ENGLAND: THE OTHER WITHIN

References to teaching in the Annual Reports

Part 1

Alison Petch,
Researcher 'The Other Within' project

The extracts given below are taken straight from the published Annual Reports of the Museum which have been published annually between 1893 and this year and are all the references to teaching in the Museum's Annual Reports

Section 1 - Annual Reports 1893 to 1941-2
Section 2 - Annual Reports 1942-3 to 1954-5
Section 3 - Annual Reports 1955-6 to 1963-4
Section 4 - Annual Reports 1964-5 to 1982-3
Section 5 - Annual Reports 1983-4 to 1992-3
Section 6 - Annual Reports 1993-4 to 2005-6

Note: Between 1893 and 1937-8 the phrases 'the Curator' or 'I' both refer to Henry Balfour

Please note that these edited extracts from the Annual Reports omit almost all mention to teaching outside of the mainstream Diploma / Masters teaching in the Pitt Rivers Museum. In addition to the activities recorded here staff supervised research students, lectured at other institutions, and lectured to visiting groups and schoolchildren.

1893 The Curator began in the October term a course of lectures upon the various Arts of Mankind, as illustrated by the series in the collection.

1894-5 The Curator continued a series of lectures on ‘Progress in the Arts of Mankind, particularly as illustrated by the Pitt-Rivers Collection’ during Hilary and Easter and Trinity Terms, 1894, and during Michaelmas Term of the same year gave a series of six lectures upon ‘Primitive Musical Instruments considered especially in their relation to the early development of the higher forms’ besides a few other lectures in and out of Oxford.

1897 The Curator gave a course of lectures in Hilary Term on the "Realistic and Decorative Art of Primitive Peoples."

1905 In the Summer Term, at the request of the Professor of Anthropology, who incapacitated through ill-health from giving his lectures, I gave a course of six lectures on “The Origin and Early Development of Human Industries and Appliances.”

1906 Miss B. Freire Marecco, of Somerville College and Mr C. M. Firth of Exeter College, received from me courses of instruction in Prehistoric Archaeology during a part of the academical year.

1907 Students for the Diploma in Anthropology have worked regularly in the Museum and have received courses of instruction from me in the subjects of Prehistoric Archaeology and Comparative Technology. Some material has been added specifically with a view to improving the series for teaching purposes.
In consequence of ill-health, the Professor of Anthropology was unable to lecture during Hilary Term, and I gave a course of lectures upon Early Stages of Art and Knowledge in his stead.

1908 I delivered during each University Term courses of demonstration-lectures to the students for the Anthropological Diploma, the subjects being Prehistoric Archaeology and Comparative Technology; and a special course on the Comparative Technology with special reference to the Anglo-Egyptian Sudân was given to the Probationers for the Sudân Civil Service.

1909 I have given courses of lectures in the Museum to the students for the diploma in Anthropology throughout the year; and gave a special course of lectures to probationers for the Soudan Civil Service during Hilary and Easter Terms.

1910 Courses of lectures in Prehistoric Archaeology and Comparative Technology have been given throughout the year to students for the Diploma in Anthropology and for probationers for the Sudân Civil Service, and the collections have been made use of for purposes of instruction.

1911 I have given courses of lectures throughout the year to the students for the diploma in Anthropology on Prehistoric Archaeology and Comparative Technology, and to the probationers for the Sudân Civil Service on Comparative Technology. Additional instruction was given to several students engaged in study or research. It is satisfactory to report that several former Diploma students have been engaged in field research work and have been appointed to official posts either for teaching or research or both in Anthropology.

1912 I have given the usual courses of lectures to the students for the Diploma in Anthropology and to the Sudan Civil Service students, the subjects being Prehistoric Archaeology and Comparative Technology. Special assistance in the Museum has also been given to students and to those engaged in research, and I have delivered occasional lectures upon special subjects connected with the Museum series.

