Collection: Whitby Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection overview (Cornucopia)

  Photographic Collection

  This important collection consists of 17,000 photographs, mainly negatives or glass-slides and some equipment of Frank Meadow Sutcliffe, the Doran Brothers, Lambert Smith, Tom Watson and John Tindale. Frank Meadow Sutcliffe (1853-1941) A nationally and internationally acclaimed pioneering photographer who worked in Whitby from the mid-1870’s until 1941. Most of his famous photographs were taken for his own satisfaction and show the harbour, fishing and fisher-folk. The Whitby Literary and Philosophical Society has the copyright of the images and are available from the Sutcliffe Gallery, Flowergate, Whitby, who also publish several volumes of selected images. Tom Watson of Lythe (1863-1957) was a contemporary of Sutcliffe, and his photographs of everyday life and scenes are social documents of the late Victorian and Edwardian era. All his photographs were developed and printed without the aid of electricity. Hugh Lambert-Smith (1900-1981) was born in Whitby and served as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during World War One, qualified as an optician in the town, later running a photographic business as a sideline. He was also a painter, designing for the “Wings for Victory” campaign in World War Two, producing a mural for the wall of the Whitby Mission to Seamen and designing scenery for amateur dramatic productions. He was a founder member and president of the Whitby Photographic Society. Many of his negatives, covering Whitby and district from the 1930’s to the 1960’s. The Doran Brothers, Terry and Eric, inherited the family photographer’s business started by their grandfather in 1905. They photographed many of the marine amd shipping subjects which passed their premises on Marine Parade next to the harbour during the post-war years, including fishing and the work of the lifeboats. They retired in 1987 and their collection of negatives was purchased in 1994, with financial assistance from the Marquis of Normanby. John Tindale, now retired, was for many years a chemist and professional photographer in Whitby. A large collection of his prints from the 1950’s taken for the Whitby Gazette, were donated to Whitby Museum after the newspaper was sold by the original owners, the Horne family, in the 1980’s. They record post-war changes to social life in the Town as well as much re-building, besides the later years of the Fishing industry. 17,000 photographs, mainly negatives or glass-slides and some equipment of Frank Meadow Sutcliffe, the Doran Brothers, Lambert Smith, Tom Watson and John Tindale.

  Subjects

  Photographic equipment

  Personalia Collection

  Captain James Cook collection of about 400 items includes muster rolls listing the Whitby ships on which he served, his sea chest, an original hand-drawn map, signed and made as a non-commissioned officer, when he surveyed the coast of Newfoundland, an autograph letter written in 1772 from Great Ayton, four pages of manuscript forming the only known surviving part of the original draft of his “Journal” describing incidents on his voyage towards the south pole in 1773-74, another page describing incidents on the 6th August 1774, a letter addressed to his former master and friend, John Walker of Whitby and models of “Resolution” and “Endeavour”.

  Subjects

  Personalia

  Science and Industry Collection

  Ship models including a collection of bone and ivory ship models made by French prisoners of war; 30 ship models by Edwin Turnbull 1830 – 1874, a Whitby watchmaker, jeweller and also a lifeboatman, Edwin Turnbull exhibited his work at the Great Exhibition of 1851and the Graham Leach Collection of models, ships, scenes, figures, buildings all in light bulbs of varying sizes. Some of the models work. Graham Leach was the surveyor for Whitby Rural District Council and one of his life-long hobbies has been building these models. The Shipping collection demonstrates the early history of boats and ships, the development of sailing ships, the local fishing industry, lifeboats, steamships with the emphasis on those locally owned, and navigation instruments, together with a small but exceptional collection of bone and ivory ship models made by French prisoners of war; 30 ship models by Edwin Turnbull 1830 – 1874, a Whitby watchmaker, jeweller and also a lifeboatman, Edwin Turnbull exhibited his work at the Great Exhibition of 1851and the Graham Leach Collection of models, ships, scenes, figures, buildings all in light bulbs of varying sizes. Some of the models work. Graham Leach was the surveyor for Whitby Rural District Council and one of his life-long hobbies has been building these models. es kayaks of which of course Whitby Museum possesses a fine example! Figure head for the brig ‘Levant’.

