Events in the history of the Pitt Rivers Museum that took place in 1891.
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 | No day | Tylor lectures on Elementary Anthropology in Hilary and Trinity terms | Alison Brown pers comm. | |
| January | 24 | Architect's report on proposed extensions to University Museum received, it covers all the proposals including those for the rooms at the PRM | PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| January | 29 | Notice issued of meeting of the Committee on Research Grants to be held on 4.2.1891 | PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| February | 10 | Notice issued of meeting of the Committee on Research Grants to be held on 14.2.1891 | PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| March | 4 | Balfour writes to Pitt-Rivers confirming date of Pitt-Rivers lecture, tells him that he [Balfour] has been encouraged to write book on the phlogeny of musical instruments, he asks if Pitt-Rivers has written on this subject and whether he will allow Balfour to use material from collection in illustration | PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| March | 14 | Report by W.H. Flower, Head of Department of Natural History at British Museum for the special Committee set up to consider museum applications. His report emphasises the value of the collections in teaching, praises the Pitt-Rivers Collection. He advocates some administrative changes in the running of the Museum with regard to the duties of Delegates and the relative power of departments. He makes suggestions regarding the redistribution of specimens between departments and notes the weakness in labelling and cataloguing. Report of Alex McCalister of Cambridge also makes recommendations that Professors should have complete charge and also should be able to appoint Curators and also suggests redistribution of artefacts | PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| April | No day | Tylor lectures on Elementary Anthropology in Hilary and Trinity terms | Alison Brown pers comm. | |
| April | 30 | Pitt-Rivers lectures on his collection at the University Museum, 'The Original Collection of the Pitt-Rivers Museum: its principles of arrangement and history' |
Oxford University Gazette, XXI: 414. The Times 28 April 1891 | |
| April | 30 | Pitt-Rivers goes to Tylors for tea in Oxford | University of California Tylor papers | |
| May | 1 | Pitt-Rivers visits Tylors in Oxford; Pitt-Rivers purchases items from Abrams in Broad Street | University of California Tylor papers; Cambridge University Library Pitt-Rivers catalogue Add.9455 volume 2: 720 | |
| May | 2 | Summary of 30 April 1891 lecture published | The Times 2 May 1891 | |
| May | 9 | Agenda for meeting of delegates to receive the above reports [see March 14 above | PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| May | 26 | Entry in Gazette addressed to all members of Convocation asking them to reject the proposals for additional sums to be spent on museums including £1300 at the PRM for the 2 new rooms | University Gazette, PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| June | 2 | Decree to allot £1300 to 'Ethnology' for the new rooms passed in Convocation nem.con. | University Gazette | |
| July | ||||
| August | ||||
| September | ||||
| October | No day | Tylor lectures on the Origin and Development of language and writing in Michaelmas Term | Alison Brown pers comm | |
| October | No day | Tylor attends International Folk Congress, the delegates visit Oxford as guests of Andrew Lang and John Rhys and visit the Pitt Rivers Museum | Megan Price pers comm. | |
| October | No day | Balfour writes to Flinders Petrie to refuse a job from him as an archaeologist | Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology UCL | |
| November | 1 | Balfour writes to Vice-Chancellor formally applying for renewal of grant to the Museum | PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| November | 9 | Vice Chancellor writes to Balfour to inform him that the Council has agreed that day to extend the museum grant for a further year if he is willing to continue the work. As regards a permanent arrangement, the Council has considered a recommendation of a committee sent forward on 18.5.1890 that the care of the museum be transferred by statute to the Reader in Anthropology [Tylor] and that his duties and stipend should be considered by the delegates | PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| November | 10 | H.N. Moseley dies | DNB entry | |
| November | 17 | Letter from Balfour to the Vice-Chancellor explaining that the current arrangement is not satisfactory even though his criticisms do not stem from self-interest, he does not believe that the Reader could do two jobs, he would deplore break in continuity of work and waste of his efforts but sees no point in continuing for further year, and suggests Reader takes over at once | PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| November | 17 | Notice of decree authorising extension of the grant to the PRM until 31.12.1892 | University Gazette; PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| November | 23 | Vice Chancellor writes to Balfour to inform him that his letter was read at Council they ask him to confirm he will continue in the job or the decree about the extension of the grant will be withdrawn | PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| November | 23 | Balfour writes to Vice-Chancellor asking for interview | PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| November | 24 | Balfour writes to Vice-Chancellor formally declines to continue to manage the PRM under existing arrangements | PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| November | 24 | Decree to extend grant to the PRM postponed by the Vice-Chancellor | University Gazette; PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| December | 6 | Balfour writes to Alfred Robinson of New College answering questions raised during a visit to the museum regarding cataloguing and labelling. | University Gazette; PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| December | 10 | Alfred Robinson writes to Balfour asking for his ideas for a museum handbook and suggests he identifies a period of time during which labelling will be complete. Robinson offers to conduct the Council on a tour of the museum but advices that either Tylor or Balfour should accompany the tour so that the Council members get instruction from it | University Gazette; PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| December | 10 | Balfour writes to Robinson about the handbook but says that it is not possible until the lower gallery is rearranged. Agrees that a seven year period for cataloguing and labelling should be sufficient. Depreciates the unspoken but manifest lack of confidence in him | University Gazette; PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| December | 11 | Questionaire sent out to all professors in the University Museums asking for their suggestions about administration | PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume [see 18 March 1892] | |
| December | 15 | Letter from Balfour to Gamlen, Secretary of the University Chest about the suggestion that one of the rooms in the Annexe of the PRM could be made available to the clerk of works for the Anatomical Department, saying it is impossible as he has insufficient space | University Gazette; PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| December | 16 | Pitt-Rivers gives address to Society of Arts which the Tylors attend [see below] | Chapman, 1981: 526; University of California Tylor papers; Thompson, 1977: 41; The Times 18 December 1891 | |
| December | 19 | Gamlen agrees not to ask the clerk of works to move into the annexe [see December 15] | University Gazette; PRM ms collections, PRM papers Box 1 foundation volume | |
| Unspecified | Second edition of Notes and Queries published | Petch, 2007: 23 | ||
| Unspecified | Tylor elected President of the Anthropological Society | DNB entry; Relational Museum timelines | ||
| Unspecified | Tylor attends International Folklore Congress | Relational Museum timelines | ||
| Unspecified | Balfour mentions catalogue for visitors about collections again. However, it is only to say that pressure of other work means that it is 'in abeyance'. The catalogue is not mentioned after this year, and is never produced | Relational Museum timelines/ Annual Report 1891 | Also mentioned in 1890 | |
| Unspecified | Building work begins on new office for Curator and work room for unpacking and arranging objects at PRM | Relational Museum timelines/ Annual Report 1891 | ||
| Unspecified | Displays worked on during the year: Musical instruments, weaving, barkcloth, masks, boat models and fire-making | Relational Museum timelines/ Annual Report 1891 | ||
| Unspecified | Balfour becomes member of the Council of the Anthropological Institute | Frances Larson pers comm. | ||
| Unspecified | The Tylors travel to Cornwall | Megan Price pers comm. | ||
| Unspecified | Marett appointed to fellowship at Exeter College, Oxford | DNB entry | ||
| Unspecified | Third Annual Report of Delegates for University Museum for 1890 published which confirms Balfour's appointment as Curator, and E. Ray Lankester's as Linacre Professor | University Gazette |
AP
