Haslemere Educational Museum facts for kids
Haslemere Educational Museum, 2009
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| Established | 1888 |
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| Location | Haslemere, Surrey, United Kingdom |
The Haslemere Educational Museum is a cool place to learn about nature, history, and science. It was started way back in 1888 by a famous surgeon named Sir Jonathan Hutchinson. He wanted to share his amazing collection of natural history items with everyone.
After moving a couple of times, the museum found its permanent home in Haslemere High Street, in Haslemere, Surrey, England, in 1926. It's an independent charity and even won a big national award in 2012! Inside, you'll find nearly half a million items, including specimens, old objects, papers, and pictures.
Contents
History of the Museum
How the Museum Started
Sir Jonathan Hutchinson was a very successful surgeon who lived in both London and Haslemere. He loved science and nature, and he had a huge collection of specimens and fossils from his travels. In 1888, he opened a museum in the buildings at his farm in Haslemere. He had a new idea for museums: he wanted people to have a 'hands-on' experience, meaning they could touch and explore things!
By 1895, his collection had grown so much that it needed a bigger space. So, it moved to a place now called Museum Hill. Sir Jonathan himself gave talks at the museum. Before he passed away in 1913, he made sure to leave money to help the museum grow and stay in good shape. The museum then moved to its current spot on Haslemere High Street in 1926.
Education for Kids
From the very beginning, education was super important to the museum. In 1899, they even started a special "Museum Examination" just for children! This shows how much they wanted kids to learn and explore.
Curators and Their Contributions
The museum has had many dedicated people working there.
- Ernest William Swanton was the curator for over 50 years, from 1897 to 1948. He was a mycologist, which means he studied fungi. He even wrote a book called Fungi and How to Know Them in 1909. He helped many people who wanted to learn about fungi.
- John Clegg took over as curator from 1949 to 1962. He loved pond life and was a great writer and photographer. He wrote a book about pond life for the famous Observer series of pocket guides, and another called The Freshwater Life of the British Isles.
- Arthur Jewell became curator after John Clegg. He started working at the museum right after school in 1974 and retired in 2008. The museum's Education Room is named after him to honor his hard work. There's even a stuffed Siberian bear, a museum mascot, named Arthur after him!
Special People at the Museum
Many people have helped the museum over the years. Margaret Hutchinson, Sir Jonathan's granddaughter, was a naturalist and a very active member. She was an honorary librarian, a committee member, and a trustee.
Another amazing volunteer, Penny Hollow, celebrated 40 years at the museum in 2009. She started working there right after school! She remembered Margaret Hutchinson as a "tall and imposing figure" who was greatly respected. Penny also said that the museum has "wonderful camaraderie and independence," with everyone working together.
A Challenging Time
In 2011, the museum faced a challenge when a horned rhino skull was stolen. Luckily, the people who took it were caught after an appeal on the BBC's Crimewatch TV show. Two men were sent to jail in 2013. This theft was part of a series of similar rhino horn thefts from museums around that time.
Awards and Celebrations
In 2012, the museum won a big award: the Sunday Telegraph Family Friendly Museums Award. They were chosen from over 600 museums! The museum celebrated its 125th birthday in 2013, and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, even attended the celebration.
What You Can See: Exhibits
The museum has three main areas, or galleries, that are full of amazing things:
- Geology: This section is all about rocks, minerals, and how the Earth was formed.
- Natural History: Here you'll find exhibits on animals, plants, and the natural world.
- Human History: This part explores the story of people and how they lived throughout time.
These galleries hold about 240,000 specimens and 140,000 objects from all over the world! There are also displays of textiles and beautiful art.
The Reference Library
The museum also has a huge library. It covers all kinds of science and history topics. There are about 7,000 books, 13,500 scientific and historical magazines, and over 22,000 documents. Many of these are about the local area. You can also find more than 2,000 maps and about 35,000 old photographs, some dating back to when the museum first started!
The Egyptian Mummy
One of the most fascinating exhibits at the museum is the mummy of Pa-Er-Abu. He is believed to have been an Egyptian priest who lived around 300 BC.
Other Cool Features
Besides the collections inside the museum, there are also beautiful outdoor areas. These include a herb garden, a pond, a meadow, and a woodland. You can see many different wild plants there, which attract all sorts of wildlife. There's even a special beehive where you can safely watch bees at work!
The museum is a busy place! It has spaces for special exhibitions and offers regular workshops, courses, and talks for people of all ages. They also visit schools and community groups to share their knowledge.
With help from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the museum is creating online databases. They also hired a full-time education specialist to help even more people learn.
The museum works closely with the Haslemere Natural History Society (HNHS). The museum's library has some of HNHS's books, and HNHS holds talks at the museum during the winter.
Many important people support the museum. In 2014, some of the patrons included Sir Vernon Ellis, Professor of Paleontology Richard Fortey, and museum supporter Loyd Grossman. Professor David Bellamy, a famous naturalist, even said in his book A Natural Life that this museum was his favorite when he was a child!
The museum also hosts the Haslemere Visitor and Local Information Centre, which helps people find out more about the town.
