Iain WatsonIain WatsonSenior Curator, Tyne and Wear Senior Curator, Tyne and Wear

MuseumsMuseums

NOF Digitise Technical Advisory serviceNOF Digitise Technical Advisory service

‘ ‘ an integral part of a group of items that forms the an integral part of a group of items that forms the record of an individual or organisation, and the record of an individual or organisation, and the description of such aggregates forms a description of such aggregates forms a fundamental (and standardised) element of fundamental (and standardised) element of descriptive practice’ (Archives)descriptive practice’ (Archives)

‘‘a range of criteria (form or type of object, subject, a range of criteria (form or type of object, subject, the objects donated by an individual benefactor) to the objects donated by an individual benefactor) to delimit the aggregates they describe and manage.’delimit the aggregates they describe and manage.’

(Museums) (Museums)

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. . . the "collection management . . . the "collection management systems" used within museums have systems" used within museums have tended to focus on the description of tended to focus on the description of individual items or objects. individual items or objects.

What curators call a collectionWhat curators call a collection

George Jones CollectionGeorge Jones Collection

Subject collections – Designation 1Subject collections – Designation 1

2.1 Vertebrate Zoology2.1 Vertebrate Zoology2.1.1 2.1.1 MammalsMammals2.1.22.1.2 Birds Birds2.1.3 2.1.3 Other Vertebrate MaterialOther Vertebrate Material

2.2 Invertebrate Zoology2.2 Invertebrate Zoology2.2.1 2.2.1 MolluscsMolluscs 2.2.2 2.2.2 Arthropods (excluding insects)Arthropods (excluding insects)2.2.3 2.2.3 InsectsInsects2.2.4 Other groups of invertebrates2.2.4 Other groups of invertebrates

2.3 Botany2.3 Botany (c. 120,000 specimens) (c. 120,000 specimens)2.4 Geology2.4 Geology

2.4.1 2.4.1 PalaeontologyPalaeontology2.4.2 2.4.2 MineralogyMineralogy2.4.3 2.4.3 Petrology (rocks)Petrology (rocks)

2.5 Library and archives2.5 Library and archives

Subject collections – Designation 2Subject collections – Designation 2

2.2.3 Insects2.2.3 Insects The prime collections are The prime collections are those of Herbert Stevens from Assam and those of Herbert Stevens from Assam and Sikkim (c.20,000 specimens), Colonel Sikkim (c.20,000 specimens), Colonel Charles H.E. Adamson's collection from Charles H.E. Adamson's collection from Burma (4,000 butterflies, including some Burma (4,000 butterflies, including some type material) and the bird-wing butterfly type material) and the bird-wing butterfly collection donated by James J. Joicey. collection donated by James J. Joicey. Sunderland Museum houses the Backhouse Sunderland Museum houses the Backhouse collection of exotic butterflies including collection of exotic butterflies including specimens collected by Alfred Russell specimens collected by Alfred Russell Wallace in South-East Asia. Wallace in South-East Asia.

Why natural science collections?Why natural science collections?

Quite often heavy in typesQuite often heavy in types Catalogued in own MODES fileCatalogued in own MODES file Leading figures in scientific work on Leading figures in scientific work on

a specific group of animals/plantsa specific group of animals/plants A lot of (academic/research) A lot of (academic/research)

enquiries come in about collectionsenquiries come in about collections

Thomas AttheyThomas Atthey

Pre-eminent collection :Pre-eminent collection : Thomas Atthey Coal Thomas Atthey Coal Measure FossilsMeasure FossilsThomas Atthey (1814-1880) was pre-eminent Thomas Atthey (1814-1880) was pre-eminent amongst the Newcastle amateur fossil vertebrate amongst the Newcastle amateur fossil vertebrate palaeontologists and collected a large number of palaeontologists and collected a large number of fossil amphibians from the coal tips at Newsham fossil amphibians from the coal tips at Newsham Colliery near Blyth. A considerable number of Colliery near Blyth. A considerable number of papers, co-authored by Albany Hancock, were papers, co-authored by Albany Hancock, were written, the earliest dating back to 1863. Amongst written, the earliest dating back to 1863. Amongst this materials are numerous types including the this materials are numerous types including the celebrated lectotype of celebrated lectotype of Pholiderpeton attheyiPholiderpeton attheyi. . Atthey's collection was purchased by Lady Atthey's collection was purchased by Lady Armstrong and donated to the Natural History Armstrong and donated to the Natural History Society (now the Hancock Museum) in 1878.Society (now the Hancock Museum) in 1878.

Science and Industry 1Science and Industry 1

The Scope of the Science and Industry The Scope of the Science and Industry Collection: In summary the collection Collection: In summary the collection represents the following:represents the following:

• Certain areas of British scientific and Certain areas of British scientific and technological development in C19 and C20technological development in C19 and C20

• Important aspects of science and technology Important aspects of science and technology pioneered in Tyne and Wear, and in adjoining pioneered in Tyne and Wear, and in adjoining areasareas

• Industry and transport in Tyne and Wear, and Industry and transport in Tyne and Wear, and in adjoining areasin adjoining areas

Science and Industry 2Science and Industry 2

Principal subject areas are:Principal subject areas are:• CoalminingCoalmining• Manufacture of iron, steel . . .Manufacture of iron, steel . . .• Manufacturing industriesManufacturing industries• Land TransportLand Transport• Electric lightingElectric lighting• Personal items associated with Tyneside Personal items associated with Tyneside

engineers, scientists, etcengineers, scientists, etc

Science and Industry 3Science and Industry 3

Bringing disparate material together Bringing disparate material together virtually/physicallyvirtually/physically

• Armstrong CollectionArmstrong Collection• RMSRMS• ExhibitionsExhibitions

Description UnitsDescription Units

Collection Collection ItemItem Drawer/Box/Teaset/Photograph Drawer/Box/Teaset/Photograph

albumalbum

IMAGINE Project (NOF Digi)IMAGINE Project (NOF Digi)IImages mages MMuseums useums AAnd nd GGalleries alleries IIn the n the NNorth orth EEastast

Natural WorldNatural World ArchaeologyArchaeology ArtArt Buildings & ViewsBuildings & Views Living in the North EastLiving in the North East Made In The North EastMade In The North East PeoplePeople Beyond the north eastBeyond the north east

IMAGINE Project (NOF Digi)IMAGINE Project (NOF Digi)IImages mages MMuseums useums AAnd nd GGalleries alleries IIn the n the NNorth orth EEastast

ArtArt ArtistArtist

DateDate

Contemporary craftContemporary craft

WatercoloursWatercolours

Oil paintingsOil paintings

PrintsPrints

SculptureSculpture

Metalwork, Glass and ceramicsMetalwork, Glass and ceramics

Issues for TWM with collection level Issues for TWM with collection level descriptiondescription

Standards applicable to museum Standards applicable to museum collections and items and that relate collections and items and that relate to museum documentation systemsto museum documentation systems

Terminology and cross searchingTerminology and cross searching Relevance for accessRelevance for access