1913 The usual lectures on Prehistoric Archaeology and Comparative Technology have been given in the Museum throughout the year to candidates for the Diploma in Anthropology and to the probationers for the Sudan Civil Service. The attendances have been very satisfactory. I have also given special lectures to societies upon the following subjects connected with the Museum—" The Early Stone-age Cultures of South Africa " (to the African Society), "Evolution of Stringed Instruments of Music" (at Norwich and in Oxford), "The Gun-flint Industry" (to the O. U. Junior Scientific Club), and two demonstration-lectures were given to University Extension Students.

1914 The usual courses of lectures to students have been delivered throughout the year, the subjects being Prehistoric Archaeology and Comparative Technology (Useful and Aesthetic Arts and Industries). During the October Term there were no candidates for the Sudan Civil Service, but candidates for the Diploma in Anthropology attended the courses and, where required, received special instruction during all three University Terms.

1915 The usual courses of lectures have been delivered throughout the year to students for the Diploma in Anthropology, the subjects being Prehistoric Archaeology and Comparative Technology. There were no candidates for the Sudan Civil Service.

1916 The usual courses of lectures on Prehistoric Archaeology and Comparative Technology were given by me to the Diploma students.

1917 The usual courses of lectures to Diploma students have been given by me in the subjects of Prehistoric Archaeology and comparative Technology. A special lecture on Easter Island was given by me to the O. U. Anthropological Society, and has been published in Folk Lore.

1918 The usual courses of lectures to Diploma students were delivered by me in the subjects of Comparative Technology and Prehistoric Archaeology. A special lecture on "Lapland and the Lapps" was given to the Ladies' Folk-Lore Society in Oxford.

1919 Fourteen students attended my regular courses of lectures for the Diploma in Anthropology, and there were five students attending the course for Sudan Civil Service probationers.

1920 The Curator has given the usual courses of lectures and demonstrations to students for the Diploma in Anthropology.

1921 The usual courses of lectures to Anthropological Diploma Students were given by the Curator throughout the year, and several special lectures in the Museum and elsewhere, including the “Huxley Memorial Lecture” in London.

[In 1922 only accessions are recorded, no general news]

1923 In October 12 students entered for the regular course of lectures for the Diploma in Anthropology.

1924 The usual courses of lectures to Diploma Students were given by me throughout the year, and special assistance has been given to research and other students, who have made considerable use of the Museum.

1925 The usual annual courses of lectures to Diploma students were given by me in all three Terms.

1926 The usual courses of lectures to Diploma students were given by me throughout the year.

1927 The usual annual course of lectures to Diploma students was delivered by me throughout the Academical year. In addition, I gave a special course of lectures on African technology to a class of thirty students of the Tropical African Service.

1928 I gave the usual courses of lectures to students for the Diploma in Anthropology throughout the year. I also gave a special course of lectures to the Tropical African Service students.

1929 The annual course of lectures to students for the Diploma in Anthropology was given by me, and I gave a special course of lectures on African Arts and Industries during Trinity Term to a class of 56 students of the Tropical African Services.

1930 The usual year’s course of lectures to students for the Diploma in Anthropology was given by me, and a short course of lectures was also given to a large class of Tropical African Services students.

1931 The course of lectures extending throughout the year was given by me to the students for the Diploma in Anthropology, and a short course of eight lectures was given to the Tropical African Services Students.

1932 Drawer-cabinets, glass-fronted cupboards, and a few table-cases have been added, in order to eke out the space, but this leads to increased congestion by the reduction in width of the gangways, thus seriously hampering the free circulation of visitors and students, and militating against the giving of lectures and demonstrations in the museum. ... I have given the usual courses of lectures to students for the Diploma in Anthropology throughout the year, and during Hilary Term I gave a course of eight lectures to the Tropical African Services Students, on behalf of the Colonial Office.

1933-4 What storage space there is, is mostly of a make-shift character, without even guarantee of permanency. The important material which has been brought together with a definite objective in view cannot be made adequately to serve its purpose, and the very severe congestion militates against carrying out my intention to improve the teaching capacity of the Museum and to organize fully its resources for research. For many years I have annually referred to the difficulties of administration due to lack of space, and every year those difficulties have increased. The demands upon the Museum as a teaching centre and for research have steadily grown, and, while every endeavour is made to meet them, it is impossible to make full use of the collections, and much time is wasted in trying to do so under conditions which impose severe limitations and defeat progress. ...
I gave the usual courses of lectures, in Prehistoric Archaeology and Comparative Technology, to students for the Diploma in Anthropology. During Hilary Term I gave, in addition, a course of eight lectures to the Tropical African Services students, and a similar course to the students for the Malay Civil Service.

