Shell Clubs and Institutions

Shell Clubs are a well-founded tradition in our shell subculture, both in the U.S and around the world, and seemingly a necessary adjunct to the hobby. They are groups, each with its own focus and personality, which answer the need of shell enthusiasts to come together for enrichment, discussion and stimulation of their interest in shells. Activities run the gamut from fund-raising raffles, auctions and shell shows to beach cleanups, sponsorship of scholarships in malacology, and field collecting and observation trips. Many publish a periodic newsletter. Shell clubs are a fixture in most large coastal cities and many others are located in the American heartland.

Malacological societies are primarily oriented toward professional malacologists and serious amateurs. More emphasis is placed on the animal and its biology and phylogenetic relationships, and less on the shell. Most malacological societies include and welcome amateurs -- indeed, America's societies originated, in part, with amateurs.

  • North America
  • South America
  • Europe
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Oceania

ASTRONAUT TRAIL SHELL CLUB – Florida

contact: lychee@cfl.rr.com
webpage: http://spacecoastseashells.com/ / facebook

BOSTON MALACOLOGICAL CLUB – Boston, MA

contact: membership@bostonmalclub.org, webmaster@bostonmalclub.org
webpage: www.bostonmalclub.org / facebook

BROWARD SHELL CLUB – Florida, USA

contact: Sonny Ogden  gudrunogden@comcast.net
webpage: www.browardshellclub.org / facebook

CENPENN BEACHCOMBERS – Central Pennsylvania

contact: jammcc176@yahoo.com
webpage: www.cenpennbeachcombers.org / facebook

CENTRAL FLORIDA SHELL CLUB – Orlando Area
contact: Edward Radschweit /  ersheller@gmail.com

Chicago Shell Club – Chicago, Illinois

contact: kremer@citrisurf.com
webpage: www.chicagoshellclub.org

ENGLEWOOD SHELL CLUB – Englewood, Florida

webpage: www.englewoodshell.club

GULF COAST SHELL CLUB – Panama City, Florida

webpage: gulfcoastshellclub.weebly.com / facebook

HAWAIIAN MALACOLOGICAL SOCIETY – Honolulu

contact: davidkwlum@hawaii.rr.com

HOUSTON CONCHOLOGY SOCIETY – Houston, Texas

contact: lclampit@comcast.net
webpage: www.houstonshellclub.com

JACKSONVILLE SHELL CLUB – Jacksonville, FL

contact: shells@hglee.com
webpage: www.jaxshells.org/jsc.html / facebook

NORTH ALABAMA SHELL CLUB – Huntsville, Alabama, USA

contact: gmdeuel41@gmail.com
webpage: sites.google.com/site/northalshellclub/home

NORTH CAROLINA SHELL CLUB – North Carolina

contact: eshuller@mindspring.com
webpage: ncshellclub.com / facebook

OREGON SOCIETY OF CONCHOLOGISTS – Portland, Oregon

contact: oregonshells@yahoo.com
webpage: www.oregonshellclub.com

PACIFIC CONCHOLOGICAL CLUB – California

contact: pcc.001@verizon.net
webpage: www.pacific-conch-club.org

PACIFIC NORTHWEST SHELL CLUB — Seattle, Washington, USA

contact: PNWSC60@gmail.com
webpage: www.pnwsc.org

SAN ANTONIO SHELL CLUB – San Antonio, Texas

contact: houghpt@sbcglobal@net
webpage: www.sashellclub.org / facebook

SAN DIEGO SHELL CLUB – San Diego, CA

webpage:  https://www.thesandiegoshellclub.com/     / facebook

SANIBEL CAPTIVA SHELL CLUB – Florida, USA

contact: Karen Silverstein at info@sanibelshellclub.com
webpage: sanibelshellclub.com
Facebook: @Sanibel Shell Club

SARASOTA SHELL CLUB – Sarasota, Florida

contact: sarasotashellclub@gmail.com
webpage: www.sarasotashellclub.com / facebook

SEA SHELL SEARCHERS – Brazoria County, Texas

contact: shellman7000@sbcglobal.net
webpage: www.seashellsearchers.org

ST. PETERSBURG SHELL CLUB – St. Pete Beach, FL

contact: John Jacobs at the club email: stpeteshellclub@gmail.com
webpage: www.stpeteshellclub.org / facebook

SUNCOAST CONCHOLOGISTS –  Clearwater, Florida

contact: Mary Ellen Akers / sillieshellies@gmail.com
webpage: www.suncoastconchologists.org / facebook

THE AMERICAN MALACOLOGICAL SOCIETY – Arlington, Virginia

contact: scook919@msn.com
webpage: www.malacological.org / facebook

THE BAILEY-MATTHEWS SHELL MUSEUM – Sanibel, Florida

contact: (239) 395-2233
webpage: www.shellmuseum.org / facebook

THE PHILADELPHIA SHELL CLUB – Philadelphia, PA

contact: phillyshellclub@gmail.com
webpage: www.phillyshellclub.org / facebook

CONQUILIOLOGISTAS DO BRASIL – São Paulo, Brasil

contact: info@conchasbrasil.org.br
webpage: www.conchasbrasil.org.br / facebook

Sociedad Malacológica del Uruguay – Uruguay

webpage: www.smdu.org.uy / facebook

ASSOCIATION FRANCAISE DE CONCHYLIOLOGIE (AFC) – France

contact: afc-contact@xenophora.org
webpage: http://www.xenophora.org/en/afc/AFC_contact.php   /  facebook

ROYAL BELGIAN MALACOLOGICAL SOCIETY – Belgium

contact: Claude VILVENS (President): vilvens.claude@skynet.be
webpage: www.societe-belge-de-malacologie.be

BRITISH SHELL COLLECTORS’ CLUB –

contact: john@whicher.plus.com
webpage: www.britishshellclub.org / facebook

CLUB CONCHYLIA – Germany

contact: Manfred Herrmann (President) club-conchylia@gmx.de
webpage: www.club-conchylia.de / facebook

SOCIEDAD ESPAÑOLA DE MALACOLOGÍA (SEM) – Madrid, Spain

contact: malacologia-sem.es/contact-us/sem-webmaster
webpage: malacologia-sem.es / facebook

SOCIETÀ ITALIANA DI MALACOLOGIA – Napoli, Italy

contact: paolo.crovato@fastwebnet.it
webpage: www.societaitalianadimalacologia.it / facebook

CONCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA – Pretoria, South Africa

contact: Mr. Jurie Matthee rhrailway@mweb.co.za
webpage: www.conchsocietysouthafrica.co.za / facebook

The Malacological Society of Japan – Ibaraki, Japan

contact: msj_manager@hotmail.com
webpage: www.malaco-soc-japan.org/en_index.html

The Malacological Society of Taiwan – Taiwan, China

contact: www.shelltaiwan.com/contact
webpage: www.shelltaiwan.com / facebook

AUCKLAND Shell Club – Auckland, New Zealand

contact: n.hudson@auckland.ac.nz
webpage: www.aucklandshellclub.net.nz / facebook

THE SYDNEY SHELL COLLECTORS CLUB INC – Sydney, Australia

contact: secretary@sydneyshellclub.net
webpage: www.sydneyshellclub.net / facebook