Scientific instrument collections in the creation of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, significantly expanded its scientific instrument collection through strategic acquisitions of private collections during the 1930s. This expansion, largely driven by the support of shipping magnate James Caird and guided by the museum's first director, Geoffrey Callender, highlighted the interplay between maritime and scientific interests in shaping a national museum. The study examines the motives behind these acquisitions—primarily through purchase and loan—and their broader implications for the museum's identity and purpose. It reveals how private patronage and curatorial vision could rapidly define institutional collections, offering insights into the intersection of science and maritime heritage.

Dunn, R., & Barford, M. (2018). Scientific instrument collections in the creation of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. Journal of the History of Collections, 31(3), 503–517. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhc/fhy035