Scientists - and other things besides.
One of my favourite heroes of Oxford’s history is Mary Buckland, born in 1797 as Mary Morland, who always seems to me a great example of a life well and fully lived. Interested in palaeontology and mineralogy from early youth, she made use of her comfortable financial and social position to nurture her talent and in doing that, she contributed to paleontological studies of her era. At a time when most women of her background were expected to marry young, throughout most of her twenties she travelled in pursuit of new geological discoveries, made notes of her research, corresponded with leading palaeontologists of her time, and was commissioned by them to create scientific drawings of outstanding quality. At 28, she married, choosing for her husband a man with similar interests, well known for his own work and with a secure position at Oxford University. Together, they created a household which was famous at the time for its eccentricity – animals of all description wondered around their quarters, bones and fossils took up sideboards and mantelpieces, and the couple would carry out experiments together in their kitchen, while their young son played under the table.
Mary has featured in my tours since late 2016, and I was overjoyed to find out that the Museum of Natural History decided to display some objects related to her, as well as two other female scientists of the 19th century, Anne Phillips and Anna Atkins. I went to the Museum with that pleasant feeling of excited anticipation, which soon changed into a mixture of feelings.
It was really amazing to see the objects connected to Mary. Seeing one of her drawings made me realise the incredible, mind-boggling level of her skill as a scientific illustrator. Seeing the few pieces of different kinds of rock, which used to form part of her own collection, made me feel connected to her: I could imagine the thrill she must have felt the first time she saw each one. That tangible connection with the past is what makes museums so important – it’s difficult to feel it in any way other than through interacting with actual objects which that person you’re interested in held or created all those years ago. I felt really grateful to the curators for deciding to showcase Mary Buckland's achievements.
But I was also disappointed. The case is so, so tiny. There is no wider context given as to why these particular objects were chosen for the display, and it left me wondering whether the Museum has a bigger collection, or is this all that was left of Mary’s pursuits, as well as those of the two other women?
I also thought the Museum missed the chance to showcase Mary as a scientist in her own right, which she well and truly was. The story positions her very much as the wife of the more famous William Buckland, and only one line reminds us that she was a scientist even before her marriage. Why not start with that – which even a chronological storyline would have dictated – and then reveal that she got married to William, who she connected with over their shared interests? Why the assumption that the most important role or identity for these women was as 'daughters, wives, sisters...' and only then - 'scientists'?
The structure, the size and the narrative of this display all seem to point to present a story which could be summed up thus: "some women, related to some famous men, also had some scientific interests, but their achievements were limited". Which is perhaps not untrue – but I think we should talk more about why their achievements were so limited, compared with the men, and about how amazing it is that they managed to do any scientific work at all in the society they lived in. While William could receive first his degree, and later a position and an income from a famous university, Mary had no access to either formal study or work at any university at all. After the marriage, she essentially worked as his assistant, and her contributions were significant and well recognised at the time, but never formally credited. These kinds of limitations which women faced up until recently, and perhaps still face in some ways, is what we need to be talking about when we talk about women scientists like Mary Buckland, Anne Philips and Anna Atkins, and this small case just doesn't create any space for discussing these issues.
These women were so unique and so bold: they deserve a bolder, and bigger, exhibition.
"Presenting… Daughters, wives, sisters... and scientists" is on at the Museum of Natural History until 5 March