Catalogues of osteology: mammalia
TitleCatalogues of osteology: mammalia
ReferenceRCS-MUS/7/5
Level of descriptionseries
Datec1831-1884
Admin./ biographical historyThe core of the osteological collection came to the College as part of John Hunter’s original collection and was then expanded by the College.
The first printed list of osteological specimens was compiled by William Clift and printed in 1831. In 1842 conservator Richard Owen suggested to the Museum Committee that a more detailed catalogue should be prepared. He also wanted to merge the fossil and recent osteology catalogues and create a new arrangement system based on anatomical and zoological groupings, but this was rejected, leaving many internal groupings in the series incomplete, and requiring cross-referencing. Owen completed the 1853 osteological catalogue as part of this work. When William Flower became conservator in 1861 his assistant James Bell Pettigrew studied the existing catalogues and found they did not need revision, except the osteological catalogue. Flower therefore expanded and recatalogued the osteology collection, and his catalogues were published 1879-1884 (mammals in 1884).
Many of the osteological specimens were destroyed when the College was hit by a bomb in 1941.
The first printed list of osteological specimens was compiled by William Clift and printed in 1831. In 1842 conservator Richard Owen suggested to the Museum Committee that a more detailed catalogue should be prepared. He also wanted to merge the fossil and recent osteology catalogues and create a new arrangement system based on anatomical and zoological groupings, but this was rejected, leaving many internal groupings in the series incomplete, and requiring cross-referencing. Owen completed the 1853 osteological catalogue as part of this work. When William Flower became conservator in 1861 his assistant James Bell Pettigrew studied the existing catalogues and found they did not need revision, except the osteological catalogue. Flower therefore expanded and recatalogued the osteology collection, and his catalogues were published 1879-1884 (mammals in 1884).
Many of the osteological specimens were destroyed when the College was hit by a bomb in 1941.
Scope and ContentSeries consists of 15 volumes including William Clift's 1831 catalogue of osteology, annotated copies of the 1853 osteology catalogue, volumes 1 and 2 (bones of mammals (excluding humans) and reptiles, birds and marsupials), annotated copies of the 1884 catalogue of the osteology of vertebrate animals (mammals excluding humans) and additional catalogues of singles bones and otoliths (ear bones).
Extent15 volumes, 1 file
LanguageEnglish
Conditions governing accessBy appointment only. See College website for contact details of the Archives.
Related objectsMS0344
RCS-MUS/7/36
RCS-MUS/7/37
RCS-MUS/7/36
RCS-MUS/7/37
