1999/01/01 by Geoffrey N. Swinney · 3 citations
Arts and Humanities · #Historical Art and Culture Studies #History of Science and Natural History #Scottish History and National Identity
paper · doi:10.1093/jhc/11.1.51
openalex publication_date 1999/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
In 1854, the University of Edinburgh gave its natural history collection to form the basis of the newly created Industrial Museum of Scotland, soon after to become the Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art Initially, the University maintained an interest in the collection in as much as its Professor of Natural History served also as Keeper of Natural History in the Museum. But this administrative arrangement did not work well, mainly because of disputes over the relative responsibilities of the Keeper and the Museum's Director. These difficulties grew following the appointment of Wyville Thomson to the Professorship/Keepership. The situation was exacerbated by the personalities of Thomson and the Museum's Director, Thomas Archer, and by Thomson's protracted absence while leading the Challenger expedition. The dispute between the University and the Museum eventually led to the University losing what little direct control it had over the collection. Its campaign to regain some measure of control continued well into the 1880s.