Museums and the establishment of the history of science at Oxford and Cambridge

British Journal for the History of Science

Volumn 30, Issue 1, 1997, Pages 29-46

  Bennett, J A ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; HISTORY; INFORMATION CENTER; SCIENCE; UNITED KINGDOM; UNIVERSITY;

GREAT BRITAIN; HISTORIOGRAPHY; HISTORY, 20TH CENTURY; MUSEUMS; SCIENCE; UNIVERSITIES;

EID: 0031089201     PISSN: 00070874     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1017/S0007087496002889     Document Type: Article

References (75)

1. F. H. C. Butler, 'The foundation of the British Society for the History of Science', Bulletin of the British Society for the History of Science (1949), 1, 1-4.
2. The correspondence and other papers relating to these meetings and discussions are in Folder C of a collection of papers at the Whipple Museum of the History of Science, Cambridge, relating to the early history of the Museum. The collection will be referred to hereafter as 'Whipple Museum Papers'.
3. F. Sherwood Taylor, 'Memorandum on the teaching of the history of science in universities ', Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, Committee Minute Book, vol. 1.
4. A. Van Helden and T. L. Hankins, 'Introduction : instruments in the history of science', Osiris (1994), 9, 1-6, on 6.
5. For an introduction, see P. Vergo (ed.), The New Museology, London, 1989, and E. Hooper-Greenhill, Museums and the Shaping of Knowledge, London, 1992.
6. For an introduction, see P. Vergo (ed.), The New Museology, London, 1989, and E. Hooper-Greenhill, Museums and the Shaping of Knowledge, London, 1992.
7. For some of this literature, see G. Lawrence, 'Object lessons in the museum medium', in Objects of Knowledge (ed. S. Pearce), London, 1990; J. Durant (ed.), Museums and the Public Understanding of Science, London, 1992; S. Macdonald (ed.), Science on Display, special issue of Science as Culture (1995), 5, part 1; S. Pearce (ed.), Exploring Science in Museums, London, 1996.
8. For some of this literature, see G. Lawrence, 'Object lessons in the museum medium', in Objects of Knowledge (ed. S. Pearce), London, 1990; J. Durant (ed.), Museums and the Public Understanding of Science, London, 1992; S. Macdonald (ed.), Science on Display, special issue of Science as Culture (1995), 5, part 1; S. Pearce (ed.), Exploring Science in Museums, London, 1996.
9. For some of this literature, see G. Lawrence, 'Object lessons in the museum medium', in Objects of Knowledge (ed. S. Pearce), London, 1990; J. Durant (ed.), Museums and the Public Understanding of Science, London, 1992; S. Macdonald (ed.), Science on Display, special issue of Science as Culture (1995), 5, part 1; S. Pearce (ed.), Exploring Science in Museums, London, 1996.
10. For some of this literature, see G. Lawrence, 'Object lessons in the museum medium', in Objects of Knowledge (ed. S. Pearce), London, 1990; J. Durant (ed.), Museums and the Public Understanding of Science, London, 1992; S. Macdonald (ed.), Science on Display, special issue of Science as Culture (1995), 5, part 1; S. Pearce (ed.), Exploring Science in Museums, London, 1996.
11. R. T. Gunther, Early Science in Oxford. Vol. 1. Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and Surveying, Oxford, 1923, preface, p. v.
12. On Gunther see A. E. Gunther, Early Science in Oxford. Vol. 15. Robert T. Gunther. A Pioneer in the History of Science 1869-1940, Oxford, 1967; A. V. Simcock (ed.), Robert T. Gunther and the Old Ashmolean, Oxford, 1985. Note also A. V. Simcock, 'An ark for the history of science', Iatul Quarterly (1987), 1, 196-215.
13. On Gunther see A. E. Gunther, Early Science in Oxford. Vol. 15. Robert T. Gunther. A Pioneer in the History of Science 1869-1940, Oxford, 1967; A. V. Simcock (ed.), Robert T. Gunther and the Old Ashmolean, Oxford, 1985. Note also A. V. Simcock, 'An ark for the history of science', Iatul Quarterly (1987), 1, 196-215.
14. On Gunther see A. E. Gunther, Early Science in Oxford. Vol. 15. Robert T. Gunther. A Pioneer in the History of Science 1869-1940, Oxford, 1967; A. V. Simcock (ed.), Robert T. Gunther and the Old Ashmolean, Oxford, 1985. Note also A. V. Simcock, 'An ark for the history of science', Iatul Quarterly (1987), 1, 196-215.
15. Simcock, Robert T. Gunther, op. cit. (8), 68; R. T. Gunther, Oxford and the History of Science, London, 1934, 12-13.
16. Simcock, Robert T. Gunther, op. cit. (8), 68; R. T. Gunther, Oxford and the History of Science, London, 1934, 12-13.
17. Gunther stressed Sir William Osler's role in pressing for an exhibition, R. T. Gunther, op. cit. (7), p. vi.
