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C~£x^) PAST PRESENT FUTURE OCT 81 t9Ui Vol. 4. No. 1. May 1977. ) The History Of the Nfld. Museum The Past — The Present The history of a Museum in Newfoundland began over 130 years ago in St. John's, when a group of wealthy merchants decided to preserve a collection of items originating from such places as Brazil, The West Indies, Europe, etc. Their first exhibit was called the "Cabinet of Curiosites" and was on Public view at the Merchant's Club on Water Street. Alas, the date of this event has been lost to posterity, we can only assume that it took place in the early 1800' s. The Club soon became the focal point for business men interested in intellectual speculation and stimulation. Around the year 1849, the Merchants decided to form a joint committee with the Mechanic's Institute and the St. John's Library Board. This new Committee concerned itself with the Natural History of the Island, they displayed in a small building such things as mounted polar bears, native birds, and artifacts pertaining to the Beothuck Indian era. m,^S,A. l\ U.\>. The old Gosling Memorial Library, which is our museum today. It is indeed interesting to note that this group of people received National Acclaim by winning three prizes for an exhibit entered in the New York Exhibition in 1855 for "its quality of artifacts." In the late 1870's, the Museum collection moved to a very impressive looking building, The Anthenaeum, seat of intellectual life. (This building was sadly destroyed by the Great Fire of 1892). About ten years later the collection was The Athenaeum. The seat of intellectual life in the late 19th Century. The building {which was erected on the site of our present day museum) was sadly destroyed by the fire of 1892. moved yet again, this time to the upper floor of the New Post Office on Water Street. Mr. J. P. Howley, F.G.S. was appointed as the first Curator. In 1907, Sir Robert Bond erected a new building on the site of the present museum. The collection included a full Natural History Section but very little else of Historical interest. It was said, however, that 70 years ago, the Newfoundland Fossil collection was the largest in North America. The struggles of this ill-fated Museum were far from over, during the Depression years of the 30's the Museum closed by order of the Commission of Government, to make room for a new Government Department. From that time onward most of the artifacts were lost, destroyed or ruined in some way. The Natural History Section was destroyed by fire. After the war, public interest began to generate toward the need to preserve remnants of a heritage, so easily ravaged by fire or war, and the Department of Provincial Affairs, under the newly appointed Provincial Legislature, reestablished the museum. The perseverance of two dedicated people, Mr. Leo English, Curator, and Mr. Adrian Digby, a British Consultant, (who incidentally set up the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto) proceeded to salvage the old collection of artifacts, and set the stage for the museum's completion in 1957. Two years later a major breakthrough occurred, the Government with Hon Dr. G. A. Frecker, Minister of Provincial Affairs, passed an Act relating to the Historic Objects, Sites and Records, this stated that "the Museum is a repository for relics, artifacts, models, paintings and other devices, materials, articles and things which are of Historical value." The memory of that first group of Conservation-minded individuals is still alive tody. The Newfoundland Provincial Musuem was passed over to the Department of Tourism's Historic Resources Division, under the Directorship of Dr. Martin Bowe. It is presently undergoing extensive renovations, the floor space has been expanded, with the addition of a new floor, a theatre and hopefully a Museum Gift Shop, selling among many other things, hand made Newfoundland crafts. The design section, under the watchful eye of Derm Duggan, the Design Chief, have completed a model replica of the interior of the Museum as it will be following the renovations. The imagination and artistic ability of the Researchers and Exhibit Planners, have tentatively formed a basic plan for the display of the exhibits. The Main floor will house the Natural History section, and areas have been included for Temporary Exhibits, which will be changed at various intervals. The Mezzanine floor will house the Archaeology and Ethnology exhibits, depicting Con't on Page 3
Object Description
Title | The Trident, 1977, vol. 4, no. 1 (May) |
Publisher | Newfoundland Historic Trust |
Place of Publication | St. John's (N.L.) |
Date | 1977 |
Description | The newsletter of the Newfoundland Historic Trust. |
Subject |
Newfoundland Historic Trust--Periodicals Historic buildings--Newfoundland and Labrador--Conservation and restoration--Periodicals Historic sites--Newfoundland and Labrador--Conservation and restoration--Periodicals |
Indexed In | Newfoundland Periodical Article Bibliography |
Location | Canada--Newfoundland and Labrador |
Time Period | 20th Century |