1934-5 The following courses of lectures were given by me during the year:
To the students for the Diploma in Anthropology, a three-terms course of three lectures per week on Prehistoric Archaeology and Comparative Technology. The number of students attending these varied from 8 to I2.
To the Tropical African Services students, by request of the Colonial Office, I gave a course of eight lectures during Hilary Term to a class of 24, and a similar course to the Malayan Services students, to a class of four.

1935-6 The courses of lectures for the Diploma in Anthropology were delivered throughout the year. Mr. T.K. Penniman lectured on my behalf during Michaelmas Term 1935, owing to my enforced absence through illness. Seven students attended the courses. During Hilary Term I gave a course of lectures for the Colonial Office to the African Services Students, and one to the Malayan Services Students.

1936-7 The usual courses of lectures to students for the Diploma in Anthropology were given, Mr. T.K. Penniman having taken my place during the period of my enforced absence from ill health. Seven students attended the Diploma Course. I was unable to complete my course of lectures to the Probationers for the African and Malayan Civil Service Students, who numbered 36.

1937-8 The usual three terms’ course of three lectures weekly on Prehistoric Archaeology and Comparative Technology was given to the students for the Diploma in Anthropology. During my illness these were undertaken by Mr. T. K. Penniman in the Hilary Term and by Miss Blackwood in the Trinity Term. Seven students attended. Miss Blackwood also gave a short course of three lectures to five students of the Burmese Colonial Service in Trinity Term.

1938-9 Lectures on Archaeology with modern ethnological parallels, and on the Useful and Aesthetic Arts of Primitive Peoples have been given to Diploma students and others by the Acting Curator and Miss Blackwood. A Practical Museum course has been started, and certain working models purchased. Several volunteers have been found to assist next year in showing students how to make flint implements, and in teaching them to use the various appliances in use among primitive peoples. Such work is a most important preliminary to a study of their ethnological significance, and leads to a deeper understanding of peoples, especially among those being trained for field-work.
The Acting Curator has also lectured on Race, Culture and Environment, The Ecology and Ethnology of the Near East, and Current Theories in Anthropology. ...
In addition to the routine lectures mentioned, Miss Blackwood has given her usual lectures on Melanesian Ethnology, and the Ethnology of the North American Indians, and of the Polar Regions, as well as a short course on Burmese Arts and Crafts to Burmese Colonial Service students. Outside lectures have been given at the Congress of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences at Copenhagen in August 1938 on ‘Artificial Cranial Deformation in New Britain’, at the Royal Geographical Society in April 1939 on ‘Life in Upper Watut, New Guinea’, and to the Folk-Lore Society in June 1939 on ‘Folk-Stories of a Stone Age People in New Guinea.’ She has also lectured before the Pacific Sciences Congress in San Francisco this summer.

1939-40 The Curator lectured on Primitive Arts and Industries, The Ecology and Ethnology of the Near East, on Race, Culture and Environment, and gave special instruction to students of the Honour School of Geography and young men waiting to be called for service in H. M. Forces. The Demonstrator lectured on the Ethnology of the Americas, the Polar Regions, and Melanesia, principally to students taking Ethnology as a special subject in the Honour School of Geography, and gave special courses for Colonial Probationers in the Malayan Civil Service, and a short course for those in the Burmese Service. All lectures were well attended with very few absences.

