Collections development in hindsight: a numerical analysis of the Science and Technology collections of National Museums Scotland since 1855
Name
2023-11-16_CollectionsDevelopmentInHindsightTPhillipson_FINAL.pdf
Description
visibility:open
Size
993.79 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (CRC64NVME)
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Resource type
Journal article
Creator (person)
Phillipson, Tacye
Date published
October 31, 2019
Abstract
Long term and bulk patterns in both the accessioning and deaccessioning of the Science and Technology collections of National Museums Scotland were revealed within their digital database records. This makes use of bulk analysis of records to show historic patterns which can inform current activities. The current and recent selection of collections for display is analysed to reveal patterns in when these objects came into the collection. The research confirms the value of both past collecting and disposal in the development of strong collections of present and future utility. It shows that both recent displays and a major mid-twentieth century re-assessment of the collection were most likely to value material which had been recently collected. It also reveals a potential tendency for less significant material to be acquired by gift than by purchase.
Journal title
Science Museum Group Journal
Issue
12
Publisher
Science Museum Group
eISSN
2054-5770
Official URL
Rights statement
In Copyright
Collection