The Haslemere Museum Gazette, Vol. 1, No. 2, June 1906 / A Journal of Objective Education and Field-Study

The Historical Department.

No. 2.
JUNE, 1906.
Vol. 1.
A department of our Museum to which, as regards its educational usefulness, we attach very great importance, is that which attempts the illustration of Human History. It is displayed in a separate division of the main building, and is arranged, as far as possible, on “the space-for-time method.” This method, which, following the pattern of an ordinary diary, allots to every period of time the same amount of space, is, of course, possible only where the time-periods and dates are fairly well established. It is not well adapted, excepting as a sort of open and, to some extent speculative, framework for the illustration of prehistoric times. A courageous example of such use of it we ventured to offer in our last number in reference to prehistoric man in Britain. It was not history in any other sense than that the periods of time were real; the events assigned to them were largely conjectural. In the Museum itself we do not attempt to deal with very remote periods in this manner. Our space-for-time arrangement begins only with 2000 B.C. It might now, perhaps, fairly begin with 4000 B.C., but, unfortunately, we have not space enough. In this Schedule, which occupies the whole of one side of a long room (70 feet), a measured space on the wall, of nearly two feet, is allotted to each century. The centuries are marked out by strong black lines, drawn vertically from roof to the table-shelf below. This table-shelf is 18 inches wide, and runs the whole length of the room. It is upon it that the busts shown in our frontispiece are standing. Each bust is supposed to be in its appropriate century, and with it are placed any other illustrative objects belonging to the period—medals, coins, small architectural models (when we have them), and the like. For instance, a model of Stonehenge stands in the century in which it seems probable that that most remarkable structure was built, and portions of Roman pavement and other relics mark the period of the Italian occupation of Britain. Upon the wall itself are placed engravings, photographs, and the like, illustrative of the century, and representing either human personality or some results of human effort. In order to aid the memory each century is designated by the name of some prominent person of the time, to whom other associations may conveniently cling. These names, painted in bold characters, head the columns which represent the centuries. Beneath these prominent names we have (in the case of a considerable number of the most recent centuries) put up schedules of the principal events, and lists of some of the principal persons. The appended schedule is one of them and will illustrate what is meant:—