Misplaced Pages

Whipple Museum of the History of Science

Whipple Museum of the History of Science, in Free School Lane, Cambridge
Established	1944
Location	Cambridge
Coordinates	(52°12′00″N 0°07′12″E / 52.20000°N 0.12000°E / 52.20000; 0.12000)
Type	University Museum
Accreditation	Arts Council England accredited
Collections	Scientific instruments, apparatus, models, pictures, prints, photographs, books and other material related to the history of science
Visitors	11,845 (2019)
Founder	Robert Whipple
Director	Dr Joshua Nall
Owner	University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge Museums
Fitzwilliam Museum Kettle's Yard Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Museum of Classical Archaeology Whipple Museum of the History of Science Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences The Polar Museum Museum of Zoology

The Whipple Museum of the History of Science is a museum attached to the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, which houses an extensive collection of scientific instruments, apparatus, models, pictures, prints, photographs, books and other material related to the history of science. It is located in the former Perse School on Free School Lane, and was founded in 1944, when Robert Whipple presented his collection of scientific instruments to the University of Cambridge. The museum's collection is 'designated' by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) as being of "national and international importance".

The museum is one of eight museums in the University of Cambridge Museums consortium.

Department of History and Philosophy of Science

The museum forms part of the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge. The department includes a working library with a large collection of early scientific books, some of which were given by Robert Whipple. The museum plays an important part in the department's teaching and research.

Collections

The museum's holdings are particularly strong in material dating from the 17th to the 19th centuries, especially objects produced by English instrument makers, although the collection contains objects dating from the medieval period to the present day. Instruments of astronomy, navigation, surveying, drawing and calculating are well represented, as are sundials, mathematical instruments and early electrical apparatus.

Since Robert Whipple's initial gift of the collection, the museum has come to house many instruments formerly used in the Colleges and Departments of the University of Cambridge.

Opening hours

The Whipple Museum is open from Monday to Friday, 12.30 - 4.30pm.

Gallery

• An 18th-century Persian astrolabe
• A 17th-century compound microscope
• Partial assembly of Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine from original brass parts

See also

• Jim Bennett, a previous curator, moved to the History of Science Museum, Oxford.
• History of science

References

1. "ALVA - Association of Leading Visitor Attractions". www.alva.org.uk. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
2. Designation
3. "Our Museums | University of Cambridge". www.cam.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013.
4. "Whipple Museum of the History of Science". Whipple Museum Website. Retrieved 15 May 2019.

External links

• The Whipple Museum's website
• Department of History and Philosophy of Science information
• University of Cambridge libraries and museums information

v t e University of Cambridge
People	Chancellor David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville Vice-Chancellor Deborah Prentice List of University of Cambridge people
Colleges	Christ's Churchill Clare Clare Hall Corpus Christi Darwin Downing Emmanuel Fitzwilliam Girton Gonville and Caius Homerton Hughes Hall Jesus King’s Lucy Cavendish Magdalene Murray Edwards Newnham Pembroke Peterhouse Queens’ Robinson St Catharine’s St Edmund’s St John’s Selwyn Sidney Sussex Trinity Trinity Hall Wolfson
Faculties and departments, by school	Arts and Humanities English Anglo-Saxon Norse and Celtic Architecture CRASSH Existential Risk Classics Divinity Music Philosophy Biological sciences Genetics Gurdon Institute Physiology, Development and Neuroscience Plant Sciences Botanic Garden Sainsbury Laboratory Stem Cell Institute Clinical Medicine Autism Research Centre Cancer Unit Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit Mitochondrial Biology Unit Oncology Brain Imaging Centre Humanities and Social sciences Economics Education History History and Philosophy of Science Human, Social, and Political Science Archaeological Research Politics and International Studies Law Criminology Physical sciences Astronomy Chemistry Earth Sciences Palaeoclimate Research Geography Scott Polar Research Institute Mathematical Sciences Mathematics Theoretical Cosmology Materials Science and Metallurgy Physics Technology Business School Alternative Finance Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology Computer Science and Technology Engineering Manufacturing Others ADC Theatre Institute of Continuing Education Library Press (journals)
Student life	Students' Union Graduate Union Air Squadron Amateur Dramatic Club Apostles BlueSci Cam FM Christian Union Conservatives Footlights May Week May Ball Labour Club Liberal Democrats Light Entertainment Society Moral Sciences Club Musical Society Philosophical Society Railway Club SCA Spaceflight Union Society Cambridge University Wine Society Varsity (student newspaper) The Mays
Sport	Association football Rules Aussie Rules Boxing Cricket Cross Country Dancing Golf Handball Ice Hockey Real Tennis Rifle shooting Rowing Openweight Men (CUBC) Lightweight Men (CULRC) Women (CUWBC) Rugby union Tennis Competitions Cuppers The Boat Race Women's Boat Race Henley Boat Races The Varsity Polo Match Rugby League Varsity Match Rugby Union Varsity Match University Cricket Match University Golf Match
Affiliates	Alan Turing Institute Cambridge Theological Federation Cambridge University Health Partners Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Partner institutions Animal Health Trust Babraham Institute British Antarctic Survey CCDC EMBL-EBI Laboratory of Molecular Biology NIAB Wellcome Sanger Institute
Museums	Fitzwilliam Museum Hamilton Kerr Institute Kettle's Yard Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Museum of Classical Archaeology Museum of Zoology Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences Polar Museum Whipple Museum of the History of Science
Related	Awards and prizes Cambridge Zero Regent House Senate House Cambridge University Council Fictional Cambridge colleges Cambridge University Reporter
Category

• Museums established in 1944
• Biographical museums in Cambridgeshire
• History of science museums
• Museums in Cambridge
• Museums of the University of Cambridge
• Institutions in the School of the Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Cambridge
• Science museums in England
• 1944 establishments in England
• Science and technology in Cambridgeshire