The collections at the University of Vienna

Abstract

A project to identify and promote the entire collections of the University of Vienna has demonstrated the need for curatorial support networks to assist those responsible for caring for them. Background In September 2006 the University of Vienna began a project to identify, and produce an online database of, all collections kept in different departments. Alongside this an exciting programme of events will be developed, including exhibitions, guided tours, publications and lectures. The project is based at the Vienna University Library under the direction of the Deputy of the Head of the Vienna University Library and Archive Services Dr. Andreas Brandtner. The project began in January 2007, with one employee who since July 2007 has been working full-time. At the moment, most of the collections unknown to the majority of students, and even members of the university staff do not know about the treasures that are kept in their neighbourhood. Some of the collections, such as those in the departments of archaeology, astronomy, numismatics, palaeontology, pharmacognosy, prehistory and the herbarium, are of international significance, in addition to reflecting departmental histories. This paper offers an overview of the University of Vienna’s collections. What do we mean with “collections”? We include in our definition all teaching and research collections, including materials such as coins, stones, plaster casts, animal preparations and skeletons, plants, models, instruments, documents, letters, photographs and slides as well as audio and video tapes. As the project considers not only collections that are in possession of the University of Vienna, but also collections stored at the University, the project is called University Collections at the University of Vienna. There are collections that are completely or partially on loan to a museum, for example the Globe Collection of the Department of Geography and Regional Research which is now stored in the Globe Museum at the Austrian National Library. These collections are also included in the list. Fig. 1 Plaster casts, Department of Classical Archaeology