This is a transcript of the part of the 1886 register that introduces the listing of the material transferred from the Natural Sciences Museum:
A list of the various Antiquities received from the University Natural History Museum in the Parks in exchange for the various collections of Anthropological objects transferred from the Ashmolean to the Pitt Rivers Museum, during different times in the year 1886. These comprise the whole of the articles in the museum belonging to Captain Cook’s collection, from New Zealand, the South Pacific, and other Islands, presented by Reinholt Forster, Esq. Nearly the whole of Captain F.W. Beechey’s collection of Esquimaux articles from Behring Straits, and also his collections of the Sandwich and the South Pacific Islands, and Captain G. F. Lyons’, and Lieutenant Francis Harding’s collection from the Esquimaux of Hudsons and Davis Straits, and more inland districts, presented by the collectors. Eighteen articles only having been retained to illustrate the Prehistoric collections in [this] museum. The objects belonging to the Burchell collection, from South Africa and from South America, presented by his sister Miss Burchell. Captain H.F. De Lisles’ collection of Caffir and Bushman articles, presented by himself and by Miss De Lisle. Captain King’s and Lieutenant Maw’s collections from Mexico and South America. A few articles given by Dr Alexander Pope, from the Indians of North America. A series of Australian articles collected and given by the venerable Archdeacon Scott of New South Wales, C. Wood Esq., J.K. Cleeve, Esq., and G.H. Cox, Esq. of Victoria. Also a miscellaneous collection of Eastern arms and other curiosities, such as Indian, Cylonese, Chinese, Japanese, etc, etc by various donors amongst whom may be mentioned W. Lloyd Esq., Keeper of the Museum, 1796. Together with other objects from various parts of the world, as well the Ramsden miscellaneous collection purchased by the University in 1878 apparently without any history or description. For detailed description of each of the Anthropological objects sent away, and size etc, see two Cap Folio M.S. in the Ashmolean. The Anthropological supposed to have belonged to the original Tradescant have not been transferred to the Pitt Rivers, at least not those that can be identified by description in their catalogue of 1656, and the Plot catalogue of about 1685.
The ancient British bronze sword dredged from the river Cherwell near Oxford, and the Dr. C.W. S collection of Greek Antiquities from Kertch in the Crimea (the ancient Pantikapaion), being the first objects transferred here from the Parks Museum in exchange, have been entered previously as [see] No. 453, and 463 to 503.1885 in another book.
(Section 2, the Kertch things being section 1)
1293-1340 Forty - eight [insert] seven [end insert] bone urns of black clay, etc, and portions. All stuck together with a mixture of glue and chalk as received. From a Saxon Cemetery at Sancton, East Riding, Co. York, a village a little south of Market Weighton and the once much better known Goodmanham. Presented to the late Professor Rolleston by Charles Langdale, Esq., of Houghton Hall. ...
These above items were all transferred FROM the Ashmolean Museum to the 'Natural Sciences Museum' better known at that period as the University Museum [OUMNH] but actually became part of the Pitt Rivers Museum collections in 1886. In the Ashmolean catalogue there then follows a description of the archaeological items that were transferred TO the Ashmolean Museum from the OUMNH. There are over 200 pages and 5271 entries, ending with number 6564, for the items transferred TO the Ashmolean Museum and that full list has not yet been transcribed or digitised.
Transcribed by Alison Roberts, Ashmolean Museum, October 2012.
