The skin of a reptile -- probably an alligator.

The label reads: Battery of a Torpedo Torpedo occidentalis Donor J.W.P. Jenks

Torpedo occidentalis refers to a species of electric ray whose taxonomy has been changed to Torpedo nobiliana. The ray is commonly known as the Atlantic Torpedo. Battery must refer to the part of the ray that is electrically charged. The object from the Rhode Island Hall Museum, however, resembles a reptile, so it must have dried out over the years.

The wooden object to the upper right is also very interesting, though it may not appear to be at first glance. I will get better pictures, but the bottom of the stand has a number of scribbles that read, among other things, "Prof. Bumpus," "round stand," and a list of dimensions of other sizes of stands perhaps. The name Bumpus must refer to biologist Herman Carey Bumpus.

Is it just me, or does this hat resemble the one that Herman Carey Bumpus is holding in his portrait currently displayed in the John Hay Library?

This object had Elise Nuding and I puzzled for awhile. She was able to identify it as a stand used to mount a raptor.

The back of this photograph has the words "View of the campus." It is a photograph by Richard Bond of Gore Hall, Harvard University, taken 1838. Gore Hall was built as a library, and demolished in 1913.

A cross-section of Rhode Island Hall. This section was cut out to install the pipe seen in the photo under October 1, 2008 in the Photos section.

Floor beams -- some will be reused by another contractor for LEED points.

The disassembled spiral staircase originally leading from the first to the second floor.