-
Survey Of Preservation And Conservation Of Local History Collections In Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 6]
Page 2 of 6
-
-
-
ORIGIN OF MUSEUM
Museum originated with man’s
interest in collecting, accumulating precious, beautiful and curious
objects. The oldest of such collections were privately financed, made by
the wealthy or by the church. Museum in general, does for objects what
libraries and archives do for books and government records respectively.
It is, therefore necessary to stress here that the society does not
tend to preserve her objects just to hoard them, but to preserve them
because of their intellectual values.
It is pertinent to note that
the most important phenomena which have influenced the direction of
human development and progress are scientific discoveries, and warfare
of these greater attentions has been paid to the preservation and
presentation of information relating to the former but less has been
done concerning the later. Yet information about scientific episodes and
the development of warfare are of equal importance if we are to have a
balanced view of the course of human development and progress.
Man,
from the prehistoric times, has always been a fighter in the face of
real or imagined enemies. However, one thing is clear, and that is that
one of the cardinal aims of wars is either to maintain or change status
quo with a view to ensuring advantages for those who engage in them.
There should be no doubt, therefore, about the enormous role which war
have played in the overall shaping of the society. Unpleasant and
horrible as wars may seen, the preservation of the relics of national
war efforts becomes the responsibility of every government that needs to
be informed about itself and of course that nation’s development.
The
museum and the exhibition therein, are aimed at preserving Nigeria’s
war relics and illustrate its war efforts through ages.
The purpose
of this work is not to glorify our efforts at wars, but to enable the
general public see in historical perspective the evolutions of Nigeria
Military Technology, highlight the inventive ingenuity of Nigerians as
evident in the war relics and emphasizes the need to guard jealously our
national unity so that the motto of the museum “that they did not die
in vain†may be justified.
1.2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
THE DEVELOPMENT OF MUSEUM IN NIGERIA
The
idea of developing public museum in Nigeria devoted to the conservation
of the relics of early cultures and civilization and traditional
material culture of its people came much latter than in many other
African countries. For example while Ugandan Museum was founded in 1908
(though opened in 1959) and the National Museum of the Tangnyika in
Dar-es-salm was opened in 1941 as the king George memorial museum, the
first established museum in Nigeria was in Ife the Esie museum which was
opened to the public in 1946.
The mid and late fifties saw the
opening of more public museums in Nigeria, beginning with that of Jos in
April, 1952. The year 1957 saw the opening of National museum in Lagos
while those of Oron and Benin city were opened to the public in 1959 and
1960 respectively. In Nigeria today, not only are new National museums
being established some local authorizes are also showing interest in
having their own museums. The Federal Government, have also shown
concern through the National Commission for Museum and Monuments (NCMM)
by opening offices in all states of the federation.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 6]
Page 2 of 6
-
-
ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]This research study aims at identifying the presentation and conservation of Local history collections in Nigeria, a case study of National War Museum, Umuahia, Abia State. In the process of carry out this research, the researcher identifies the problems/constrain, methods/techniques adopted, the classes of artifacts kept and also proffer solutions to the effective procedures for preservation and of local history collection in a museum under study. In the study, the researcher observed among num ... Continue reading---
