Events in the history of the Pitt Rivers Museum that took place in 1883.
Readers are reminded that this table is a work in progress and may be amended or added to at any time.
| Month | Day | Event | Source of Information | Notes |
| January | 1 | Pitt-Rivers takes up duties as Inspector of Ancient Monuments | Thompson, 1977: 64, 73, 125; Chapman 1981 Chapter 7 | |
| January | 19 | Special report to the Hebdomadal Council from Committee of members of Convocation submitted. Recommends acceptance and sets out terms | PRM papers PRM ms collections [foundation volume] | |
| January | 23 | Pitt-Rivers elected vice president of Anthropological Institute | Peter Rivière | |
| January | No day | Hebdomadal Council of University of Oxford considers financial aspects of accepting Pitt-Rivers collection | Larson, 2007: 92; University archives HC/1/2/3 and UM/C/3/3 | |
| February | 4 & 5 | Tylor writes to Pitt-Rivers about his lectures at Oxford; Pitt-Rivers responds | S&SWM Pitt-Rivers papers L79, 80, 83; L106 [response] | |
| February | 6 | Information circulated about the Pitt-Rivers collection for Convocation | University Gazette | |
| February | 14 | EB Tylor and Anna Tylor travel to Oxford, visited HN Moseley in evening, attended dinner party with Vice Chancellor, Bonamy Price and Monier Williams | University of California, Tylor papers | |
| February | 15 | Tylor and wife meet with Max Müller and wife in morning | University of California, Tylor papers | |
| February | 15, 21 |
Tylor lectures on Pitt-Rivers' collection at Oxford in the 'Museum Lecture-Room' (presumably in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History), he cannot show any artefacts because they are still in London. 1. Evolution and anthropology [included: barrow-builders of England, races of Fiji, craniology, grammar, hair and race, pigmentation, Type and environment, development of culture, ages of stone and metal, survivals, dreams, offerings to the dead, geography of negro and negrito, types of white race, influence of Egypt] 2. Borrowing of culture [included: Eskimo, degeneration of culture, Veddas, evolution of culture, sign language, Magic, divining-rod, worm knot, astrology, Anglo-Israelites, Claims of anthropology, the Pitt Rivers collection] |
Chapman, 1981: 480, 2000: 501; Stocking 1987: 264; Science vol 1 no. 18 June 8 1883 p. 525; ?Alison Brown pers comm. | |
| February | 20 | Tylors travel back to Oxford from London whence they went on 16 February | University of California, Tylor papers | |
| February | 21-22 | Tylors visit Max Müllers, Mrs Moseley and others | University of California, Tylor papers | |
| February | No day |
Correspondence between Tylor and Pitt-Rivers and PRM founding collection
|
Pitt Rivers in London to Tylor, 5 February 1883, S&SW Museum Pitt-Rivers papers L.106, Chapman, 1981: 480 | |
| February | 22 | Tylor receives proposal of a post at Oxford, as Keeper of OUMNH, described by Tylor himself as a 'sinecure' (Henry Smith, the previous keeper having died in the same month) | Megan Price pers comm.; Larson, 2007 | |
| March | 7 | Proposal to take founding collection carried in Convocation despite opposition on financial grounds | The Times 8 March 1883 | |
| March | 10 | Tylor unanimously elected as Keeper at OUMNH and one of the Delegates of the Museum, Tylor learns news by telegram | University of California, Tylor papers; University Archives, MU1/2/4, University Museum Delegates Minute Book, p. 2; Megan Price pers comm. | |
| March | 30 | Tylors visit Oxford, spend afternoon in Museum House (their future home in Oxford) | University of California, Tylor papers | |
| April | ||||
| May | by 30 | Arrangements are made at South Kensington Museum to inventory the Pitt-Rivers collection there at request of the solicitors of Pitt-Rivers who had understood that there was already one | S&SWM Pitt-Rivers papers P.132 | This inventory has never been identified |
| June | 1 | Tylors travel to Oxford, meet Acland and Jowett (who they might have been staying with), the Moseleys come to dinner | University of California Tylor papers | |
| June | 2 | Pitt-Rivers and wife stay with Tylors (at Jowett's?, see above) in Oxford | University of California Tylor papers | |
| June | 5 | Convocation sanctions Deed | Source to be confirmed | |
| June | 30 | Deane writes to William Gamlen, Secretary of University, saying plans of new Pitt-Rivers Collection building were available | University archives UC/FF/60/2/1 | |
| July | 2-3 | Tylors travel to Oxford, arranging Museum House | University of California Tylor papers | |
| July | 6 | Morrell & Sons write to William Gamlen stating that the matter of executing the Deed of Gift is standing over while a catalogue of the collection is being completed and printed | University archives UC/FF/60/2/1 | |
| July | 24 | Howard MacGarvey (Hydraulic and Sanitary Engineer, plumber, iron and brass founder) writes to Deane, referring to plans for heating the 'new anthropological museum and laboratories' and enclosing a plan | University archives, UC/FF/60/1 | |
| July | 27 | Morrell and Son confirm to Gamlen that Pitt-Rivers has declined to execute the deed of gift until the University has inserted his conditions | University archives, UC/FF/60/2/1 | |
| August | 3-4 | Tylors travel to Oxford to arrange Museum House | University of California Tylor papers | |
| September | 19 | Tylors travel to Oxford, they stay at Kings Arms until 22nd when Museum House is open | University of California Tylor papers | |
| September | 22 | Tylor moves into Museum House with wife | Relational Museum website; Megan Price pers comm. | |
| October | No day | Tylor takes up post as Keeper of OUMNH | Larson, 2007: 92 | |
| November | 6 / 20 | Readership in Anthropology created by University of Oxford decree, on 6th the Gazette records the decreen and on the 10th it records it has been carried | Larson, 2007: 93; University Gazette, vol. XIV November 6, 1883: 89; University Gazette, vol. XIV November 20, 1883: 128 | |
| December | 11 | Tylor appointed as Reader in Anthropology | Larson, 2007: 93, University Gazette, vol. XIV December 11, 1883: 192 | |
| Unspecified |
The Tylors holiday in Switzerland |
Megan Price pers comm. |
AP
