October 28, 2018

International Exhibitions

Nova Scotia Court with Moose London International Exhibition 1862

Honeyman and the Moose

As a gift to the Nova Scotia Museum on our 150th Anniversary, the Nova Scotia Archives has recently published the Scrapbook of Dr. David Honeyman, the first Curator of the Nova Scotia Museum (1868-1889). The Scrapbook items largely focus on Honeyman's activity as a Commissioner for the International Exhibitions in 1862 through 1867. These events were very significant for Honeyman, a geologist that had been hired by the government to organize and host the exhibits. It was his work at these exhibitions that would lead to his appointment as the first Curator of the new Provincial Museum in 1868.

History in 3D

The Honeyman Scrapbook includes several stereoscopic images that show what the Nova Scotia exhibits looked like at the London International Exhibition in 1862. The stereoscopic images conveyed the illustion of three dimentional depth when looked at through special viewers.

Imagine how thrilling it would have been in 1862 to observe these scenes in 3D. These images were very high-tech!

The Museum has also recently located other images of the 1862 Nova Scotia exhibits. The London Stereographic and Photography Company image (#186) shows the Nova Scotia Court with the Moose front and centre. These images are rich visual records that depict how Nova Scotia was represented at these International Exhibitions.

Stereoscopic Phogotraph of Nova Scotia Court 1862 Exhibition
The Nova Scotia Court. The London Exhibition of 1862. London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company. Image from: World of Stereoviews.

Where is the Moose?

Researchers from the Nova Scotia Museum continue to study the images from 1862, looking for information about items in the Museum's collection. To find information about specific items in the photo we can look for descriptionspublished in the archived reports written by David Honeymen. We can use these old archived reports to try to determine… where is the moose?

1862 Report

In the Report of Nova Scotia Comissioners for International Exhibition 1862, David Honeyman explains that after the London Exhibition finished, some items were offered for sale, some items (like the gold) was set aside for shipping back to Nova Scotia “in one of the earliest spring ships”, and other items were donated to Museums.

The Moose, Fish in jars, and large specimens of Minerals and Ores, were presented to the Government Industrial Museum, Edinburgh; the small bottles of Fish, chiefly interesting to the Naturalist, to the British Museum; the Fruits in jars, specimens of Native Woods, Pryor’s case of Bockhara Clover and its application, the Garden Seeds, a bouquet of Autumn Leaves, and Mr. Haliburtons’ Vegetable Wax and Berries, to the Museum of the Royal Horticultural Society; samples of Cereals, to the Royal Agricultural Society; Rocks, Gypsum, and Ores, to the Museum of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; the Building Stones, to Chatham. Application was also made on behalf of the Industrial Museum, South Kensington, the Museum of the Royal Botanic Society, Kew, and other important establishments of a similar nature in the British colonies and Foreign countries, which our resources were unable to meet. – Page 20 of the Report: https://archive.org/details/cihm_90654/page/n5

1865 Report

After the London Exhibition, David Honeyman, was also a Commissioner for the Dublin International Exhibition of 1865 and was again responsible for the development and disposal of the exhibits. In the report for the Dublin Exhibition, David Honeyman noted:

Professor Archer, of the former of these Institutions (Government Industrial Museum, Edinburgh), was especially anxious to secure certain contributions. He intimated his intention of forming a Nova Scotian department in his noble institution. He had already the Moose and Fish in jars of our London Department of 1862, which he maintains are yet as attractive in appearance as when there exhibited. – Page 18 of Report: https://archive.org/details/cihm_40353/page/n5

Scotland Connections

These archived reports show that David Honeyman had established collaborations with Professor Thomas Croxen Archer, a British Botanist and the first Director of the Industrial Museum of Edinburgh. This would would become the Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art and eventually the National Museum of Scotland.

In the report of 1865, David Honeyman makes a point that the specimens “are yet as attractive in appearance” as when they were exhibited in 1862. The specimens had survived at least three years. This is significant in that the preservation of natural history specimens was still improving during this period. There were many museum specimens that did not withstand the test of time, becoming degraded or decaying to become recognizable or no longer useful.

We have contacted colleagues and searched the online catalogue at the National Museum of Scotland. So far, we have not found any additional records of what has become of the Nova Scotia Moose. It may indeed have degraded over the years and not survived, or been disposed of over the many years that have passed. If we can find a record, this would be a potentially valuable specimen for DNA reference, as a historical example of Mainland Moose population.

Additional research with the National Museum of Scotland @NtlMuseumsScot may provide some additional information as we continue #FindingHoneyman.

In the 1865 Report David Honeyman also reported that although Professor Archer had expressed interest in obtaining more Nova Scotia exhibits for his Museum, Nova Scotia decided instead to leave the items on display at the Dublin Exhibition Palace and Gardens for long term display. What happened to those items from 1865 may be discussed in future blog posts.

For now.... the moose hunt continues.