The Redpath Museum of Mc Gill University in Montreal accomodates one of the largest shell-collections in public property. The largest component is the collection of the ‘American’ conchologist Philip Pearsal Carpenter (1810-1877). 77.000 specimen (11.000 different species) were revised. Holotypes of 152 species have been found. In later years several other shell-collections were donated to the Museum. To commodate Carpenter's contribution to malacology, a shell-exhibition with the title: 'A Passion for shells: the Carpenter Collection' will be organised in the Museum from the first of May till the end of 1993.