Distributed for University of Wales Press
Swansea’s Royal Institution and Wales’s First Museum
An attractive volume featuring almost three hundred illustrations including photos and maps from the Royal Institution of South Wales.
The Royal Institution of South Wales (RISW) is a very special organization. It was Wales’s first-ever museum from 1841–1990, and one of the few such institutions to survive into the twenty-first century. Today it remains a thriving center of culture. Its original lecture theater, library, and laboratory demonstrate its early involvement in scientific research and education. Swansea’s Royal Institution and Wales’s First Museum is a substantial and richly illustrated book that sets the story in context—in local, national, and international terms—and presents RISW as a significant contributor to the accumulation and dissemination of knowledge. It covers the growth of RISW, the notable members it attracted, later challenges it faced, and its survival in the world of today. The formation of the museum’s many varied collections is described by leading specialists, including the developing sciences: geology, natural history, botany, archaeology, Egyptology and photography, the decorative arts, historical records, coins, maps, and costume.
The Royal Institution of South Wales (RISW) is a very special organization. It was Wales’s first-ever museum from 1841–1990, and one of the few such institutions to survive into the twenty-first century. Today it remains a thriving center of culture. Its original lecture theater, library, and laboratory demonstrate its early involvement in scientific research and education. Swansea’s Royal Institution and Wales’s First Museum is a substantial and richly illustrated book that sets the story in context—in local, national, and international terms—and presents RISW as a significant contributor to the accumulation and dissemination of knowledge. It covers the growth of RISW, the notable members it attracted, later challenges it faced, and its survival in the world of today. The formation of the museum’s many varied collections is described by leading specialists, including the developing sciences: geology, natural history, botany, archaeology, Egyptology and photography, the decorative arts, historical records, coins, maps, and costume.
Table of Contents
Notes on Contributors
Acknowledgements
Preface Lyndon Morris
Introduction Jenny Sabine
PART 1
Chapter 1 The Swansea Context Louise Miskell
PART 2 Foundations and Early Period
Chapter 2 Beginnings
2.1 Origins and Ambitions Karmen Thomas
2.2 The BAAS meeting 1848 John Tucker
2.3 The Role of Women in the RISW Jenny Sabine
2.4 The Lectures Programme Gerald Gabb and Helen Hallesy
2.5 Education 1835-1939 Gerald Gabb
Chapter 3 Swansea Museum
3.1 Planning and funding the building Helen Hallesy
3.2 Uses of building and extensions Gerald Gabb
PART 3 The Collections
Chapter 4 Sciences
Introduction Iwan Morus
4.1 Geology Ronald Austin
4.2 Botany Kevin Davies
4.3 Other Natural Sciences Emma Williams
4.4 Photography Katy Williams
Chapter 5 Artefacts and Records
5.1 The Archives Andrew Dulley
5.2 The Library Gerald Gabb
5.3 Maps and Charts Phil Treseder
5.4 Local Historians Gerald Gabb
5.5 Art Helen Hallesy
5.6 Ceramics Helen Hallesy
5.7 Archaeology Gerald Gabb
5.8 Egyptology Caroline Graves-Brown
5.9 Numismatics Alan and Noel Cox
5.10 Costume Deborah Griffiths
5.11 Miscellaneous Phil Treseder
PART 4 Later developments
Chapter 6
Introduction Elizabeth Belcham
6.1 The Museum during WW2 Helen Hallesy
6.2 The transfer to Swansea University Syd Howells
6.3 Swansea University to Swansea City Council Iwan Davies
6.4 Education post 1939 Gerald Gabb
Chapter 7 Associated Societies
Introduction Gerald Gabb and Helen Hallesy
7.1 Swansea Farmers Club Helen Hallesy
7.2 Musical Groups Gerald Gabb
7.3 Literary and Scientific Society Gerald Gabb
7.4 Swansea Astronomical Society Helen Hallesy
7.5 Swansea Geological Society Helen Hallesy
7.6 Swansea Scientific Society Gerald Gabb
7.7 Field Naturalists Society Gerald Gabb
7.8 Swansea Photographic Association Helen Hallesy
7.9 Welsh Society Gerald Gabb
7.10 Philatelic Society Helen Hallesy
7.11 Shiplovers’ Society Helen Hallesy
7.12 Gower Society Ruth and Malcolm Ridge
7.13 Swansea Little Theatre Eryl Jenkins and Dave Taylor
7.14 Gower Ornithological Society Gerald Gabb
List of RISW Presidents 1835-2022
Bibliography
List of Subscribers
Index
Acknowledgements
Preface Lyndon Morris
Introduction Jenny Sabine
PART 1
Chapter 1 The Swansea Context Louise Miskell
PART 2 Foundations and Early Period
Chapter 2 Beginnings
2.1 Origins and Ambitions Karmen Thomas
2.2 The BAAS meeting 1848 John Tucker
2.3 The Role of Women in the RISW Jenny Sabine
2.4 The Lectures Programme Gerald Gabb and Helen Hallesy
2.5 Education 1835-1939 Gerald Gabb
Chapter 3 Swansea Museum
3.1 Planning and funding the building Helen Hallesy
3.2 Uses of building and extensions Gerald Gabb
PART 3 The Collections
Chapter 4 Sciences
Introduction Iwan Morus
4.1 Geology Ronald Austin
4.2 Botany Kevin Davies
4.3 Other Natural Sciences Emma Williams
4.4 Photography Katy Williams
Chapter 5 Artefacts and Records
5.1 The Archives Andrew Dulley
5.2 The Library Gerald Gabb
5.3 Maps and Charts Phil Treseder
5.4 Local Historians Gerald Gabb
5.5 Art Helen Hallesy
5.6 Ceramics Helen Hallesy
5.7 Archaeology Gerald Gabb
5.8 Egyptology Caroline Graves-Brown
5.9 Numismatics Alan and Noel Cox
5.10 Costume Deborah Griffiths
5.11 Miscellaneous Phil Treseder
PART 4 Later developments
Chapter 6
Introduction Elizabeth Belcham
6.1 The Museum during WW2 Helen Hallesy
6.2 The transfer to Swansea University Syd Howells
6.3 Swansea University to Swansea City Council Iwan Davies
6.4 Education post 1939 Gerald Gabb
Chapter 7 Associated Societies
Introduction Gerald Gabb and Helen Hallesy
7.1 Swansea Farmers Club Helen Hallesy
7.2 Musical Groups Gerald Gabb
7.3 Literary and Scientific Society Gerald Gabb
7.4 Swansea Astronomical Society Helen Hallesy
7.5 Swansea Geological Society Helen Hallesy
7.6 Swansea Scientific Society Gerald Gabb
7.7 Field Naturalists Society Gerald Gabb
7.8 Swansea Photographic Association Helen Hallesy
7.9 Welsh Society Gerald Gabb
7.10 Philatelic Society Helen Hallesy
7.11 Shiplovers’ Society Helen Hallesy
7.12 Gower Society Ruth and Malcolm Ridge
7.13 Swansea Little Theatre Eryl Jenkins and Dave Taylor
7.14 Gower Ornithological Society Gerald Gabb
List of RISW Presidents 1835-2022
Bibliography
List of Subscribers
Index