Pinned down: the role of pins in the evolution of eighteenth century museum insect collections

Hancock, E. G., Brown, G. V. and Jowett, B. (2011) Pinned down: the role of pins in the evolution of eighteenth century museum insect collections. Museum History Journal, 4(1), pp. 29-46. (doi: 10.1179/mhj.2011.4.1.29)

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Abstract

Provenanced insect collections from the eighteenth century are extremely rare. The developing collections management technology of the period allowed entomology to progress as a descriptive science. The use of pins was crucial in this development. Pins were hand made using simple factory processes combined with outsourced labor. They were expensive items before mass production machinery was invented in the early 1800s. No pins were made specifically for entomological use before then. The collections of William Hunter, which formed the basis of the Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow, date principally from 1765 to 1783. His insect cabinets provide an important resource for historical investigations into the subject. In addition morphological descriptions and metallurgical analysis of some of these pins is given.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Hancock, Mr Geoff
Authors: Hancock, E. G., Brown, G. V., and Jowett, B.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Museum History Journal
Publisher:Taylor and Francis
ISSN:1936-9816
ISSN (Online):1936-9824

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