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: bj.shouppe@yahoo.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
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
MARCO ISLAND SHELL CLUB CLUB
PO Box 633
Marco Island FL 34164
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