For a number of years, some members of the School of Chemistry at the University of NSW collected scientific instruments, with the idea of establishing a museum. In 1986, the Museum of the History of Science was formally established by the then Head of School (Prof. Peter Derrick), and placed under the control of Dr D S Alderdice and Dr B Craven as Co-directors.

The collection now includes about seven hundred objects, dating from the early 19th Century to the recent past, some of which are displayed in display cases generously donated by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and the U-Committee of the University. Anybody who wishes to view these, or other items should contact Dr Alderdice. The photograph on the right shows Dr Craven (left) and Dr Alderdice (right) with a portion of the Museum's collection on display.

Included in the collection are optical microscopes, an electron microscope, scales and balances, weights and measures, sextants, slide rules, calculators, spectroscopes, spectrographs and spectrometers, absorptiometers and colorimeters, polarimeters, refractometers polarographs, pH meters, potentiometers, barographs, barometers, hydrometers and hygrometers, tensiometers, galvanometers, a marine chronometer, viscometers, calorimeters, X-ray diffraction cameras, resistance boxes, clinometers, a theodolite, microtomes, planimeters, an astronomical telescope mirror, chart recorders, pycnometers, vacuum pumps, cathetometers etc etc. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry is probably the most successful commercial scientific invention to have originated in Australia, and the MHS has two early examples, both manufactured in Australia by Techtron.

Our earliest object is a slide rule for chemical equivalents produced by W. Cary (London) in 1814 according to a design devised by William Hyde Wollaston, 1766—1829. Ours is one of only seven known to exist world wide. Other notable 19th century objects are a Daniell dew-point hygrometer dating from about 1840 and a magnificent Powell and Lealand microscope (dated 1843) with accessories.

Although the Museum is at an early stage of its development the foundations are laid and the project is prospering. The Museum is part of the Australian University Museums On-Line (AUMOL) Project, and information about some of its holdings can be found at the AUMOL site:http://aumol.usyd.edu.au/

The Directors are anxious to expand the collection, and potential donors of objects or instruments should contact Dr Alderdice.

As the collection increases in size and importance it will form a base for scholarly research into the development of scientific instrumentation and its effect on the course of the history of Science. This aspect will be particularly relevant to the Focus Area entitled "History of Science", in the Draft Stages 4-5 of the NSW Secondary Science Syllabus.

The Directors.

Drs Alderdice and Craven have both been members of the Department of Physical Chemistry at the University of NSW since the 1960's. Dr Alderdice's research interests have been in molecular spectroscopy, and in (time-of-flight) mass spectrometry, while Dr Craven's interests were in surfactants, and diffusion. For a number of years, they have collaborated in studying physicochemical aspects of humic acids, particularly in natural waters. Dr Craven retired formally in 1989, and Dr Alderdice in 1998. Both retain active interests in the Museum of the History of Science, in honorary capacities.

Contacts: Dr David Alderdice
phone (02) 9385 5322
FAX: (02) 9385 6141
email: David_Alderdice@chem.unsw.edu.au

This information last modified: 4 November 1998