The Museum
MUSEI BELFASTIANI
Fundamenta Prima PraesentibusSocietatis Historiae Naturalis apud BelfastamSociis, aliisque multis scientiae faventibusqui ad hoc opus pecuniam contulerant:Locavit Vir Honoratissimus Georgius Augustus Chichester Marchio de DonegallIV. Non Maias MDCCCXXX.Rege Augustissimo Georgio IV.Annum Regni XI.Agente.Thomas J Duff, J. Jackson, Architectis; J. Johnston, Redemptore.
The museum was the first erected in Ireland by public subscription.From its inception in 1831 and for 47 years the Museum employed a curator taxidermist named William Darragh (1813–1892). In the first report of the society he wrote an account entitled "Directions for preserving subjects in natural history". This covered Birds, Tortoises etc., Lizards and Serpents, Fish, Shells, Corals, Seafans etc., Crabs, Lobsters etc.., Asterias or Starfish, Insects, Botanical specimens, Seeds, Minerals and Fossil. He notes, correctly anticipating foreign specimens "As there is now no vexatious delay or trouble experienced by Custom-house regulations, specimens of natural history being admitted free of duty, it is recommended that all packages may be entered in the ship’s papers, and if a list of all the contents of each package could, with convenience, be attached inside the lid of the box or cover, the risk of injury to the specimens, by examination at the Custom-house, would in great measure be avoided". Also "Should it even happen that the specimens be already possessed by the Society, still duplicates are desirable, since such as are not possessed by the Museum can be readily exchanged for others that may be wanted".
Although the focus of the collections was primarily on zoology, botany and geology substantial archaeological, ethnographic and antiquarian acquisitions were made and in 1835 the Society gained an Egyptian mummy, Takabuti.
Whilst the members of the Society were middle class the museum was open to the working classes, at a small charge on Easter Mondays. Recorded figures for Easter Mondays 1845-1853 are:
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- 1845 - 1,200 persons
- 1846 - 1,700 persons
- 1847 - 2,000 persons
- 1848 - 2,600 persons
- 1849 - 3,500 persons
- 1850 - 4,400 persons
- 1851 - 4,350 persons
- 1852 - 4,200 persons
- 1853 – 5,950 persons
Read more about this topic: Belfast Natural History Society
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