Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
sumptuousness of the brass and fine woods, the elegance of Hofmann's
demonstration apparatus, the quirkiness of the Bunsen thermostat, and
the mysteriousness of elements. But this would be an almost accidental
by-product of the development of the gallery. I say 'almost' because the
curators must have been aware of the public's interest in what they could
appreciate but not really understand. While they would have accepted
this interest, it was not the curators' aim to reach out the general public,
but to engage with chemists and their students.
4.2 Chemistry in the East Block, 1925
The Bell Report of 1911 introduced a new line of interpretation which
put a greater emphasis on history and the development of science and
technology. It called for the “preservation of appliances which hold hon-
oured place in the progress of science” (Follett 1978, p. 21). While the
specialist, the technical visitor and the student were still important
audiences, the Bell Report and the new Director of the Science Museum
from 1920, Henry Lyons, put the ordinary visitor first (Follett 1978, p.
98). There was not enough time to develop this new approach in the
Western Galleries before World War I, even if the curators had been
keen on it and I suspect they were not. By the time the East Block
became available in 1925, there was new blood in the form of Alexander
Barclay and the changes in approach were evident in the new chemistry
gallery on the third floor. While the approach and the target audience
may have changed, the constituency remained much the same as it had
been in the 1880s, namely leading chemists and chemical educators
together with the scientific instrument trade. For instance, the proposed
display scheme was checked by Professor Arthur Smithells (Z Archive,
1924).
The new gallery had a specific aim “to give a general idea of the chief
branches of chemistry” (Board of Education 1931) and “the development
of chemistry from earliest times” (Science Museum Guide 1937). But it
was not typological in the manner of Pitt-Rivers: there was no attempt to
show the 'evolution' of chemistry. With a new emphasis on history, it
was clearly necessary to acquire more historic objects. However, this
demand was not easy to fill and it was met by copies of prints of al-
