Sarawak State Museum
Muzium Negeri Sarawak | |
Established | Built in 1889. Open on 4 August 1891 |
---|---|
Location | Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia |
Coordinates | 1°33′17″N 110°20′37″E / 1.55472°N 110.34361°E |
Type | Ethnology museum |
Founder | Charles Brooke |
Owner | Sarawak state government |
Website | museum |
The Sarawak State Museum (Malay: Muzium Negeri Sarawak) is the oldest museum in Borneo.[1] It was founded in 1888 and opened in 1891 in a purpose-built building in Kuching, Sarawak.[1]
History
It has been said that naturalist
During the Japanese Occupation, the museum was directed by a Japanese officer, who was sympathetic to its goals. He protected it and the museum suffered very little damage or looting.[4]
The historic building has been renovated. It is used to exhibit and interpret collections on the natural history of Sarawak.
Starting 23 October 2017, the state museum was temporarily closed for refurbishment works. A total of RM28 million was spent on renovating the historic museum building with another RM 280 million spent on constructing a new museum campus building nearby.
Architecture
The building has undergone several renovations and alterations since its construction. It is rectangular, 44' × 160' with walls and pillars of bricks. The museum building has European-style architecture with its edifice in Queen Anne style. It bears a strong resemblance to the Samuel Way Building of the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital.[9][10] The galleries are lit by dormer windows on the roof, making wall space available for exhibit displays and collections.[4][11]
Layout
The ground floor of the museum holds the natural history collection and specimens of Sarawak fauna – reptiles, mammals, birds, etc., all expertly prepared and mounted for display. The west wing of the museum houses the Shell exhibition on the petroleum industries of Sarawak.
The first floor has exhibits of ethnographic artifacts of the indigenous peoples, such as models of the various types of longhouses, musical instruments, various kinds of fish and animal traps, handicrafts, models of boats and others.
Activities
The museum has been proclaimed guardian of the national patrimony, with the responsibility to search for, acquire and protect antiquities and historical monuments. The museum director is also responsible for protecting marine turtles and assisting the chief game warden in the conservation of wildlife.[12]
Museum journal
The Sarawak Museum Journal is published by the museum staff. It was first published in 1911, with
Curators and directors
Until 1974, the head of the museum was termed as a "Curator". Here are some of the following people who become Curators:
- John Edgar Anderson Lewis — Pro tem Curator, acting from 25 June 1888 – 1902
- Dr. George Darby Haviland — 26 February 1891 – 1 March 1893
- Edward Bartlett — 1 March 1893 – 22 July 1897
- Robert Walter Campbell Shelford— 22 July 1897 – 2 February 1905
- John Hewitt — 2 February 1905 – November 1908
- John Coney Moulton — November 1908 – 22 January 1915
- Mr. Erman & K. H. Gillan — Officers in charge, 22 January 1915 – May 1922 (during WWI)
- Dr. Eric Georg Mjöberg — May 1922 – 19 December 1924
- Gerard T.M. MacBryan — Acting Curator, 20 December 1924 – 24 January 1925
- Edward Banks — 20 February 1925 – 1945 (1942–1945 interned)
- Tom Harrisson — June 1947 – November 1966
- Benedict Sandin — December 1966 – March 1974
After this, "Director" was the designated title for the head of the museum. Here are some of the following people who become Directors:
- Lucas Chin — 1 April 1974 – December 1991
- Dr. Peter M. Kedit — December 1991 – April 1996
- Sanib Said — May 1997 – December 2008
- Ipoi Datan — January 2009 – February 2019[5][15]
- Suria Bin Bujang — February 2019 - 2020 (acting)
- Tazudin Mohtar — 2020 - November 2022
- Nancy Jolhi — February 2023 - Now
See also
Literature
- Lenzi, Iola (2004). Museums of Southeast Asia. Singapore: Archipelago Press. p. 200 pages. ISBN 981-4068-96-9.
References
- ^ a b c Sulok Tawie (21 September 2017). "Sarawak Museum to close until 2020 for restoration". The Malay Mail Online.
- ^ Jennifer R Morris, Second to None in the East: reassessing the birth of the Sarawak Museum, Sarawak Museum Journal, 2019, pp.201-224
- ^ CJ Brooke to WR Mesney, 11 August, 1880, http://archive.brooketrust.org/DA/showObject.php?id=CBLB_1_86
- ^ a b c Ah Chon, Ho (1948). Kuching in pictures (1841–1946) (PDF). Kuching: Sarawak state library (Pustaka Negeri Sarawak). pp. 42–43. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- ^ a b Sharon Ling (23 September 2017). "Sarawak's old museum building to close until 2020". The Star Online.
- ^ Peter Sibon (6 December 2017). "Poised to be one of the best in Asean". The Borneo Post Online.
- ^ Maganathan, Dinesh Kumar (10 March 2022). "Borneo Cultures Museum fully booked this month, a day after opening". The Star (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 12 March 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Reopening of Old Sarawak Museum delayed, no concrete plans yet for city aquarium, Summer House". Dayak Daily. 14 June 2022. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital (including photo)
- ^ Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital (photo and detail)
- ^ Patrica, Hului (7 August 2015). "Tracing the designs behind the Sarawak Museum". The Borneo Post. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ^ Howe, Marvine (25 December 1988). "Preserving Borneo's Traditions". The New York Times.
- ^ "Moulton, John Coney (1886-1926)". JSTOR Global Plants. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
- ^ "Sarawak To Hold International Museum Day In July". SAINS. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
- ^ "Retiring Heads of Departments".