Collection: University of Dundee Museums

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The University has been collecting works of art, teaching specimens and other museum artefacts since it first opened as University College, Dundee in 1883, but only since 1994 have these been run as a public museum service cared for by a professional Curator within Museum Services, now part of Culture & Information, with the University Court as the museum’s governing body. The University first achieved Registered status for its collections in 1996, and Accreditation in 2008. This new policy has been designed to fit the requirements for a Collections Development Policy demanded by the Accreditation Standard.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2022

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  The main subjects of the University’s museum collections are as follows:

  • Artefacts or specimens used in teaching or research at the University;
  • Artefacts or artworks that have been part of the corporate, academic or social life of the University, or that were used or created by current or former staff or students;
  • Artefacts or specimens gifted or bequeathed to the University specifically because of their historic or artistic significance;
  • Artefacts or artworks specially commissioned by the University, or purchased in order to enhance the cultural life of staff, students and visitors.

  The distinct collections at present are as follows, arranged according to the current University structure:

  Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design

  Architecture Collection

  Artefacts from the Architecture programme (currently just one item, a 19th-century medal)

  Artists’ Book Collection Dundee (abcD)

  A large collection of artists’ books (mostly British, late 20th and early 21st century) held in the DJCAD Library.

  Commercial Design Collection

  Original design pieces made by artists connected to the University and/or Dundee, principally at Valentine’s.

  Design Furniture Collection

  An international collection of classic designs from the 19th and 20th centuries.

  Duncan of Jordanstone College Collection

  A large collection of artworks by students, usually acquired at the annual Diploma/Degree Shows from 1955 onwards, with a small number of earlier pieces. Mostly paintings and drawings but also printmaking, photography, sculpture, video art, animation, graphic design, textiles, ceramics, jewellery and metalwork. Also artworks by College staff and some presentation items.

  Moira Macgregor Collection

  A collection of over 500 pieces of art and design created by the artist and fashion and book illustrator Moira Macgregor.

  Needlework Development Scheme Collection

  Embroidery pieces from around the world collected by the NDS 1934-61. Part of a dispersed national collection held by the four Scottish art colleges, National Museums Scotland and others.

  Public Art Collection

  A collection of sketches, designs and maquettes relating to public art in Dundee, mostly created by DJCAD alumni.

  Visual Research Centre Collection

  A collection of prints created by staff, researchers and visiting artists at the former VRC, 1999-2018.

  New Combined School of Humanities, Social Sciences & Law

  Comics Art Collection

  Original comics artwork (Scottish, UK and international, 20th and 21st century) collected as a research and exhibition resource for the Comics Studies courses taught by Humanities and DJCAD.

  Education Collection

  Art and artefacts belonging to the former Dundee College of Education, including significant pieces of late 20th-century Scottish art.

  English Collection

  A small collection of artworks created by staff from English, 2000s.

  Geography Collection

  Teaching and research equipment, mostly mid-20th century.

  Law Collection

  Various artworks (19th century prints) and presentation items (late 20th century).

  Psychology Collection

  Scientific instruments and teaching equipment, mostly late 19th and 20th century.

  School of Business

  Economics Collection

  Material from the former Dundee School of Economics (currently just one item, a bronze relief sculpture).

  School of Dentistry

  Dental School Collection

  Dental instruments, a significant collection of comparative anatomy (animal teeth and jawbones) and various paintings and sculptures, mostly early 20th century. Jointly owned by NHS Tayside.

  Forensic Dentistry Collection

  A small collection of specimens from the 1980s and 1990s used in providing evidence to legal cases relating to identification, gender, age, etc.

  School of Health Sciences

  The School has never maintained a collection of its own but material from the former Dundee College of Nursing and other items relating to the training of nurses have been incorporated into the Tayside Medical History Museum (see below).

  School of Life Sciences

  Biochemistry Collection

  Scientific instruments and teaching equipment, mostly mid-20th century.

  Biological Sciences Collection

  Scientific instruments and teaching equipment, mostly mid-20th century.

  Chemistry Collection

  Scientific instruments and teaching equipment, mostly early to mid-20th century.