Type | Text |
Resource Type | Book |
Format | image/jpeg; application/pdf |
Language | eng |
Collection | Trident newsletter of the Newfoundland Historic Trust |
Sponsor | Centre for Newfoundland Studies |
Source | Print text held in the Centre for Newfoundland Studies |
Repository | Memorial University of Newfoundland. Libraries. Centre for Newfoundland Studies |
PDF File | (2.61 MB) -- http://collections.mun.ca/PDFs/trident/TheTrident1977Vol4No1May.pdf |
Description
Title | Front Page |
Description | The Trident, 1977, Vol 4 No 1, May |
PDF File | (2.61MB) -- http://collections.mun.ca/PDFs/trident/TheTrident1977Vol4No1May.pdf |
Transcript | C~£x^) PAST PRESENT FUTURE OCT 81 t9Ui Vol. 4. No. 1. May 1977. ) The History Of the Nfld. Museum The Past — The Present The history of a Museum in Newfoundland began over 130 years ago in St. John's, when a group of wealthy merchants decided to preserve a collection of items originating from such places as Brazil, The West Indies, Europe, etc. Their first exhibit was called the "Cabinet of Curiosites" and was on Public view at the Merchant's Club on Water Street. Alas, the date of this event has been lost to posterity, we can only assume that it took place in the early 1800' s. The Club soon became the focal point for business men interested in intellectual speculation and stimulation. Around the year 1849, the Merchants decided to form a joint committee with the Mechanic's Institute and the St. John's Library Board. This new Committee concerned itself with the Natural History of the Island, they displayed in a small building such things as mounted polar bears, native birds, and artifacts pertaining to the Beothuck Indian era. m,^S,A. l\ U.\>. The old Gosling Memorial Library, which is our museum today. It is indeed interesting to note that this group of people received National Acclaim by winning three prizes for an exhibit entered in the New York Exhibition in 1855 for "its quality of artifacts." In the late 1870's, the Museum collection moved to a very impressive looking building, The Anthenaeum, seat of intellectual life. (This building was sadly destroyed by the Great Fire of 1892). About ten years later the collection was The Athenaeum. The seat of intellectual life in the late 19th Century. The building {which was erected on the site of our present day museum) was sadly destroyed by the fire of 1892. moved yet again, this time to the upper floor of the New Post Office on Water Street. Mr. J. P. Howley, F.G.S. was appointed as the first Curator. In 1907, Sir Robert Bond erected a new building on the site of the present museum. The collection included a full Natural History Section but very little else of Historical interest. It was said, however, that 70 years ago, the Newfoundland Fossil collection was the largest in North America. The struggles of this ill-fated Museum were far from over, during the Depression years of the 30's the Museum closed by order of the Commission of Government, to make room for a new Government Department. From that time onward most of the artifacts were lost, destroyed or ruined in some way. The Natural History Section was destroyed by fire. After the war, public interest began to generate toward the need to preserve remnants of a heritage, so easily ravaged by fire or war, and the Department of Provincial Affairs, under the newly appointed Provincial Legislature, reestablished the museum. The perseverance of two dedicated people, Mr. Leo English, Curator, and Mr. Adrian Digby, a British Consultant, (who incidentally set up the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto) proceeded to salvage the old collection of artifacts, and set the stage for the museum's completion in 1957. Two years later a major breakthrough occurred, the Government with Hon Dr. G. A. Frecker, Minister of Provincial Affairs, passed an Act relating to the Historic Objects, Sites and Records, this stated that "the Museum is a repository for relics, artifacts, models, paintings and other devices, materials, articles and things which are of Historical value." The memory of that first group of Conservation-minded individuals is still alive tody. The Newfoundland Provincial Musuem was passed over to the Department of Tourism's Historic Resources Division, under the Directorship of Dr. Martin Bowe. It is presently undergoing extensive renovations, the floor space has been expanded, with the addition of a new floor, a theatre and hopefully a Museum Gift Shop, selling among many other things, hand made Newfoundland crafts. The design section, under the watchful eye of Derm Duggan, the Design Chief, have completed a model replica of the interior of the Museum as it will be following the renovations. The imagination and artistic ability of the Researchers and Exhibit Planners, have tentatively formed a basic plan for the display of the exhibits. The Main floor will house the Natural History section, and areas have been included for Temporary Exhibits, which will be changed at various intervals. The Mezzanine floor will house the Archaeology and Ethnology exhibits, depicting Con't on Page 3 |