ARCHAEOLOGY

    In 2001 AD, a monograph on Jain Iconography was published - as a bulletin of the museum. It is the first publication out of the  Museum Publication Fund, which accepts sponsorships. The book 'Jain Images in the Government Museum, Chennai’ covers collections of Jain sculptures and Bronzes collected up to 2000 AD. It is written by Dr. R. Kannan Ph.D., I.A.S., Commissioner of Museums and Thiru K.Lakshminarayanan, Curator, Education Section. This sponsored publication brings to Chennai Museum publications coffee table book quality colour photography and printing-making with international quality, while offering detailed explanations intelligible to both scholars and layman.

    During 1992 and 2002 AD the Bronze Gallery was refurbished and the Industrial Art Gallery in 1997 AD.

ANTHROPOLOGY

     The Madras Government Museum began as a Museum of Geology in 1851 AD. Its scope was soon extended to cover other fields such as Archaeology, Ethnology, Pre-history and Natural History. In 1878 AD, Surgeon General Dr.E. George Bidie, the then Superintendent of the Museum, made Ethnology as one of the subjects to be illustrated by Museum collections.

    Mr.C.J.Jayadev succeeded Dr.A.Aiyappan as Curator, Anthropology Section and continued till March 1961. Miss.R.Vanaja was in-charge of Anthropology section from 30-3-1961 AD to 16-6-61 AD. Mr.A.V.N.Sharma succeeded Miss. R.Vanaja and he was Curator till 27-11-1962 AD. Dr.N.Devasahayam succeeded Mr.A.V.N.Sharma on 28-11-1962 AD. Later Dr.N.Devasahayam was promoted as Assistant Director and Deputy Director and holding the post of Curator, Anthropology Section. When Dr.N.Devasahayam retired in June 1998 AD, the Curator, Zoology Section, Mr.P.Jawahar, took charge of Anthropology Section, then Dr.C.Maheswaran took charge as Curator of this section and then Tmt R.D. Thulasi Brinda took charge as Curator of this section. In 2014, Ms.E.Divya is the present Curator of this section.

   During the end of his tenure, Dr.N.Devasahayam tried to repatriate the artifacts of Kanchikoil, Erode District, displayed under the title of Brough and Mckenzie Collection in the Australian Museum. These artifacts were collected by Rev.Antony Watson Brough during 1894-1934 AD. 33 selected artifacts from this collection were repatriated to the Government Museum, Chennai. On 28-2-2000 AD The Australian High Commissioner to India, His Excellency, Rob Laurie A.M., handed over 33 artifacts to the Special Secretary to Government, Tamil Development-Culture and Religious Endowments Department, Thiru.S.Ramakrishnan, I.A.S., who in turn handed them over to Dr.R.Kannan,I.A.S., Commissioner of Museums. A special exhibition of these artifacts organised in the Gallery of Contemporary Art was inaugurated by His Excellency, Rob Laurie A.M., the Australian High Commissioner on 28-2-2000 AD.

Arms Gallery

     Extension to the Front Buildings to house arms and weapons and the pre-historic collections were made during Dr.J.R.Henderson`s term as Superintendent (1908-1919 AD). At present, the Pre-history Gallery and Arms Gallery are being modernised. In the second arms room a very large and varied collection of ceremonial and lethal weapons obtained from the Tanjore Armoury are exhibited. They include swords, daggers, maces, elephant goads, choppers, knives, shields, spears, bows and arrows. Several of these weapons have exquisitely carved designs of yali, makaras and parrots on them.

    Around the front buildings, a number of cannon captured at Manila, Mysore and Tranquebar. At the entrance to the Arms galleries are on view a varied assortment of halberds, pikes, spears and a set of Spanish plate armour from Manila. In the first arms room are ancient matchlocks, musketoons, hand guns, blunderbusses, rifles and pistols used by the English East India Company or captured by them as war trophies. Two guns richly inlaid with gold which are exhibited in special cases are those which were presented by the English East India Company to Serfoji Maharaja of Thanjavur.   

