BERLIN: Zoologische Lehrsammlung (Zoological Teaching Collection)

Abstract

The zoological teaching collection of the Berlin University (now Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) was founded in 1884 by the zoologist Franz Eilhard Schulze. From the onset, the concept for the collection was the creation of a didactic tool for teaching zoology. After a continuous growth for several decades, dramatic losses had to be bemoaned during World War II and in the 1970s due to the new orientation of biology in the GDR. After German reunification most of the remaining collection was transferred to its current placement on the science campus Philippstraße. Since 1995 the collection has a new director. The last 20 years were characterized by consolidation, expansion, repair, and cataloging. Currently, the teaching collection encompasses about 30,000 objects, among them are wax, glass, and papier-mâché models from the nineteenth century, wet and dry anatomical specimens, insect boxes, microscope slides, and educational wall charts from Leuckart, Pfurtscheller, and the Zoological Institute's own production. Many of the objects are still heavily used for teaching purposes. In addition, parts of the collection have been presented to the public during various exhibitions. Furthermore, the Internet, several publications, and public talks led to an increasing public awareness of the zoological teaching collection. Nevertheless, concerning infrastructure such as room conditions, finances, and personnel, the collection is in a suboptimal shape.