Museum History
RSM Scrapbook
We're not just getting older, we're getting better! Check out the interesting images and stories from our 100 years of service.
The Museum's Beginnings
The Museum's Homes
Disaster!
Archaeological Research
First Nations
Fossil Finds
"Scotty", the Tyrannosaurus rex
Life Sciences
Conservation Programs
Awards
Special Events
· 2006 RSM Centennial
Museum Directors
Museum Staff
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A large boulder with a carved face was found on December 25, 1905 by Charles Noddings from the Beaver Hills area. The boulder was unlike any other he had ever seen. Believing the stone was ancient, Noddings donated the Beaver Hills Petroglyph to the Province of Saskatchewan. This was the stimulus for the creation of a provincial museum. |
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The Museum was formed in 1906 to "secure and preserve natural history specimens and objects of historical and ethnological interest." It was the first museum in Saskatchewan, and the first provincial museum in the three Prairie Provinces. That same year, $557.70 (approximately $10,000 today) was set aside for the purchase of "Natural History Specimens."
Several mounted birds were purchased and incorporated in a provincial exhibit at the Dominion Fair, Halifax, during 1906. Following the Fair, the birds were returned to the Department of Agriculture to form the nucleus of the Provincial Museum.
The first Museum habitat cases.
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In the beginning, the new museum had lacked a clear collections policy and had acquired an interesting variety of objects, including: a collection of postage stamps of the world, an old horseshoe, Hindu embroidery, Zulu necklaces, a girdle and shield, Mesopotamia greeting cards, Mexican feather work, a Jamaican hat, a U.S. 3 cent bill, A History of Scotland (vol. 1), one polar bear foot, and a boot worn by Captain Scott on the South Pole expedition. |
Initially, the Museum was under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture. The Museum's one staff member was T.N. Willing, who was also the Chief of Weeds and Game. In 1911 Fred Bradshaw, who was the Chief Game Guardian, inherited responsibility for the Museum. Bradshaw became the Museum's first full-time director in 1928.
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H.H. Mitchell was hired in 1913 as the Museum's first full-time employee. He was an avid preparator and naturalist. In just one year, Mitchell prepared an amazing 350 display specimens of wildlife, fossils and historical artifacts! These artifacts helped to rebuild the Museum's collection which had been damaged by the tornado in 1912. Many of these specimens are still in the Museum's collection today.
For further information contact the RSM Information Desk.
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