ART

    The Art Section of the Museum was an integral part of Archaeology Section and was maintained by Archaeology Curator until 1983 AD. The Museum had a collection of 400 objects from which 54 selected objects were displayed in the National Art Gallery at the time of its establishment in 1951 AD. A few bronze objects, metal wares, wood-carvings, ivory and textiles from the Museum and art objects such as Rajput, Moghul paintings and textiles were transferred to the National Art Gallery. Simultaneous with its acquisition of great works of ancient South Indian art, the Government Museum, Chennai had been collecting works of Modern Indian art work right from the turn of the twentieth Century. The Chennai Museum is purchasing art objects on the recommendations of the Art Purchase Committee of the Museum.
  
    The Contemporary Art Gallery was established in January 1984 AD, after the bifurcation of the then existed Art and Archaeology Section. The Chennai Museum has a collection of one thousand and two hundred objects including metal sculptures, paintings such as oil on canvas, tempera, water colour, textiles etc. Paintings of eminent artists in India from various Art Schools are represented in the collection.

   The traditional paintings consist of Rajput, Moghul, Kangra, Tanjore, Deccan, South Indian School of Art. Bidriware, Metalware, Ivory and Sandalwood objects are also in the collection. The modern paintings consist of works of eminent artists namely Raja Ravi Varma, D.P. Roy Chowdhury, Nandalal Bose, Jaimini Roy and artists from Tamil Nadu.
  
   In 1995-96 AD and in 1997-98 AD, the existing sloping cases were removed and galleries where the traditional paintings, textiles, ivory and inlaid works were displayed. The lighting in the Contemporary Art Gallery and rear hall of the National Art Gallery have been modernised by introducing Dichroic Halogen lamps and Fibre Optic lighting respectively. In order to store the paintings the Visual Storage is established in the section.

Facilities Available
  
   The activities of this section include guidance to researchers and students. Students from School of Architecture, Engineering Colleges, College Arts & Crafts do project work on art and architecture pertaining to this section. Research scholars avail various facilities in this section.


Educational Activities

   Under educational activities, the Section lends selected art objects on loan to schools for exhibition. The Section conducts seminar, workshop, exhibition and training programmes. Gallery talks and special lectures are given by the Curator to the college students and teachers.

Curators of the Art Section

• Miss. R. Indira 1984 - 1993 AD
• Thiru. M. Mohan 1993 – 2002
• Tmt. A. Prema Deepa Rani 2002

NUMISMATICS

    Numismatics is the study of coins. It is important for the study of history, especially ancient history. It confirms, modifies and even amplifies history. To a great extent the political and economic history of a country is constructed by numismatics and historical facts are very often corroborated or rejected by numismatic findings. Many facts connected with administration, history, geography and religious history of ancient India are revealed to us by numismatics.
 
    The Government Museum, Chennai has a very rich collection of the ancient, medieval and modern Indian coins made of gold, silver, copper, lead, potin and billon. Besides these there is a representative collection of foreign coinage.

    The Museum had, upto 1865 AD, only a very small collection of coins in its cabinet. Under the Treasure-trove Act of 1878 AD all finds unearthed anywhere in the State are sent to this museum by the revenue authorities for examination and if decided that they are worth acquiring, they are acquired by the Government for the Museum. But treasure-trove hoards are not the only source through which coins are acquired. Most of the North Indian coins are donated by North Indian museums and institutions such as the Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay, the Asiatic Society, Nagpur, the U.P. Coin Committee, Indian Museum, Calcutta and so on.

    In the year 1976 AD, at the first floor of the Bronze Gallery, the Numismatics Section started a gallery of its own. It is not possible to exhibit the coins in original to the public on grounds of safety. Therefore plaster cast and metal cast impressions of the coins are prepared and exhibited in the gallery.

   There are at present two hundred and fifty medals in the section, a majority of which are exhibition medals, of very little interest. The rare piece are the Mysore medals. The plaster cast of these medals are kept in the gallery with photographs. The collection includes a facsimile of the Great Charter of England, the Magna Carta of 1215 AD believed to be the only copy in India. It is displayed in the gallery for the public view.

    The Government Museum, Chennai has the unique privilege of organising the Philatelic Gallery for the first time in India. The gallery has been organised in 1966 AD to present the evolution and development of postage stamps in the world. Stamps of all countries of the world beginning with the very inception of the modern Postal System is displayed here.
  
    This gallery is situated in the second floor of the Natural History Block, which can be reached from the Jain Gallery or from a flight of steps from the first gallery. Thiru N. Sundararajan, is the present Curator of this section.

