Royal D. Suttkus Memorial Fund

The museum facilities.

When Royal D. Suttkus joined the Tulane faculty in the fall of 1950, the Tulane fish collection consisted of just two dry-mounted specimens left over from an early exhibit museum. By the time of his death in December 2009, the fish collection had grown to over seven million specimens. Over a career with Tulane spanning 55 years, Suttkus made over 12,000 field collections. Remarkably, he had a hand in collecting over five million of the seven million specimens in the Tulane fish collection. At a special ceremony in the fall of 2000, during a celebration marking Suttkus’ 50 years of service to Tulane, the Dean of Arts and Sciences at Tulane, read a proclamation from the President, Faculty, and Administrators of Tulane University, renaming the Tulane Fish Collection, the Royal D. Suttkus Fish Collection. Read more about Suttkus’ amazing life by clicking here.

Donations are being accepted to establish a fund in memory of Royal D. Suttkus and his lasting contribution to the study of ichthyology. Proceeds from this fund will be used solely to support the Royal D. Suttkus Fish Collection and an associated collection of ichthyological literature. Donations to the fund are fully tax deductible.

Our goal is to make this a permanent endowed fund, the earnings of which would support the collection in perpetuity. We have an opportunity to establish an endowed fund at the current required minimum of $25,000 if we receive commitments for that amount by the end of 2012. The minimum for an endowed fund will increase to $50,000 in 2013. If we do not meet the endowment minimum within a reasonable time, then the Suttkus Memorial Fund will be established as a non-endowed fund.

Please contribute online at the link below, or by sending a check, payable to Tulane University, with ‘Suttkus Memorial Fund’ in the memo field, to:

Royal D. Suttkus Memorial Fund
Tulane University Biodiversity Research Institute
3705 Main Street
Belle Chasse LA 70037

or

Tulane University
Office of Gift Accounting<
P.O. Box 61075
New Orleans, LA 70161-9986

Click here to donate online. Please type ‘Royal D. Suttkus Memorial Fund’ in the box labeled ‘Other’ and indicate your donation amount.