students.

Mrs. Levi Stermer receives congratulatory handshake from Dr. Dennis Nielsen (V.P. of Academic Affairs, WSU) upon dedication of the Levi Stermer Collection.