Good crime fiction finds out whodunnit by asking why and how they did it. Evidence can lead us to the culprit but can also lead us to erroneous assumptions. In this episode we talk to one of history’s detectives – the archivist.

Ross Harrison Snow, Museum Victoria’s (former) archivist, uncovered a long-forgotten but fascinating story about a butterfly theft that occurred from museums in Australia and New Zealand in the late 1940s.

The evidence, such as old museum correspondence, documents, court proceedings and media clippings, tells the story through what’s said but also and what isn’t said.

Arrestingly yours, Dr Andi

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Drawers for butterfly collections. Photo Kate Chmiel | A specimen with a tell-tale yellow label. Photo Kate Chmiel | One of hundreds of butterflies on display at Melbourne Museum's Bugs Alive exhibition. Photo Jonny Brownbill

Show notes

Museum Victoria Resources

Bugs Alive! exhibition at Melbourne Museum
David Holmes Collection of Butterflies and Moths
Bioinformatics - Australian Butterflies, The Victorian Fauna

Voices

Mr Ross Harrison Snow – former Archivist Museum Victoria
Tony Biggs – voice of Victoria Police
Jon Von Goes, 3RRR – voice of Evans, Head Entomologist, British Museum
Mick James – newspaper readings
Richard Watts – newspaper readings
Michelle Bennett – newspaper readings
Jess McGuire – newspaper readings
Dan Cutterford – voice of the judge

Thank you to Scienceworks volunteers and 3RRR FM staff and presenters.

Host

Dr Andi Horvath – Science Communication Unit, Museum Victoria

Technical production

Arch Cuthbertson – Podcast Recording Services