Written by: Sydney Devine

English professors collect more than items of the literary kind.

From salt and pepper shakers to pink flamingos and brooches (a type of clothing pin), Dr. Kinney has a wide variety of bizarre collections that she either keeps in her home as decoration or wears on a daily basis.

“I’ve always collected books, it seems, but not other stuff,” Dr. Kinney said. “I find myself the owner of several odd collections now. When I get something odd, funny or interesting, friends and family start giving me more things to add to those odd things.”

Dr. Kinney’s unusual collections may have started with books, but they began to take on a life of their own after she was given a set of salt and pepper shakers from her sister that were made from ash particles from one of Mount St. Helen’s many eruptions.

Other friends started giving her odd or uncommon salt and pepper shakers to add to the original volcano-shaker set, and her collection now consists of around 10 or more.

Dr. Kinney’s largest collection is made up of pink flamingos and is displayed in her front yard.

According to Dr. Kinney, the pink flamingos were first used as a marker to help visitors identify her home, but with time they became a standing joke in her family and were often given to her as a gift from family members or VSU colleagues.

The pink flamingo collection expanded beyond the realm of yard décor and began to include wall plaques, stuffed animals and pins.

“My favorite pin is probably the one made out of paper mache, hand-painted with pink flamingos on it,” Dr. Kinney said. “I found it at an artist’s store in Branson, Mo., many years ago.”

Dr. Kinney’s large pin collection started while she was living in Valdosta. The first pin she ever received was a gift from her cousin.

“The pins are unusual and an easy type of jewelry to wear because they don’t get in the way or get caught on things,” Dr. Kinney said. “They tend to catch people’s eye and thus are good conversation starters.”

Even students in Dr. Kinney’s classes have begun to notice her large collection of pins.

“I began to notice the amount of pins Dr. Kinney has because she wears one to class every day,” Matthew Sullivan, senior English major, said. “Even though she wears them all the time, I never catch her wearing the same one.”

Dr. Kinney’s pin collection not only comes from artist collectives and street fairs, but she also buys them from museum shops as souvenirs when she travels.

Although she may already have a large collection of pins, pink flamingos and salt and pepper shakers, Dr. Kinney’s collection is always growing.

“I’m constantly amazed at how my friends and relatives can keep finding odd, unusual and funny things to add to my collections,” Dr. Kinney said.