18. R. T. Gunther, Early Science in Oxford. Vol. 2. Astronomy, Oxford, 1923, preface, p. viii.
19. A. E. Gunther, op. cit. (8), 169.
20. A. E. Gunther, op. cit. (8), 208-10.
21. A. E. Gunther, op. cit. (8), 240-8, 213-15; Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, Committee Minute Book, vol. 1, fols. 41-53.
22. A. E. Gunther, op. cit. (8), 240-8, 213-15; Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, Committee Minute Book, vol. 1, fols. 41-53.
23. R. T. Gunther, op. cit. (9).
24. Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, Committee Minute Book, vol. 1.
25. R. T. Gunther, Early Science in Oxford. Vol. 10. The Life and Work of Robert Hooke (Part IV), Oxford, 1935; E. N. da C. Andrade, 'Hooke and his editors', Nature (1936), 141, 378-81, note also ibid., 702-3.
26. R. T. Gunther, Early Science in Oxford. Vol. 10. The Life and Work of Robert Hooke (Part IV), Oxford, 1935; E. N. da C. Andrade, 'Hooke and his editors', Nature (1936), 141, 378-81, note also ibid., 702-3.
27. R. T. Gunther, Early Science in Oxford. Vol. 10. The Life and Work of Robert Hooke (Part IV), Oxford, 1935; E. N. da C. Andrade, 'Hooke and his editors', Nature (1936), 141, 378-81, note also ibid., 702-3.
28. For the Cambridge side of Gunther's work, see J. A. Bennett, 'The Cambridge legacy of Robert T. Gunther', in Learning, Language and Invention: Essays Presented to Francis Maddison (ed. W. D. Hackmann and A. J. Turner), Aldershot and Paris, 1994, 78-83. Reference for this section can be found in the cited article.
29. J. Needham and W. Pagel (eds.), Background to Modern Science. Ten Lectures at Cambridge Arranged by the History of Science Committee 1936, Cambridge, 1938, introduction, p. vii.
30. Needham and Pagel, op. cit. (19), p. viii.
31. On Sherwood Taylor, see A. V. Simcock, 'Alchemy and the world of science: an intellectual biography of Frank Sherwood Taylor', Ambix (1987), 34, 121-39; for some general reflections on the Oxford museum and its history, see G. L'E. Turner, 'The Museum of the History of Science', Oxford (1967), 21, 53-60.
32. On Sherwood Taylor, see A. V. Simcock, 'Alchemy and the world of science: an intellectual biography of Frank Sherwood Taylor', Ambix (1987), 34, 121-39; for some general reflections on the Oxford museum and its history, see G. L'E. Turner, 'The Museum of the History of Science', Oxford (1967), 21, 53-60.
33. F. Sherwood Taylor, 'Scheme for the post-war use of the Old Ashmolean Building and the expenditure involved', Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, Committee Minute Book, vol. 1.
34. F. Sherwood Taylor, 'Revised scheme for the post-war use of the Old Ashmolean Building and the expenditure involved', Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, Committee Minute Book, vol. 1.
35. Taylor, op. cit. (3).
36. A. S. Russell, 'Dr R. T. Gunther', Nature (1940), 145, 541-2.
37. F. Sherwood Taylor to Charles Singer, 29 January 1946, Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, Taylor Papers.
38. Letter, D. McKie to F. Sherwood Taylor, 23 September 1945, Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, Taylor Papers.
39. 'Teaching of the history of science: observations of Boards of Faculties', Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, Taylor Papers.
40. Letter, F. Sherwood Taylor to D. McKie, 3 April 1947, Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, Taylor Papers.
41. Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, Committee Minute Book, vol. 1.
42. Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, MS Taylor 260.
43. F. Sherwood Taylor, 'Museum of the History of Science, Oxford', Nature (1949), 164, 738.
44. E. Rideal to F. H. C. Butler, 19 November 1943, Whipple Museum Papers, Cambridge, C, 2.
45. F. H. C. Butler to H. Butterfield, 25 November 1943, Whipple Museum Papers, Cambridge, C, 4. 35 Whipple Museum Papers, Cambridge, C, 6.
46. E. Rideal to F. H. C. Butler, 26 February 1944, Whipple Museum Papers, Cambridge, C, 22; copy Butler to Whipple, ibid., C, 23.
47. A number of copies are preserved at the Whipple Museum, for example Whipple Museum Papers, Cambridge, C, 33.
48. Whipple Museum Papers, Cambridge, C, 36, 40, 54.
49. For relevant correspondence, see Whipple Museum Papers, Cambridge, A, 1-44.
50. Cambridge University Reporter (1945-46), 76, 529-30, 587.
51. Oxford University Gazette (1952-53), 83, 736.