  Subjects

  Science and Industry

  Archaeology Collection

  Includes Mesolithic and Neolithic flints, prehistoric and Bronze Age weapons and pots, stone tools, iron age artefacts from Roxby and Roman pottery, pots, and glass from Goldsborough Signal Station (4th century AD), medieval pottery, and glass from Ruswarp Kiln and Whitby Abbey and a C13th Catalan Iron-furnace. The collection includes fake flints produced by the notorious local forger of Victorian times, Flint Jack. Also the Mesolithic collection includes material from Star Carr. Hull and East Riding Museum also has Flint Jack material and I suspect many other Yorkshire museums. The collection includes fake flints produced by the notorious local forger of Victorian times, Flint Jack.

  Subjects

  Archaeology

  Decorative and Applied Art Collection

  This small collection has ceramics, glass, dolls and toys. and Whitby Jet jewellery and other jet items. The ceramics include Yorkshire Pottery from Linthorpe and Commondale, to Staffordshire, Derby, Chelsea Derby and Rockingham and oriental pottery. The glass collection has early glass bottles, rolling pins and fancy glass walking sticks and Bristol glass. The doll and toy collection includes baby cradles and a Noah’s Ark reputed to have been made by Napoleonic prisoners-of-war, two dolls houses- one modelled on No. 17 St Hilda’s Terrace, punch and judy dolls and a series of Victorian and Edwardian dolls and toys. The major collection is Jet of about 550 pieces, with a variety of jewellery and other objects including 2 chess tables and a worker’s model. The major collection is Jet with a variety of jewellery and other objects including a worker’s model and 2 chess tables. Designed and carved by John Sherwood (b.1846) of Church Street, Whitby. The board was begun in 1895 and intended for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897. However, it was not completed until 1899, and was then shown at the Glasgow Exhibition of 1901. Three such chess boards were made in Whitby. The first of 1853 does not survive, but this and the third is also in the care of Whitby Museum.

  Subjects

  Decorative and Applied Arts

  Fine Art Collection

  The picture collection consists mainly of 19th century and early 20th century paintings, oils and water-colours, painted by local artists or of local scenes. There is also an extensive collection of “pier-head” paintings of ships.

  Subjects

  Fine Art

  Ethnography Collection

  The collection is largely from Whitby seamen and includes artefacts from all the continents especially Japanese and Nepalese armour, Japanese ivory, Indian brass, bead necklaces, calabash, girdles from Africa and Maori weapons.

  Subjects

  Ethnography

  Social History Collection

  A large range of material from the 18th and 19th centuries covering domestic and farming.

  Subjects

  Social History

  Numismatics Collection

  The collection coins, medals and tokens, about 2000, ranges from the Romans to present. There are also commemorative medallions, some local, depicting the opening of railways, bridges etc. The medals start with Trafalgar and go through to the Great War of 1939-45s. There are also life-saving medals such as one belonging to Henry Freeman the sole survivor of the 1861 disaster.

  Subjects

  Numismatics

  Costume and Textile Collection

  One of the best collections of needle-work samplers in the UK (second only to that at the Fitzwilliam Museum). There are about 100 ranging from 1714 to 1992. Many have local connections, particularly with the Quakers. There are over 200 ladies costumes of the 18th and 19th centuries and one of the best collections of needle-work samplers in the UK (second only to that at the Fitzwilliam Museum). There are about 100 ranging from 1714 to 1992. Many have local connections, particularly with the Quakers.

  Subjects

  Costume and Textile

  Geology Collection

  About 6000 specimens almost all are fossils, 98% or 5850, of exceptional quality and scientific value as there are over 200 primary type fossils, mainly holotypes and many figured specimens of ammonites, belemnites, plants and marine reptiles, all local. They are mainly illustrated on a dedicated web site www.durain.demon.co.uk/type/ftlist.htm 200 primary type fossils, mainly holotypes and many figured specimens of ammonites, belemnites, plants and marine reptiles, all local. They are mainly illustrated on a dedicated website.

  Subjects

  Geology

  Arms and Armour Collection

  Included in the collection are a pair of flint pistols used by Sir Robert Moorsom at Trafalgar, a pair of ladies muff pistols from The Great Exhibition which are of Belgian manufacture, various other pistols from the mid 18th century, blunderbusses and an early line throwing gun used in shore to ship rescue along with a number of interesting long guns, a rapier with a black-japanned hilt for mourning use and a light cavalry sabre from Eliotts Dragoons 1775-60 (one in Royal collection at Windsor) and various other swords, various flasks etc., and a collection of constables staffs (truncheons). There are also uniforms from the North Yorkshire Artillery Volunteers and other related items.

