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see also:
- Out of Africa there is always something
new by J.A. van den Heever
-
Growth of a Collection (Ethnology Collection)
by E. M.Shaw
Thomas Henry Barry was born in Mossel Bay in 1924 and attained his degree in
Zoology at Stellenbosch University. After taking his doctorate he lectured at
the University of Pretoria for four years and it was here that he became
interested in the Karoo mammal-like reptiles. In 1959 he was appointed
Director of the Albany Museum, Grahamstown. He assumed the Directorship of the
South African Museum in 1964.
The Cultural History Museum was physically (although not legally)
separated from the Natural History Museum at this time and moved to its present
location at the top of Adderley Street, Cape Town.
Even in spite of this move, soon after his arrival Barry saw that one of the
Museum's most serious problems was still the acute shortage of accommodation for
staff and collections. In the past, although Crompton
had followed Sclater's practice of putting his
scientific work before administration, Barry's approach was the reverse and so
he had less time to devote to palaeontological research. He prepared a
memorandum outlining the Museum's needs and submitted it to the Department, but
this was deferred because of a cut-back in Government expenditure. When the
financial position eased, the tender date was set at 1977 for the proposed new
extensions. In the meantime, Barry initiated a major programme of renovation and
modernization of the Museum's existing displays. In response to the new
displays, attendance figures rose steadily.
After many delays and setbacks, the completion date for the vast renovation
and rebuilding programme was finalized at 1987, but sadly Barry did not live to
see the realization of his dream. He died in 1984 after a long illness.
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