Birmingham museum records help?

[history_buff_all]

Hi all! I've been doing family research and a distant relative of mine thinks that my great great great grandad presented a collection of birds to the Birmingham museum. I'm not sure exactly when this was but he died in 1903 so I guess 19th century. But I have no idea how to verify this or if records for this exist. Was wondering if anyone knew the kinds of places to look for this?

He also reckoned that he published an obscure book, again I have no idea how to find/verify this? I knew it was a long shot but I've tried searching online to no avail.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Pedrocut]

Have you a name ?

 

[Maz 60]

HI,
May be worth looking at the Birmingham Heritage week events, as The Bham Museum collection centre opens during this so that people can view some of the items held but not on display. They say they have 800,000 items so not sure if they might be able to assist with particular items, but they may be able to point you in the right direction at least. The tickets have now gone on sale I think, so suggest you look quickly if it's of interest! Good luck !

 

[Mark Tooze]

There are loads and loads and loads of taxidermied birds and animals in the collections centre - I seem to remember one of the staff there saying that the majority were gifted to the museums late in the 19th century. Try phoning them initially on 0121 348 8000 or email them at [email protected]
You will find some of the bird collection about 9 mins into this video:-

 

[Tinpot]

There are loads and loads and loads of taxidermied birds and animals in the collections centre - I seem to remember one of the staff there saying that the majority were gifted to the museums late in the 19th century. Try phoning them initially on 0121 348 8000 or email them at [email protected]
You will find some of the bird collection about 9 mins into this video:-

These museum storage areas remind me of the old fashioned museums that were full of exotic, strange and remarkable objects to explore. I find museums are often over directed and explained these days. The joy was to come up against a cabinet of stuffed birds, a polar bear, an Egyptian mummy or a painting of a blind girl. Tinpot

 

[Stokkie]

Hi all! I've been doing family research and a distant relative of mine thinks that my great great great grandad presented a collection of birds to the Birmingham museum. I'm not sure exactly when this was but he died in 1903 so I guess 19th century. But I have no idea how to verify this or if records for this exist. Was wondering if anyone knew the kinds of places to look for this?

He also reckoned that he published an obscure book, again I have no idea how to find/verify this? I knew it was a long shot but I've tried searching online to no avail.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

If you have the author's name then both the British Library catalogue and the Bodleian Library catalogue are on-line.
The copyright libraries hold a copy of almost all books published in the UK and many other places as well. If you share his name, then I'm happy to look for you.

 

[Stokkie]

These museum storage areas remind me of the old fashioned museums that were full of exotic, strange and remarkable objects to explore. I find museums are often over directed and explained these days. The joy was to come up against a cabinet of stuffed birds, a polar bear, an Egyptian mummy or a painting of a blind girl. Tinpot

I agree Tinpot, we visited Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery a few years ago to discover that they had an amazing natural history collection, including many stuffed birds. The Natural History Museum at Tring has an extraordinary collection if anyone is mobile.