Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
objects by sub-disciplines (“Theoretical and Physical Chemistry”, “Inor-
ganic Chemistry”, and “Organic Chemistry”) followed by “Laboratory
Apparatus”, all of which were further subdivided into topics such as
“Classification of the Elements”, “Natural Dyes”, and “Filtration Appa-
ratus” which may correspond to specific cases or sets of cases.
Aimed at the general visitor rather than the chemical educator, the
gallery did now promote chemistry in a fairly understated manner. There
was thus a shift from making the gallery appealing to the curators' con-
stituency directly towards making it appealing to the general public in a
manner that would meet the approval of this constituency. Given that
academic and academically trained chemists formed the vast majority of
this constituency, the gallery emphasized the intellectual respectability
and skillfulness of chemistry. This motif was to be continually repeated
in later chemistry galleries at the Science Museum up to the end of the
twentieth century.
4.3 The 1977 Redisplay
Following the post-war reinstatement of chemistry in the 1950s in
Gallery 66 on the third floor, chemistry was moved to Galleries 41-43 on
the second floor of the East Block. The space devoted to chemistry
increased from 8,300 square feet before 1939 to 11,900 square feet. This
new set of galleries was partly funded (£ 30K) by the Association of
British Chemical Manufacturers, half the money coming from ICI. Frank
Greenaway was the moving force behind this redisplay of chemistry
which was opened to the public in 1964 although he did not become
Keeper until 1967.
I have chosen here to examine the subsequent redisplay of 1977
rather than the original display of 1964. This version survived for longer
- 22 years against 13 years and I was personally familiar with it, being in
charge of it for 8 years. I was also able to discuss this redisplay in detail
with Robert Anderson whose personal recollections greatly assisted my
analysis. The renovation of the galleries in 1977 was overseen by Frank
Greenaway, but the then Assistant Keeper Robert Anderson was effec-
tively in charge. In contrast to the 1964 gallery, there was no industrial
funding, but the Royal Institute of Chemistry was celebrating the 100
th
