“Star Trek Fan Leaves Behind a Collection Like No One Has Done Before: When Troy Nelson Died, His Shelves Were Filled to the Rafters With Memorabilia from the Popular Franchise. Soon, the Massive Collection Will Be Boldly Going, Going, Gone”, Sopan Deb2024-04-01 (heritability, collector psychology)⁠:

Evan Browne said her brother Troy’s love of Star Trek began with the original series, which he and his siblings watched at dinnertime…It turns out that collecting is a pursuit that runs in the family.

Andrew Nelson collected mall swords, Ryobi-branded tools and statues of warrior women, like Xena, the warrior princess.

Browne’s house has a wall with thousands of smashed pennies and her living room windows are full of glass sugar and creamer bowls.

Browne’s father, Bud Peers, collected salt & pepper shakers, guns and knives. Troy and Andrew’s father, Norman Nelson, collected scrap metal and wood.

Hamel has 17 Christmas trees, all fully decorated with separate themes.

Browne’s son, Michael, who is 36, collects anything and everything related to black bears.

“When you have a large collection like that and it’s displayed like that”, Hamel said, “and it’s something that is important to you, it’s often really calming to be in a space like that. It’s just all the things that you love. It’s soothing.”