52. Oxford University Gazette (1954-55), 85, 692. Gerd Buchdahl, then attached to the University of Melbourne, had been invited to teach philosophy of science for 1954-55, and it was suggested that he should stay, but he had found that 'There was absolutely no organizational arrangements, no offices, no secretarial help; and indeed, the situation, at least so I understand, has not changed much to this day [1989]'. G. Buchdahl, 'Twenty- five years of history and philosophy of science at Cambridge', The Cambridge Review (1989), 10, 167-71, on 168.
53. Oxford University Gazette (1954-55), 85, 692. Gerd Buchdahl, then attached to the University of Melbourne, had been invited to teach philosophy of science for 1954-55, and it was suggested that he should stay, but he had found that 'There was absolutely no organizational arrangements, no offices, no secretarial help; and indeed, the situation, at least so I understand, has not changed much to this day [1989]'. G. Buchdahl, 'Twenty-five years of history and philosophy of science at Cambridge', The Cambridge Review (1989), 10, 167-71, on 168.
54. Documentation for this section is in Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, Committee Minute Book, vol. 1.
55. Oxford University Gazette (1956-57), 87, Supplement (5), 122; for reflections on this committee and other relevant matters, see A. C. Crombie, 'Beginnings at Oxford', Isis (1984), 75, 25-8.
56. Oxford University Gazette (1956-57), 87, Supplement (5), 122; for reflections on this committee and other relevant matters, see A. C. Crombie, 'Beginnings at Oxford', Isis (1984), 75, 25-8.
57. Oxford University Gazette (1957-58), 88, 996, 1064, 1203, 1289-90.
58. A. R. Hall, Ballistics in the Seventeenth Century, Cambridge, 1952.
59. Whipple Museum Papers, Cambridge, D, 3-6.
60. Whipple Museum Papers, Cambridge, D, 7-23; David Dewhirst has described to me his first-hand experience of rescuing instruments from the fire.
61. Whipple Museum Papers, Cambridge, D, 25-57; Cambridge University Reporter (1950-51), 81, 1174. There were notices in Nature (by Hall) and in The Times. Note also R. S. Clay, 'The Whipple Museum at Cambridge', Journal of Scientific Instruments (1951), 28, 286-7; [A. R. Hall], A Guide to the Historic Scientific Instruments in the Whipple Museum of the History of Science, Cambridge, the foreword by C. E. Raven as Vice-Chancellor is dated 15 June 1949.
62. Whipple Museum Papers, Cambridge, D, 25-57; Cambridge University Reporter (1950-51), 81, 1174. There were notices in Nature (by Hall) and in The Times. Note also R. S. Clay, 'The Whipple Museum at Cambridge', Journal of Scientific Instruments (1951), 28, 286-7; [A. R. Hall], A Guide to the Historic Scientific Instruments in the Whipple Museum of the History of Science, Cambridge, the foreword by C. E. Raven as Vice-Chancellor is dated 15 June 1949.
63. Whipple Museum Papers, Cambridge, D, 25-57; Cambridge University Reporter (1950-51), 81, 1174. There were notices in Nature (by Hall) and in The Times. Note also R. S. Clay, 'The Whipple Museum at Cambridge', Journal of Scientific Instruments (1951), 28, 286-7; [A. R. Hall], A Guide to the Historic Scientific Instruments in the Whipple Museum of the History of Science, Cambridge, the foreword by C. E. Raven as Vice-Chancellor is dated 15 June 1949.
64. Whipple Museum Papers, Cambridge, D, 25-57; Cambridge University Reporter (1950-51), 81, 1174. There were notices in Nature (by Hall) and in The Times. Note also R. S. Clay, 'The Whipple Museum at Cambridge', Journal of Scientific Instruments (1951), 28, 286-7; [A. R. Hall], A Guide to the Historic Scientific Instruments in the Whipple Museum of the History of Science, Cambridge, the foreword by C. E. Raven as Vice-Chancellor is dated 15 June 1949.
65. A valuable general account (by A. R. Hall?), is Whipple Museum Papers, Cambridge, C, 63, 'History of Science Committee. Report on Activities, 1936-1952'.
66. Whipple Museum Papers, Cambridge, D, 64-73.
67. Cambridge University Reporter (1951-52), 82, 591.
68. M. Hoskin, 'History and philosophy of science in Cambridge', Cambridge: The Magazine of the Cambridge Society (1990), no. 26, 46-50.
69. Hoskin, op. cit. (53); Buchdahl, op. cit. (42).
70. Hoskin, op. cit. (53); Buchdahl, op. cit. (42).
71. Cambridge University Reporter (1955-56), 86, 943-5.
72. Whipple Museum Papers, Cambridge, E.
73. See, for example, S. Butler, Science and Technology Museums, Leicester, 1992, 40-2.
74. Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries, Universities and Museums. Report on the Universities in Relation to their Own and Other Museums, London, 1968, 22, 34.
75. J. A. Bennett, 'Science museums as resources for historians', in A. Guagnini (ed.), University Laboratories: Comparing Experiences in Bologna and Oxford, Bologna, forthcoming.