What is there to see?
Heritage collections
Fine art
The fine art collection is composed of oil paintings, watercolours and prints, including portraits of eminent figures linked to the University. Many of these people have made major contributions to Scotland’s intellectual, political, social and scientific development.
Particularly worthy of note is the Pilgrim Trust ‘Recording Scotland Collection’. This collection captures the Scottish landscape in the 1940s. The Boswell Collection comprises 20th and 21st century works by leading Scottish artists. A recent addition to the art collection is the Murdo Macdonald collection, which features works by contemporary Scottish artists. Today, the fine art collection is a valuable resource for art historians and for teaching within the University.
Silver and decorative art
The collection includes many fine examples of silverware used in the University colleges and residences. The silver of St Leonard’s, St Salvator’s and St Mary’s colleges includes spoons dating from the 18th century. These spoons were used by students at mealtimes in return for a small payment.
Textile and costume
The costume collection illustrates the academic dress of Scotland’s oldest university. It features academic textile worn by famous personalities, academic staff and students. Of international significance is the Norwegian flag carried by the explorer, Fridtjof Nansen on his Artic expedition of 1895 when he came closer to the North Pole than any previous explorer. Nansen presented the flag to the University during his Rectorship, 1925-1928.
Furniture
The furniture collection is an important record of life within Scotland’s oldest University. It provides an insight into the use and interior decoration of the University’s colleges, formal rooms and halls of residence. This terrestrial globe was made by J & W. Cary of London in 1806. It charts the major discoveries made by Captain Cook and also Captain Vancouver on the north west coast of America.
Science collections
Historic scientific instruments
The collection relates to the teaching of natural philosophy, physics and astronomy in the University over a period of five centuries. It contains some truly remarkable and ground-breaking instruments.
Chemistry
The Chemistry collection charts the development of teaching and research in the field of chemistry at the University of St Andrews. It includes a unique collection of 900 sugar samples produced by Professor James Irvine at the beginning of the early 20th century. His discoveries were of international importance, contributing to the discovery of DNA and aiding the production of drip feeds and anaesthetics during the First World War. The chemistry collection also contains items of rare chemical glassware dating from the late 18th century.
