The history of Perth Museum and Art Gallery
Last updated | 01/09/2010
This is one of Scotland's oldest museums, with a history stretching back over two hundred years.
1784
The story begins with the formation of the Antiquarian Society of Perth by the Reverends James Scott, Adam Peebles, J D Mcgregor and J Duff, and Messrs T Mitchell, R Mercer, J McOmie (Rector of Perth Grammar School) and J Gillies (bookseller and publisher).
1785
The first donation; a painting of the Earl of Buchan.
1786
The Society becomes the Literary and Antiquarian Society of Perth
1822-24
The Marshall Monument is built as a museum for the Literary and Antiquarian Society in memory of Thomas Hay Marshall, Lord Provost of Perth.
1867
Francis Buchanan White founds the Perthshire Society of Natural Science.
1881
The Perthshire Natural History Museum is built in Tay Street for the Perthshire Society of Natural Science, in memory of Sir Thomas Moncrieffe, past president of the Society.
1895
The first salaried curator, Alexander Masterton Rodger, is appointed at the Perthshire Natural History Museum.
1902
The Perthshire Natural History Museum is given to the Town Council.
1914
The Marshall Monument is given to the Town Council. Death of Alex Rodger on 14th October.
1918
John Ritchie appointed Curator of Perth Natural History and Antiquarian Museums
1926
Robert Brough (Silk Merchant and Managing Director of McEwens of Perth) and Robert Hay Robertson (Grocer and Wine Merchant) die, bequeathing collections and money to build an Art Gallery.
1932
Building of the new Art Gallery and Museum begins next to the Marshall Monument. Foundation stone laid 2nd December by Lord Provost Dempster. The new museum is to include the Marshall Monument and its collections, and the collections of the the Perthshire Natural History Museum.
1934
The Perthshire Natural History Museum closes and its collections are moved to the new building. John Ritchie appointed Director of the new Perth Art Gallery and Museum on 4th September.
1935
The new Art Gallery and Museum is opened by HRH the Duke and Duchess of York on 10th August.
1939
On outbreak of Second World War, the Art Gallery and Museum is temporarily closed while part of it is taken over as an Air Raid Precautions Control Centre.
1940
Director John Ritchie dies 2nd August. By September the Art Gallery and Museum is closed and taken over as Headquarters for Air Raid Precautions with all staff enrolled in A.R.P. personnel for the duration of the war.
1944
James Wood appointed Curator on 4th September.
1950
James Wood retires and William Davidson, formerly Depute Director of Paisley Museum and Art Galleries, is appointed on 15th May to succeed him.
1975
Perth Museum and Art Gallery becomes a District Council Department at Local Government Reorganisation. William Davidson retires in December and is succeeded by James Blair, formerly Assistant Keeper of Natural Sciences at Dundee Museum and Art Gallery. This coincides with an increase in staff numbers and an improvement to collection storage and displays.
1993
Along with parts of Perth and other areas along the banks of the River Tay, the ground floor of Perth Museum and Art Gallery is flooded on the 17th January with 493,000 gallons of water.
This caused extensive damage to parts of the collection.
2001
Perth Museum and Art Gallery becomes part of the Cultural and Community Services arm of Education and Children's Services.
2007
Perth's Museums and Art Galleries entire collection is named as a Recognised Collection of National Significance under the first round of a new Scottish Government initiative.
