Zoologisk Museum i København gennem tre aarhundreder

Abstract

THE histories of the important museums of Europe have followed the same general lines. They have had their omgm in the 'cabinets of curiosities' formed by the aristocracy and the 'savants' during the late seventeenth or early eighteenth centuries. As their name implies, such 'cabinets of curiosities' included. the most varied articles collected from all pants of the world through the help of travellers, ship officers, Colonial officials and learned colleagues. It was mainly during the last half of the eighteenth century that many of these collections were obtained by the State or university, and the idea of public ownership of such collections became generally accepted. During the early nineteenth century, numerous museums were started by learned societies and institutions, but towards the middle of the century these small museums began gradually to be absorbed by the main museum. Local museums still have an important part to play, but in order to do good systematic work, important specimens must be centralized in one museum with a good comprehensive library and a fully trained staff of experts.