Back in 1986 someone photographed an article in a 1861 Salisbury newspaper. This year, 2023, the negative was scanned by a museum volunteer. The result is this jpeg image here.
This image was cropped, straightened and then processed by Optical Character Recognition software to produce a WORD text file. The text was checked for accuracy and a few corrections made. We then formatted the text slightly differently in order to make it easier to read and to emphasise all the names.
And what a collection of names – Futcher, Fawcett, Blackmore, Stevens, Fowler, Wyndham, Kelsey etc. Well known Salisbury names and often mentioned in the history of Salisbury Museum.
Here is the newspaper cutting as text, for ease of reading:
Salisbury and South Wilts Museum. —The annual meeting of the subscribers to this institution was held on Wednesday last, when the following report from the committee was read :—
“Your committee report that they have taken the large room at the Market-house as a temporary Museum, at the rental of £20 per annum. They have fitted up the room with glass cases for the reception of specimens, at a smaller outlay than might have been expected, having purchased the greater part second-hand. They have also carried gas into the room.
“During the past twelve month the committee have received a considerable number of objects of interest for the Museum. The following gentlemen have contributed to the Geological Department: —
R. Fowler, Esq., M.D.,
Rev. J. Greenly, jun.,
E. Hoskins, Esq., M.D.,
Mr. C. J. Read,
Rev. Sub-dean Eyre,
Rev. J. N. Peill,
Mr. A. Harding,
Mr. Reuben Cook,
Mr. A. Futcher,
Mr. R. Cobb,
Dr. H. P. Blackmore,
Mr. E. T. Stevens,
Mr. Fawcett,
Mr. Rawlence,
Mr W. R. Brodie,
Mr. Coombs,
Mr. Perkins,
Mr. Wristbridge,
Mr. Jas. Brown,
Mr. Jeffrey,
Mr. W. Gater.
“Your committee would particularly instance the liberality of
Dr Fowler,
the Rev. J. Greenly, jun.,
Mr. C. J. Read,
Mr. A. Harding,
Mr. Reuben Cook,
Mr. E. T. Stevens, and
Dr. Blackmore,
whose specimens constitute the greater part of the collection.
“The foundation of the Archaeological Department has been laid by the donation of the Drainage Relics, which have been presented to the Museum by those gentlemen who purchased them at Mr. E. W. Brodie’s sale, and your committee wish to draw attention to the additional interest which must attach to these objects by the very admirable way in which Mr. J. E. Nightingale has commenced arranging them. The contributors to the Archaeological Department consist of
R. Fowler, Esq., M.D.,
Mr. Chas. Wyndham,
Mr. J. H. Jacob,
Mrs. G. R. Tatum,
Mrs. E. Wickins,
J. Mayer, Esq., F.H.S., P.S.A.,
Miss Fawcett,
Mr. Kelsey,
Mr. Wyndham Pain,
Mr. J. E. Nightingale,
Mr. Jno. Harding,
Mr. Carter,
Mr. Jas. Brown,
Mr. Perman,
Mr. Miell,
Mr. Cooper,
Mr. R. Short,
Mr. Humphrey Blackmore,
Mr. Henry Blackmore,
Mr. T. O. Stevens,
Mr. E. T. Stevens,
Mr. Tiffin,
Rev. J. Greenly, jun., and
Mr. T. Leach.
“Your committee regret that hitherto but few objects illustrative of the different branches of Natural History have been received. Specimens to this department have been contributed by
the Rev. J. Greenly, jun.,
Miss Forward,
R. Fowler, Esq., M.D.,
Mr. Miell,
Mr. T. Pain.
Mr. C. J. Read,
Mr. Cookman,
Dr. H. P. Blackmore.
Mr. E. T. Stevens,
Mr. Whitlock, and
Mr. Mullins.
“Many miscellaneous objects of interest and a few books have been contributed by
R. Fowler, Esq., M.D.,
J. Mayer, Esq.. F.R.S., F.S.A.,
Mr. J. H. Jacob,
Mrs. E. Wickins,
Mr. Kelsey,
Mr. T. Pain,
Rev. E. C. Collard,
Mr. E. T. Stevens,
Mr. Tiffin,
Mr. C. J. Read, and
Mr. J. Brown.
“Your committee consider that the foundation of a valuable Museum has been laid, and that they look forward with confidence to public sympathy and support. Of necessity but little has been done in the classification and arrangement of specimens, and forbearance must be exercised in that respect.
“Your committee report that at a special meeting of the subscribers held on the 13th day of March last, alteration was made in Rules 2 and 5, to enable the Town Council to act as trustees of the Museum, and the committee have great pleasure in announcing that the Town Council have accepted the trust.
“Your committee report that the Lord Bishop of Salisbury has consented to become the president of the Museum, and that the following noblemen and gentlemen have permitted themselves to be named as vice-presidents :—
The Worshipful the Mayor of Salisbury,
the Right Hon. Earl Nelson,
the Right Hon. Lord Herbert of Lea,
Lord H. Thynne, M.P.,
Lieut.-Col. Bathurst, M.P.,
Lieut.-Gen. Buckley, M.P.,
M. H. Marsh, Esq., M.P.,
the Very Rev. the Dean of Salisbury,
G. Matcham, Esq.,
J. H. Jacob, Esq.,
A. D. Hussey, Esq., and
the Rev. E. Duke.
“Your committee further report that the Museum will be open to the public every Thursday from two to four in the afternoon, and every Friday from eight to ten in the evening until further notice, commencing on the 13th of June.
“ D. I. EYRE, Chairman”
“Museum Room, Market-house, June 6th, 1861.”
Sometimes you have to love the technology! Thank you Alan (and team), looking after The Salisbury Museum archive of photographs.