Harvard University's Collection of Historical
Scientific Instruments (CHSI), established
1948, is "one of the three largest university
collections of its kind in the world".
Waywiser, the online catalog of the collection,
lists over 60% of the collection's 20,000
objects as of 2014.
The collection was originally curated by Mr.
David P Wheatland in his office to prevent
obsolete equipment from being cannibalized
for its component parts and materials.A selection
of instruments and artifacts from the collection
is on permanent display in the Putnam Gallery
on the first floor of the Harvard Science
Center, which is free and open to the public
on weekdays.
In addition, rotating temporary exhibitions
drawn from the collection are shown in the
Special Exhibitions Gallery on the second
floor, and a more modest Foyer Gallery space
on the third floor.The CHSI includes a number
of scientific instruments and demonstration
apparatus purchased circa 1765 under the advice
of Benjamin Franklin, to replace original
equipment which had been lost in a disastrous
fire which also destroyed the university's
library in the original Harvard Hall.
A number of items on display in the Putnam
Gallery are labeled as originally having been
specified by Franklin.
One of the larger items in the collection
is the Harvard Mark I, a historic room-sized
electromechanical computer commissioned in
1944, which is now permanently exhibited next
to the central stairwell in the main lobby
of the Science Center.
The collection continues to be expanded, under
the supervision of a Director and several
curators and technicians.
Originally a part of the Harvard Library system,
the CHSI is now affiliated with the Harvard
Department of the History of Science, and
is one of the four Harvard Museums of Science
and Culture.
The CHSI is also affiliated with the American
Alliance of Museums.A strategic plan has been
developed to expand the CHSI's missions of
preservation, education, research, and display,
including expanded educational outreach and
higher-profile public exhibitions.
== External links ==
Official website