BOTANY

    The Botany and Geology Sections were dealt together by the Curator of the Botany Section in the initial stage of the Museum . Later the collections in the Botany and Geology Sections increased so much that the need for their separation was realised. Thus it was bifurcated into the Botany Section and Geology Section, each headed by a separate Curator. Important features of the Botany Section are as follows: 1. Public Galleries, 2. Reserve Collections 3. Special Exhibitions, 4. Research and Publications and 5. Information Service.

Public Galleries

    The galleries were dismantled at the time of the evacuation of the city in 1942 AD and this has incidentally rendered it possible to effect a thorough overhauling and improvements to them. The different groups of exhibits are explained by descriptive labels, while prominent index labels serve as a good guide. Tamil labels are also included, where ever possible.

    Topics in the Botany Galleries of the Museum fall under (a) Systematic Botany (b) Economic Botany, (c) Ecological Botany and (d) Miscellaneous collections covering other branches of the subject.

Strengthening of the Botany section

     While Geology was the chief field of activity during Balfour’s time, Botany gained most during the period of Dr. Bidie’s stewardship of the Museum. Medicinal plants and plants of economic importance were added to the collection. In 1873-1874 AD, the herbarium was enriched by the purchase of Lieutenant Colonel Beddome’s herbarium at a cost of Rs.1,500. The collection contained 2,435 specimens, most of which were rare plants. A good collection of forest products specially made and labelled under the supervision of the Director General of Forests was added to the Botany Section in 1878 AD. The Madras Museum Herbarium became famous and well-known at Kew.

     The Botanical work done by Dr.Gravely and the late Sri. P. V. Mayuranathan, helped to strengthen the Museum Herbarium and the botanical collections. "Flowering Plants of Madras City and its Immediate Neighbourhood", written by the late Mr. P. V. Mayuranathan was enthusiastically supported by Mr. E. Barnes of the Madras Christian College. This volume of Madras flowering plants was published in the year 1929 AD.

     In the year 1919 AD when Mr. H. Dodwell was Superintendent-in-charge, Sri. S. N. Chandrasekaran was appointed as the Botanical Assistant. He was also part-time lecturer at the Women’s Christian College. He attended to the routine work of replacing old specimens and labels. He prepared a 'Catalogue of the Economic Products' in the Economic Botany Gallery.

     In the Systematic Botany Gallery, the exhibits are arranged in their evolutionary order starting with primitive cryptogams. There are over 300 representative samples of various South Indian Timbers. Ecological botany is represented by a few specimens and photographs.

     Exhibits in the Economic Botany Galleries are divided into several groups according to their uses.

Educational Activities

   Guidance on matters of collection, identification, preservation, storage etc., are provided to educational institutions, museum keepers, industrialists and others under educational activities. Periodical demonstrations are held to organised parties of teachers, on how best they could enable their students to make a profitable visit to the Botany Galleries. Short term courses in organisation of School Herbaria and Botanical Museums are also conducted to batches of teachers, Laboratory Assistants etc. In the recent years under the Vocational Training Programme in Colleges, training is imparted to college students in the Preservation of Botanical Specimens, making of plaster cast models, wax models, preparation of herbaria, mounting of both dry and wet specimens etc. Popular lectures are also delivered in various branches of the subject of Botany. To highlight the medicinal usage of plants, several Siddha Medical Camps were conducted, where the Siddha Medical Doctors themselves explained the parts of the plants used for medicines and the diseases to which they are put to use.


Other Activities of the Section

    Research scholars and students are given facilities for Taxonomical studies since the section possess collections of pioneers like Major R. H.. Beddome, K. S. Srinivasan, A. R. Reddy, Dr. K. V. Krishnamuthy, M. S. Chandrasekar, and so on. The exhibit in the Economic Botany Gallery gives the economical uses of plants. The Reserve collections built up by pioneers include those of Colonel Beddome of the Forest Department (1878 AD) and later Gamble’s collection in 1892 AD and by Thiru P. V. Mayuranathan.

Curators of the Botany Section

     Presently, in the Systematic Botany Gallery, 13 new showcases depicting the Sangam Literature plants have been kept on display as new additions and removed from 2005. Plant fossils are displayed in this Gallery.

