Comments on: Grover Krantz Donated His Body to Science, On One Condition…

By: Kari Bruwelheide

Kari Bruwelheide — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:30:52 +0000

In regards to the many questions about the dog, Clyde, rest assured that Clyde had died long before his owner, Dr. Krantz. It was Dr. Krantz himself who saved Clyde’s bones and even started to articulate them before his illness and death. It was Dr. Krantz’s wish that he be put on display with his favorite dog (he had also saved the bones of his other dogs, which are here at the museum). We tried to honor that wish as best we could. Perhaps when the Written in Bone exhibit closes in January of 2014 we can correct the anatomical placement of the canine remains. Until that time, Grover and Clyde will remain together in an embrace – imperfect as it is!

By: Maggie Dwyer

Maggie Dwyer — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:10:30 +0000

Please answer the query about the dog/s in the exhibit. Did the dogs die before Dr. Krantz, or did the exhibit wait until the dogs died a natural death? I know such large dogs as these aren’t long-lived, but I can’t imagine a dog lover wanting them euthanized at the time he died. This is a natural question that could easily have been answered in the article.

I hope someone will reconstruct the dog correctly. Even this non-medical viewer can see that the shoulder is way off in the exhibit.

Thanks!

By: Lynn Reagan-Hull

Lynn Reagan-Hull — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:18:15 +0000

I am quite shocked that the esteemed Smithsonian would allow on dispaly such a poorly reconstructed skeleton of a dog (i.e, the Irish Wolfhound above). The should assembly is all wrong, with the scapula located mid-ribcage! Excuse me? Canine anatomy 101 needs to be reviewed and the dog skeleton on display adjusted. Or should we next expect the dear Doctor’s ulna to be attached to his clavicle.

By: Rick Smith

Rick Smith — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:39:12 +0000

I certainly hope that no one looks to this exhibit for information on the correct positioning of the dog’s shoulder blades; I’ve owned sight hounds for many years, and never have I had an animal who’s shoulder blades traveled to this position on the body when the animal stood upright … in this photograph, the dog’s shoulder blades are pushed all the way back parallel to the animal’s spine and upper rib cage. Wrong!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 03:06:21 +0000

@ Monique Cremer: when I visited this exhibit this past summer, the plaque informed guests that the dog had died many years before the doctor, and his remains had been exhumed / recovered for the sake of the exhibit.

By: Sachin

Sachin — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 02:00:45 +0000

Science is ever evolving process-so its concepts ! Thanks and Salute to those who make this process possible!

By: Bpollard

Bpollard — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:17:27 +0000

I had the pleasure of taking an osteology class in the late 80′ at Oregon State University from Dr. Krantz. Great class and of course, he even pulled out many of his castings he collected while researching “Big Foot”. He was a fasinating individual and I learned a lot from him.

By: Monique Cremer

Monique Cremer — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 18:44:32 +0000

Sorry, not a scientific question, but one that puzzles me nevertheless: “From there, he and his wolfhounds were housed in a green cabinet in the labyrinthine back halls of the Natural History Museum…”.

Had they dug up the remains of his already deceased Wolfhounds? Had his living dog(s) been euthanised shortly after he passed himself?

Surely they didn’t put live dogs in there with the decaying body of Krantz, waiting until they themselves died of natural causes??

By: Danube

Danube — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 22:21:04 +0000

The phrase “Seven years after losing a battle to pancreatic cancer, Krantz’s reputation” makes NO sense whatsoever, unless the writer is trying to imply that Krantz’s reputation had cancer.

By: Patrick Lordan

Patrick Lordan — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:40:39 +0000

I taught English as a Second Language at WSU alongside Grover Kranz’s wife, Diane (I think that was her name) many years ago, and she arranged for my class of international students to hear Grover lecture, in his lab, on the subject of his research interest, and I found it riveting. He was a remarkable man and knew his forensic anthropology well, often consulting with area law enforcement when faced with identifying human remains found in the wilderness. A fascinating story–thank you.

By: Mike Y

Mike Y — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 06:56:14 +0000

Correction: the Kennewick Man is not 8,4000 but 8,400 years old.

By: Neil Cochran

Neil Cochran — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:12:18 +0000

I think it is great that he left his body for futher education. I had him as a anthropology professor back in the 1980′s. He was one of my favorites. He had a very unique style. I used to stay after class to discuss evidence that proved existance of a Big Foot. He did convince me of that possibility. In one discourse I asked him why no one has ever found any bones. He knew was an avid hiker in the cascades and he responded “How many times have you found bear bones in the woods”. I never have found bear bones and rarely find those of any other animal. It makes you wonder!

By: Jen L.

Jen L. — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 01:26:22 +0000

My husband and I saw this exhibit this summer. It was an inspiration to us both. We are currently in the process of donating our (eventual) bodies to a medical school. We are both teachers by trade. “I’ve been a teacher all my life and I think I might as well be a teacher after I’m dead, so why don’t I just give you my body.”

By: Elu24.com Evelyn Einstein Died in Squalor, Despite Grandfather's Riches

Elu24.com Evelyn Einstein Died in Squalor, Despite Grandfather's Riches — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:08:34 +0000

[...] his 2002, death, Krantz’s skeleton and that of his Irish wolfhound were placed on display at the National Museum of Natural [...]

By: Elu24.com Einstein's Granddaughter Dies Broke Evelyn Einstein experienced poverty and homelessness and was a self-proclaimed "dumpster diver," all while the estate of her famous grandfa

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 02:08:16 +0000

[...] his 2002, death, Krantz’s skeleton and that of his Irish wolfhound were placed on display at the National Museum of Natural [...]