  D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum

  Large collection of zoological specimens, most of which were acquired by Prof D’Arcy Thompson in the 1880s and 1890s. Also teaching charts and models.

  D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum Art Collection

  Artworks (20th and 21st century) inspired by the collections in the Zoology Museum and by the life and work of D’Arcy Thompson.

  Herbarium Collections

  A large collection of botanical specimens, mostly comprising the Flora of Angus, 19th and 20th century. Also some plant fossils, pathological specimens and wood samples.

  Life Space Art Collection

  A small selection of artworks commissioned for exhibitions in the art-science research gallery Life Space.

  Physiology Collection

  Scientific instruments and teaching equipment, mostly late 19th and 20th century.

  School of Medicine

  Medical School Art Collection

  A small collection of artworks acquired by the School, mostly by DJCAD students.

  Pathology Collection

  A collection of nearly 500 human body parts kept as a teaching and research collection in the Pathology department at Ninewells Hospital.

  Tayside Medical History Museum

  Medical instruments, pharmaceutical items and other objects relating to the history of healthcare in Tayside from 19th century onwards, including artworks owned by the hospitals and/or inspired by the medical collection. The collection is jointly owned by NHS Tayside.

  School of Science & Engineering

  Anatomy Collection

  Wax models, teaching charts and instruments, mostly late 19th and early 20th century. (Although the University also has an Anatomy Museum containing human anatomical specimens, this is a teaching collection not under the responsibility of Museum Services).

  Civil Engineering Collection

  Scientific instruments and teaching equipment, mostly mid-20th century.

  Computing Collection

  Teaching and office equipment, mostly late 20th century.

  Electrical & Electronic Engineering Collection

  Scientific instruments and teaching equipment, mostly late 19th and early 20th century.

  Mathematics Collection

  Teaching models and other equipment, mostly early 20th century.

  Mechanical Engineering Collection

  Scientific instruments and sectioned aeroplane and car engines, mostly mid-20th century.

  Physics Collection

  Scientific instruments and teaching equipment, mostly late 19th and 20th century.

  Satellite Receiving Station Collection

  A small collection of equipment relating to the station formerly based in the Ewing Building.

  University-wide

  Alan Woods Bequest

  A large collection of contemporary British art (mostly 1980s and 1990s) bequeathed by former DJCAD lecturer Alan Woods in 2000.

  Archive Collections

  Artefacts relating to documentary collections held by the University Archives, principally the Torrance Collection (ethnographic items from Palestine, mostly late 19th and early 20th century) and artworks and objects relating to the Glasite Church (mostly 19th century).

  Chaplaincy Collection

  Various items of silver and sculpture, mostly mid-20th century.

  Dundee College Collection

  A small collection of scientific instruments and teaching equipment used at Dundee College, mostly late 20th century.

  Joseph Lee Collection

  A large collection of drawings by the Dundee artist and First World War poet.

  Maggie’s Centre Collection

  A collection of artworks (19th century up to contemporary) looked after by Museum Services on behalf of the Maggie Keswick Jencks Cancer Caring Centres Trust.

  Media Services Collection

  Items of audio-visual equipment used in teaching, mostly late 20th century.

  Nicoll Collection

  A substantial collection of 19th and 20th-century British art gifted by James Nicoll in 1951.

  Presentation Collection

  Miscellaneous collection of items gifted to the University by other institutions, mostly late 20th century.

  Scottish Arts Council Bequest

  A large collection of Scottish 20th-century printmaking gifted from the SAC collection in 1997.

  Silver Collection

  The University’s presentation silver, including the Mace (presented in 1912) and other ceremonial items, mostly mid-20th century.

  Thomas Malcolm Knox Bequest

  A small collection of artworks bequeathed by the former University of St Andrews Principal.

  University Art Collection

  The University’s main fine art collection of paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture, mostly Scottish from the 17th century onwards.

  University Collection

  Miscellaneous items relating to general University life, including student and staff gowns and medals, mostly 20th century.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2022

  Licence: CC BY-NC