Collection: Hertford Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The museum was founded on the collection of R.T. and W.F. Andrews, brothers and local businessmen and philanthropists who founded the museum in 1903. The earliest collections were trade tokens collected by W.F, archaeological collections excavated by the brothers as founders of the East Herts Archaeological Society, paper ephemera, natural history and ethnographic material, donated by local people. Notable early donors included members of the Andrews family — in particular Japanese items (W.F. and R.T. had a brother serving as Bishop of Hokkaido) and the Gosselin sisters – mostly ethnographical; it is not clear how they came by these items though their Father had a notable naval career.

  The collection was also added to by various curators including H.C. Andrews in the 1920s – 30s, a leading member of EHAS, and Gordon Davies in the 1960s — 1980s. Gordon was the museum’s first professional Curator and undertook museum led rescue excavations around the town in conjunction with the Hart Archaeological Unit. He also actively collected trade tools and agricultural equipment.

  The Museum was transferred in Trust by the Andrews family to the borough council in the late 1940s for the benefit of the town. There was a dark period in the 1950s when the museum was managed by the library service and multiple collection items were disposed of with no record. We have anecdotal information from older visitors and supporters who recall bonfires of textiles and geology collections being thrown in the garden. Minerals and fossils are still sometimes found by our gardener.

  In 2002 we received a donation of the Addis archive, approximately 5000 bone, metal and plastic brushes and associated photographs and paper archive. Addis was the main employer in Hertford from the 1920s to the 1990s. We subsequently sourced former employees and now have an excellent oral history archive to complement this.

  There has been disparity over the type of collections we acquire and their provenance. Up until the late 1990s we took in very little in the way of textiles and shoes due to a perception of not wishing to compete with Hitchin museum which had a particularly strong costume collection. As a result our costume collection is predominantly 20th century and the opportunity to acquire earlier examples with a Hertford provenance has been lost.

  Our collecting area has changed enormously since the museum was established. In 1903 we collected for the whole county and our earlier acquisitions reflect that. Now we collect for most of East Hertfordshire and our collecting borders have been established in agreement with other East Herts Museums, of which we are the largest museum service.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2015

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  The collection totals in excess of 100,000 objects. At present we can only estimate as large parts of the collection such as archaeological small finds and natural history were accessioned as a group or collection rather than individual objects. We are committed to rectifying this with retrospective documentation.

  Local social and industrial history

  This includes work, community life and agriculture. The collection includes household items, toys and dolls, working equipment from local trades and industries such as brewing, glove making and printing. The Addis Collection is a substantial collection of bone, metal and plastic toothbrushes from the local Addis factory together with archive material relating to the factory.

  Archaeology

  The collection covers a wide range of items dating back to the Palaeolithic period through to Post Medieval. This collection includes pieces collected by the original founders of the museum in the late nineteenth century, through excavation and at auction, from Hertfordshire sites. There are substantial finds from the Late Iron Age to Roman period excavated locally. There is a sizeable quantity of human remains from local excavations, both inhumations and cremation burials. See point 9 regarding human remains.

  Costume and Textiles

  Mostly late 19th, early 20th century female and infant clothing, civic uniforms, personalia and banners.

  Arms and Armour

  Edged weapons and accessories from both military, local and ethnographic contexts. A sizeable quantity of firearms, dating from the 1700s to the 20ᵗ h century. Of these only a handful are required to be licensed.

  Ethnography

  About 1,000 items, collected mainly between 1901 and 1940. The majority of the items are from Africa, Asia and Australasia. They include ceremonial items, domestic utensils, musical instruments, weapons, tools and personalia. This is a closed collection.

  Antiquities

  The museum holds a small collection of antiquities from Classical Greece and the Mediterranean. These are mostly in the form of ceramics however we also hold a small collection of Egyptology which includes jewellery, amulets, shabtis, and ceramics, several of which have been identified as fakes. The collection also includes a mummified ibis and several mummified human hands, feet and a leg. This is  a closed collection. Please see section 9 in  regard to care of human remains.

  Photographic Collection

  Local topographical images from the late 19ᵗh century to present recording the changing local landscape, large collection of photographic prints of local personalities from the late 19th-early twentieth century from local photographers. Late twentieth century collection of photographs relating to events taking place in Hertford. The museum holds an extensive collection of glass plate negatives, lantern slides and stereoscopic slides of various local and non-local places and events. These images total approximately 10,000 in number.

  Postcard Collection

  Just under 5,000 postcards covering the County of Hertfordshire mainly dating to before 1920.

