Yesterday afternoon, I was pleased to finish Richard Fortey's excellent book Dry Storeroom No. 1 detailing the behind-the-scenes workings of the Natural History Museum in Great Britain. Sounds like it would be a deathly dull book, doesn't it? In the deft hands of Fortey, however, nothing could be further from the truth!
Richard Fortey is just the man to pen a book on this topic; not only is he an excellent writer (Trilobite! is another good example of his prose), but he has also spent his entire career at the NHM and has the view that can only be provided by an insider such as he. Retired since 2006, Fortey was the expert on trilobites for the museum, and his exposition of the inner workings of the institution are simple amazing. He proceeds in steps through the different divisions of the museum, mingling personal reflections with stories of the many, often colorful, characters who have worked there over the years and discussions of the history and work of each department.
The picture he provides is one of an institution in flux since the Thatcher years, when it was decided that everything should be run as a business; the consequences for the Museum itself are not completely apparent yet, but some decisions were absolutely disastrous for the mission of the institution.
The common thread that runs through the book is a vigorous defense of the institution of museums. Their mission and purpose may seem strange and unnecessary to an entire class of politicians and petty bureaucrats, but it is very clear to those within the profession of science and the educated public. Museums are a place to collect and preserve knowledge of the natural world, to push the frontiers of that knowledge and act as repositories of worlds that are fast vanishing in nature. Research that seems "useless" and odd specialties can, in a moment, turn out to mean the entire world, the literal difference between life and death for millions (read the section on the screw worm, if you think I exaggerate!).
That's a lesson that matters in this country just as much as in Britain, at a time when deficit hawks are looking to cut funding in as many areas as possible. We cannot let museums fall under the ax; it would be an incredibly short-sighted mistake, one that we would have cause to regret for a century to come, if not longer.
Richard Fortey is just the man to pen a book on this topic; not only is he an excellent writer (Trilobite! is another good example of his prose), but he has also spent his entire career at the NHM and has the view that can only be provided by an insider such as he. Retired since 2006, Fortey was the expert on trilobites for the museum, and his exposition of the inner workings of the institution are simple amazing. He proceeds in steps through the different divisions of the museum, mingling personal reflections with stories of the many, often colorful, characters who have worked there over the years and discussions of the history and work of each department.
The picture he provides is one of an institution in flux since the Thatcher years, when it was decided that everything should be run as a business; the consequences for the Museum itself are not completely apparent yet, but some decisions were absolutely disastrous for the mission of the institution.
The common thread that runs through the book is a vigorous defense of the institution of museums. Their mission and purpose may seem strange and unnecessary to an entire class of politicians and petty bureaucrats, but it is very clear to those within the profession of science and the educated public. Museums are a place to collect and preserve knowledge of the natural world, to push the frontiers of that knowledge and act as repositories of worlds that are fast vanishing in nature. Research that seems "useless" and odd specialties can, in a moment, turn out to mean the entire world, the literal difference between life and death for millions (read the section on the screw worm, if you think I exaggerate!).
That's a lesson that matters in this country just as much as in Britain, at a time when deficit hawks are looking to cut funding in as many areas as possible. We cannot let museums fall under the ax; it would be an incredibly short-sighted mistake, one that we would have cause to regret for a century to come, if not longer.
Excellent review. I loved the book too.
ReplyDeleteHow about we cut social security. Those danged baby boomers who got us into this mess don't deserve a reward for their failure.
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