Further information
Collections
The designated museum collections that we care for cover fine and decorative art, military and social history, archaeology and natural sciences, costume and textiles. The care of these collections is underpinned by a robust documentation system and over the years we have sought to improve the quality of the information we hold on the collections. We have made great progress with the upgrade of the Adlib documentation system and completing much if the backlog of retrospective documentation.
We also add to the collections through gifts and purchases. Some examples include a Sutton Taylor bowl for the ceramic collection, a Turkish pistol, medal and photograph of a local man who served in the Middle East and Gallipoli; a uniform and badge displays from Andersons and Sons, Gentleman's Outfitters in Blake Street when they closed the business ending a long relationship of donating items to the Castle Museum lasting from 1938.
Storage is always a challenge and we had to remove all the craft workshops from the cell area to make way for the York Castle Prison experience which required some expert help especially in handling the printer's workshop.
We are also researching William Etty, the famous York artist, which will be the foundation of an exhibition and catalogue in 2011. We also bought a painting Preparing for a Fancy Dress Ball by Etty with the help of Friends of York Art Gallery, The Art Fund and the V&A purchase fund. We have also worked with the University of York to catalogue a collection of Mediaeval Stained Glass which will inform the displays of glass in the refurbished Yorkshire Museum.
We also acquired the important geological collection of Speeton clays from the Yorkshire Coast which completes the collection from the private collection of Jack Doyle already in Yorkshire Museum and includes a library of reference material.