1940-1 In lecturing on the Archaeology of the Near East the Curator uses the Ashmolean collections, some of which were excavated by himself, and in lecturing on the Origins of Civilization, draws heavily on the collections of this Museum and of the Ashmolean. Specimens which show the development of modern sciences belong to the Museum of the History of Science. ... It [the long room above the old museum workshop] is a favourite room with our pupils for it is sunny, and they need not be too tidy. Here they make flint implements under the direction of Professor Barnes, try their hands at spinning or weaving, work out the scales of primitive musical instruments or listen to recordings of them, spread out big maps, or read. We are gradually collecting models or other equipment so that students can work out and practise the basic processes and mechanisms before they begin their study of native arts and crafts and their distribution. Such knowledge adds greatly to the value of their reading, and is a natural introduction to the study of peoples, both at home and in field work abroad. Materials for this sort of teaching are charged to maintenance and equipment rather than to the account for specimens. ... A place has been fitted in Museum House where he [Albert Schwartz Barnes] makes plaster casts and cut-out cardboard drawings mounted at an angle fill serious gaps in our teaching apparatus, and made as they are by a master of scholarship and technique, show our pupils essential facts of workmanship in an admirable way. The Museum is fortunate to claim his interest and devotion. He has been a perfect factory of specimens and equipment. ... Teaching has been varied and unusually interesting this year, both of students for the Diploma in Anthropology and for Ethnology as a special subject in the Honour School of Geography. Two new courses were given, each throughout the year, one by the Curator on The Origins of Civilization, and one by the Demonstrator, Miss Blackwood, on an Ethnological Survey of the world. To illustrate this latter course Miss Blackwood made about 500 lantern slides, as well as a number for the Curator’s course, a most valuable addition to our collection. We are grateful to Miss Durham for lending negatives from the Balkans, to Dr. J. V. Harrison for negatives from Baluchistan, and to Dr. Polunin for negatives illustrating the Polar regions and peoples. Individual tuition followed a new plan. Students who so desired were given access to collections according to their interest, and no two prepared the same weekly essay on their work. Results justified this method, as all of the different approaches led towards the main problems of race, culture, and environment, and their treatment showed independent judgement and freshness of outlook. The Curator gave the usual summary on Race, Culture and Environment, and gave the courses on Prehistory, Useful and Aesthetic Arts as individual tuition, since conditions made the attendance of Diploma students somewhat irregular. We have been indebted to Professor Barnes for practical demonstration and teaching the way to make flint implements, and for introducing some of our students to a study of the characteristics of such implements when treated by statistical methods. The results were of great value in the study of our large Biddenham collection made by Sir Francis Knowles, and have been well described by one of our pupils, Mr. W. C. Brice. Professor Myres undertook special tuition in archaeology and Sir Francis Knowles in Native Industries for which we thank them. At the request of Professor Le Gros Clark Miss Blackwood undertook the teaching of Physical Anthropology pending the appointment of a Reader, and continued our useful collaboration with the Ashmolean Museum in regular work on archaeological sites.

1941-2 Teaching and research continued throughout the year, though the greater part of our time for research has necessarily gone towards the descriptive and definitive cataloguing of our collections, past and present. The Curator gave the usual course on the Origins of Civilization with some extra lectures on the development of musical expression in the different areas of the Old World, illustrated by a specially chosen collection of gramophone records, and gave special tuition to Diploma students, students taking Ethnology as a special subject in the Honour School of Geography, and others. Extra lectures in the Curator’s course were given by Professor Barnes on the making of stone implements and the evolution of hand tools, and by Professor Hughes and Dr. Cohn, sometime Curator of Far Eastern Art in the State Museums of Berlin, on Chinese civilization. Miss Blackwood gave her Ethnological Survey of the regions of the world throughout the year to Diploma students and members of the Honour School of Geography, lectured on Malaya, Indonesia, and Melanesia to Diploma students, and gave special instruction to a Colonial Probationer on Sarawak and to a student training as a medical artist. As last year, she undertook the teaching of Physical Anthropology at the request of Dr. Lee’s Professor of Anatomy. Dr. Meinhard lectured on “The Social Organisation and religion of the Santal tribe of Northern India’ to the University Anthropological Society, gave informal instruction to pupils, prepared a paper for Man on ‘Avoidance and joking relationships in the kinship system of the Santal, and acted as an examiner for the D.Phil. degree. Mr. Turner gave a lecture to the Ashmolean Natural History Society on ‘An introduction to the American Indian’.