  Digital Collections

  This is a rapidly growing collection. Many photographic acquisitions are now made digitally and all historic photograph collections are also held in digital format. We have a very small collection of digital film footage which we are actively seeking to increase.

  Clocks and scientific instruments

  Long case and lantern clocks with local provenance and production, scientific instruments include microscopes, an orrery and early electrical and instruments.

  The Hertfordshire Regiment

  Hertford Museum was gifted this collection in 2007. Prior to this date, it had been on long term loan from the Hertfordshire Regiment. Items include uniforms, weaponry, medals, written and printed documents, drums, badges, medals, memorabilia, photographs and equipment.

  Other Military Collections

  Local military collection items similar to those in the Hertfordshire Regiment Collection, from local donors and relating to earlier military outfits such as the Harts Militia and Standon Volunteers.

  Documents

  Property sales particulars, election posters, archive of the Andrews brothers (founders of the museum and their family), theatre playbills, greetings cards, book plates, personal diaries, archives of local business and industry such as Drury Brothers, Webbs, Addis and Gravesons.

  Natural History

  Stuffed specimens of local provenance as well as animals from other parts of the world. Also horns, antlers and skins, birds eggs, wasp nests, fish, coral and sponges. Botanical specimens include seaweeds, pressed flowers, ferns, m ses and lichens, seeds, grains and pods. There are a small number of spirit jars. Whilst this is not regarded as a closed collection, we will no longer acquise non local specimen9 without underlying local provenance, e.g. mounted foreign taxidermy from a local house or made by a local taxidermist would be collected whereas non indigenous species with no local connection would not.

  Geology

  Substantial collection of fossils, rocks and minerals from different collectors (although since acquisition, these have been mixed up and provenance and donor details have been lost). Whilst this is not regarded as a closed collection, we will no longer acquire non local specimens without underlying local provenance.

  Furniture

  Small mixed collection of chairs, small tables and fittings

  Coins, tokens and medals

  English, many Iron age, Roman and Anglo Saxon and Medieval, local mints. Also foreign coins. Local 17th century trade tokens. Medals relating to civic services, local competitions and military medals.

  Paintings, prints and drawings

  Prints and drawings and paintings ranging from 1700 to date, architectural drawings, local artists or of local scenes, includes two Rowlandson watercolours and a notable collection of oils by E.A. Brown.

  Maps and Plans

  Local maps ranging from 17th century up to present, some hand drawn.

  Decorative Art

  Ceramics, glass, de Morgan tiles, Chinese pottery. Whilst this is not regarded as a closed collection, we will no longer acquire non local examples without underlying local provenance.

  Oral History

  The museum holds a growing collection of oral history recordings, usually focu9ed on a particular subject such as World War II, shopping, working in a factory, school etc. These are usually recorded in anticipation of a particular exhibition. In addition we store and provide access to the Hertford Orat History Group archive of over 400 recordings and transcripts.

  Collecting area

  We currently collect from the following geographical areas:

  • Albury
  • Anstey
  • Ardeley
  • Aspenden
  • Bayford
  • Bengeo
  • Bennington
  • Bramfield
  • Braughing
  • Brent Pelham
  • Brickendon
  • Buckland
  • Buntingford
  • Cottered*
  • Dane End
  • Great Munden
  • Hertingfordbury
  • Hertford
  • Hertford Heath
  • High Cross
  • Hormead
  • Little Munden
  • Meeadon
  • Puckeridge
  • Sacombe
  • Standon
  • Stapleford
  • Tewin
  • The Pelhams (Stocking, Furneux, Brent)
  • Tonwell
  • Westmill
  • Wyddial
  • Watton at Stone

  Non accessioned collections

  The museum also holds an extensive collection of resource boxes for schools and groups. These contain non-provenanced objects and replicas and are not suitable for accession.

  The museum has an extensive library of reference material. This was initially a combination of reference books and documents collected by museum founders and subsequent curators and the library of the East Herts Archaeological Society. It was in deep storage until 2011 when we began to sort through with the intention of making the library publicly accessible and creating additional storage space. The EHAS library has been returned to EHAS. We are now committed to sorting and retaining material of local relevance and finding alternative homes for the rest, through transfer or sale depending on the individual circumstances of each item. The library was compiled as a means for staff research and object identification and is not regarded as a museum collection, or suitable for accession. We are committed to finishing this project in the next few years and have already begun enabling regular public access to the local reference material.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2015

  Licence: CC BY-NC