  Subjects

  Arms and Armour

  Biology Collection

  The Natural History collection contains specimens of mammals -otter, pine martin, polecat, mink, mole, squirrels, badger, common seal and others; Birds and birds eggs of sea birds, waders, ducks and geese, game birds and raptors; British butterflies and moths and Marine Life of the area. In addition there are several specimens from the rest of Great Britain and Abroad, these include a Loggerhead Turtle, a Large Lobster, a skeleton of a Narwhal and a model of a Sunfish. There is also an herbaria of over 5000 British flowering plants and a particularly fine selection of mosses and lichens, dating back to 1850.

  Subjects

  Biology

  Personalia Collection

  The Scoresby collection includes some material of Scoresby Senior’s, but all of William Jnr’s scientific instruments and equipment, his geological and botanical samples, scientific drawings and papers, log books from the Arctic voyages, manuscripts of his published works, a library of published works, maps, lecture material and professional and private correspondence The Scoresby collection of 1330 items includes some material of Scoresby Senior’s, but all of William Jnr’s scientific instruments and equipment, his geological and botanical samples, scientific drawings and papers, log books from the Arctic voyages, manuscripts of his published works, a library of published works, maps, lecture material and professional and private correspondence. Capt. William Scoresby was born near Cropton in 1760 and died in 1829. A renowned whaling captain and navigator he invented the crow’s nest to protect seamen from severe weather conditions when on watch in the Arctic seas. His son the Rev. William Scoresby was also born near Cropton in 1789 and lived until 1857 , also whaling captain he surveyed the coasts of Greenland and Jan Mayan island and studied the flora and fauna and ice and snowflake formations under different weather conditions. He did about 300 experiments on the effect of iron and physical force on the reliability of the magnetic compass. After 30 years at sea he joined the church. In addition to his work on magnetism he also carried out experiments on electro-magnetism and was in communication with many famous scientists of his day such as Faraday, Sir Joseph Banks, Joule and Ampere.

  Subjects

  Personalia

  Archives Collection

  A collection of over 800 maps and plans, the majority of which are local or regional. The collection includes several early maps of Whitby. The Library now has over 7,500 volumes covering a wide range of subjects but is particularly strong, in topography, archaeology, local history, shipping and an unrivalled collection of works reflecting the development of geology and palaeontology. There are also many thousands of archive documents ranging from personal diaries, deeds and collections of family papers, ships’ muster-rolls, journals, logs, account books, shipping company records, to village and administrative records. including the Abbots’ Book or Cartulary of Whitby Abbey, loaned by the Strickland family. The archives also include the notes and collected documents of two local antiquaries. There are at least 39 volumes of notes and copied records collected by George Waddington (1821 – 98), specialising in deeds, North Riding records, family and religious records and including the epitaphs and gravestones in all the churchyards of the district. There are also 104 volumes of the Percy Burnett Papers containing copies of thousands of local history documents, together with 75 mss. volumes and 9 of press cuttings. Burnett (1903 – 72) was a deputy Treasurer of Whitby Urban District Council and Librarian of the Lit and Phil, who for over 40 years collected anything relevant to Whitby’s past. The archives also include the working notes and manuscripts of several local authors, such as Canon John Atkinson (1814 – 1900), an indefatigable but sceptical local historian and archaeologist; Frank Elgee (1903 – 72) the father of modern archaeology in Cleveland and North Yorkshire; and Mary Linskill (1840 – 91) the well-known novelist. The Library also contains several series of archaeological journals, and a complete set of the local newspaper (the Whitby Gazette, founded 1854 ). s.in 1854, for instance, it acquired 23 volumes of the Numismatic Society and in 1873 the library of the late Mr Henry Belcher (a founder member). In 1887 it received the portraits and books from the dissolved Whitby Institute, and in 1935 the Society was allowed to select some 300 volumes from the closing Whitby Subscription Library (with which it had shared a building since 1826), largely on local history, shipping, travel and natural history, together with the minute and cash books of the Subscription Library. In 1899 a 49 pp octave “List of Books, Pamphlets and Manuscripts in the Whitby Museum” was published, to which a 7 page appendix was added in 1908. There is a dictionary card file catalogue of the books and many of the document

  Subjects

  Archives

  Source: Cornucopia

  Date: Not known, but before 2015

  Licence: CC BY-NC