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Collections_portrait photo, man with spiky spherical objects in foreground
Collections_exhibition title wall to right, view of gallery
Collections_view down gallery, display cases with objects
Collections_19th century sepia photograph showing display cases with specimens
Collections_microscope on right with attachments, meteorite on left
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Edward A. Birge with glass teaching models

18" x 24"
2020
photograph

After the devastating Science Hall fire in 1884, which destroyed the University of Wisconsin’s zoological and geological museums, Wisconsin Academy member Edward A. Birge was directed to rebuild the collections.

Birge was hired as an instructor of natural history as well as “Assistant Curator of Cabinet” in 1875. He purchased a large quantity of items including scientific models made of glass, wax or papier mâché; mounted animal skeletons; and scientific wall charts. 

Although they fell out of fashion during the 20th century, 19th century teaching models are of great interest to material culture scholars today. A case in point are the exquisite glass models of marine invertebrates made by the German glassblowers Leopold and Rudolph Blaschka. Two of these models are pictured in this photograph of Edward Birge.

history of natural history, UW-Madison history
Click image to enlarge