TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
A PIECE OF THE ASSINATED PRESIDENT JAMES GARFIELD’S LUNG FOUND ON EBAY!
A SOUVENIER OF HUMAN CARNAGE – Microscope slides of the ashes collected during the eruptions of Mts. Pelee and Souflier. Mounted on slides and sold as souvenirs of the great disaster.
SCALES – LEEUWENHOEK SAID EELS HAVE THEM , BUT RABBIS RULED “NO WAY!” The earliest microscope user discovered an eel’s skin contained hidden scales. According to the rules that would make the snake-like fish kosher.
ERNST HAECKEL AND THE POLYCYSTINA
The glass houses of protozoa were made famous by the artistic skills of a German microscopist.
HANDHELD MAGNIFYING LENSES Selected examples illustrating the development of high-quality low-power viewing devices.
KENTUCKY MEAT SHOWER – A DOCUMENTED SAMPLE HAS BEEN FOUND Investigating the mysterious event of 1876 has uncovered a documented specimen of what fell from the skies on that day. It is a piece ripped from an animal’s lung.
MARY ANN ALLARD BOOTH
The life and achievements of America’s first woman microscopist of scientific stature.
GUADALOUPE WOMAN – A VICTIM OF NOAH’S FLOOD? The remains of a woman found on the island of Guadeloupe led catastrophists to claim she was proof of the Bible’s Deluge
PALMER SLIDE COMPANY 
American glass manufacturing company developed a quality microscope slide for exhibitions.
VICTORIAN DRY-MOUNTED SLIDES OF INSECTS
Eighteenth-century England turns the microscope-slide mounting of insects into a high art form.
WALTER WHITE – FIRST TO MAKE MAIL-ORDER MICROSCOPE SLIDES The English pharmacist who turned amateur microscope-slide making into an international business.
WHALEBONE SLIDES AND THOMAS D. RUSSEL A Microscope slide manufacturer’s mislabeled work allows greater insight into the process of English commercial slide making.
WOMEN DEVOTEES OF NINETEENTH-CENTURY MICROSCOPY
While working the shadows of famous men, women reached out to and educated the public about the advances science and microscopy through children’s books.
JOHN BENJAMIN DANCER His advances in microphotography led to the first microfilm, and also the favorite of spies, the microdot.
KEEPING THE FAITH – ECCLESIASTICALY SPONSORED BOOKS ABOUT MICROSCOPY Religion helped popularize biology among lay readers during the Victorian Era with scripture interlaced science.
DISECTING LIVING VERTEBRATES TO WATCH ORGANS WORKING
. An ethical battle that began in Victorian England still resonates in the laboratories of today.
MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Links to other works on topics of natural history by Frank W. Reiser
ANTIQUE POOL AND BILLIARD BALLS MADE OF CLAY AND ELEPHANT IVORY 
Manufactured by Hyatt – Peerless in Albany, New York, in 1906
MEDITERRANEAN SPOTTED COCKROACH
A new invasive species found in the North Eastern United States suburbs.
CHARLES F. CONLY, PHOTOGRAPHER OF STAGE AND FAME
INTRODUCTION
Searching an Invisible World is based on the author’s collection of science-related artifacts and publications from eighteen-hundred through the early twentieth century. The website’s objective is to display the assemblage during its organization into a self-supporting traveling public exhibition for public enjoyment and education. Contents of the website change weekly, documenting the progress toward achieving that goal. An inventory of items ready for on-site display can be found at the bottom of each topic page. The scope of the exhibit is restricted to artifacts contained within the privately owned collection. The exhibit’s scope is growing as new items are continually being added. I am a novice curator with much to learn so I look forward to your comments.
Nineteenth-century microscopy is a vast topic. Input from anyone in the historical and scientific communities is dearly welcome. All intellectual and physical contributions to this work, fitting with the collection’s spirit, will be appropriately attributed.
Frank W. Reiser
Professor Emeritus
Department of Biology
Nassau Community College
Garden City, NY 11530
F.W.REISER@GMAIL.COM
How to cite information used from the website:
Reiser, Frank W. (2024) Searching An Invisible World. https://antiqueslides.net/