Collection: Harvey Negrich Collection
Harvey Negrich has devoted more than seven decades to collecting, studying, preserving, and sharing fossils and is a long-standing and respected member of Alberta’s palaeontological community.
Harvey and his late wife, Steffie Negrich, were enthusiastic supporters of palaeontology in Calgary and were involved in the Alberta Palaeontological Society (APS) from its earliest days. Harvey was a founding member of the Society in 1986 and took on several important roles during its formative years. He later served as curator of the APS fossil collection for many years, organized field trips, and was the first amateur representative to the Alberta Palaeontological Advisory Committee (an early essential part of the Historical Resources Act legistlation) . In recognition of their contributions, Harvey and Steffie were made Life Members of the APS in 2002.
Harvey’s contribution to palaeontology extends well beyond the APS. In 1994, he began volunteering with the Calgary office of the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC), initially accompanying palaeontologist Dr. Art Sweet on field trips throughout Alberta and helping organize research material relating to Azolla megaspores. Over the following three decades, Harvey carefully catalogued collections of scientific publication reprints from Art Sweet and other GSC researchers, including Jan Jansonious, Dave McIntyre, John Utting, and James White.
By July 2025, Harvey had contributed more than 4,000 volunteer hours to the Geological Survey of Canada. His work created an important repository of palaeontological publications for GSC researchers, which was formally named the Harvey Negrich Library in recognition of his extraordinary service.
His work over the decades has also included fossil collecting and preparation, curation, assisting professional palaeontologists, contributing specimens and field observations, and supporting palaeontological research and education. His personal fossil collection is impossible to measure (10,000 specimens?) of which most were self-collected across North America.
Harvey and Steffie shared their enthusiasm for rocks and fossils throughout their marriage. They were active in both the Calgary Rock and Lapidary Club and the Alberta Palaeontological Society and travelled extensively throughout the United States for approximately 30 years, with rock collecting forming an important part of their travels.
In 2025, Harvey’s lifetime of contributions was recognized with the Hope Johnson Award for Non-Professionals, honouring his exceptional service to palaeontology through collecting, preparation, curation, publication, outreach, and education.
The Harvey Negrich Collection
Rocky Mountain Minerals & Fossils is proud to preserve and offer selected specimens from the Harvey Negrich Collection.
Among these are Alberta dinosaur fossils, including Albertosaurus teeth, carrying documented provenance from Harvey’s collection and provincial disposition documentation. Their association with Harvey adds an important historical dimension to the specimens: they originate from the collection of an individual who spent decades actively involved in Alberta palaeontology and in the preservation and documentation of its fossil heritage.
For collectors, this provenance provides a tangible connection between the fossil itself and the people who discovered, studied, documented, and cared for Alberta’s palaeontological heritage.
Alberta Fossils & Disposition
Alberta fossils are protected under provincial law and require specific documentation before they can enter private ownership. Learn more about Alberta fossil ownership, disposition, and the documentation accompanying our specimens.