ZOOLOGY

    Dr.Edward Green Balfour, the first officer-in-charge and organiser of Government Museum, Chennai, in 1851 AD had very clear ideas of the functions of the museum, "to contain complete collection of the natural production of the country and other parts of the world, duly named and systematically arranged as a means of encouraging the study of Natural History and to do its share in the advancement of science". Dr.Balfour started collection campaign and acquired valuable collection of fishes, as it reflects in the first letter, letter book of the Museum dated 9th June 1851 AD thanking Dr. A.Lorimer, M.D. Secretary to the Medical Board "for the very valuable present of fishes" to the Government Museum on 17th May 1851 AD.

   Captain Jesse Mitchell who succeeded Dr.Balfour on 15th May, 1859 AD acquired shells, fishes, birds, insects and fossils from several Museums from foreign countries in exchange for similar materials sent from Madras.

   When Surgeon - Major M.C. Furnell, F.R.C.S., officiated as the Superintendent of the Museum for about eighteen months from June 1874 AD, during Dr. Bidie’s absence on sick leave, the important event was the acquisition of the skeleton of a whale for the Museum. "This  enormous sea mammal was cast on shore near Mangalore and was secured by Mr. Thomas, the Collector. The bones were brought to Madras by a vessel of the British India Steam Navigation Company free of charge. The bones were macerated and the complete skeleton was mounted and exhibited. The Museum was very proud of acquiring such a huge skeleton.

   The Head Taxidermist of the Museum, Mr. Anthony Pillay, won a silver medal at the Fine Arts Exhibition held in England for a group of birds and reptiles, prepared by him in 1867 AD. In 1877 AD he won another silver medal for "preserved fish specimens" from the Maritime and Piscatorial Exhibition held at the Royal Aquarium, London.

      The Zoological collection of the Museum had grown enormously and required to be properly arranged, catalogued, labelled, preserved and also clearly explained. In the Zoology Section  small habitat groups were introduced during the tenure of Dr. J.R. Henderson (1908 - 1919 AD).   Dr.S.Sundararaj joined the Museum as Zoological Assistant to Dr. Henderson in 1913 AD. He had the opportunity of collecting and studying South Indian fauna and started to display the animals in their natural surroundings. The nest of the water-hen, king fisher, a group of flamingos and group of flying squirrels with their nesting in a hollow tree deserve mention. An unusual exhibit, netted from the Museum pond was that a bull frog, which was caught in the act of swallowing a snake. This specimen is also still on display in Amphibian Gallery.

    When Dr. Frederic Henry Gravely took charge as Superintendent during 1920 AD, the investigation of the littoral fauna of Krusadai Island in the gulf of Mannar was undertaken. This investigation led to the revival of the Bulletin of the Madras Government Museum for the publication of the results of the researches. The collections were scientifically preserved, studied and interpreted by publishing research bulletins during the tenure of Dr. F.H. Gravely (1920 - 1940 AD). The reserve collection in the Zoology, particularly of Invertebrates was enlarged and improved. Dr. F.H. Gravely’s work on Arachnida and Mollusca helped in completing the gallery and the reserve collection in these two large Zoological groups.

    In 1940 AD, Dr. S. Thomas Satyamurti who joined as Curator, Zoology Section was promoted as Superintendent of the Museum. Later the post of Superintendent was designated as ‘Director of Museums’. During the tenure of Dr. S. Thomas Satyamurti, the displayed collections in the galleries were interpreted and published as Guide Books. His publication on the Mollusca of Krusadai Island in the Gulf of Mannar "Amphineura and Gastropoda" Vol.I , "Scaphopoda, Pelecypoda and Cephalopoda" Vol.II are noteworthy.

     In 1961 AD, Mr. G. Kesavaram joined as Curator, Zoology Section and concentrated on improving the collections. During his tenure, the Bird’s Gallery was modernised and he concentrated on preserving animals in synthetic resin.

    The present Curator, Mr. P. Jawahar joined as Assistant Curator in 1970 AD promoted to the post of Curator, Zoology Section in 1979 AD. During his tenure, renovation of all the skeletons, large fish specimens displayed in the galleries were undertaken. The modernisation of General Zoology galleries during 1980 AD, modernisation of Mammal Gallery by setting up large dioramas in 1999 AD were the improvements to the Zoological galleries. Mr. P. Jawahar was holding additional charge of Children’s Gallery in the Mezzanine floor of the New Natural History Block. During April 1988 AD, the full-fledged Children’s Museum was organised and the Curator, Zoology Section was in-charge of the Children’s Museum until the post of Curator, Children’s Museum was created in 1996 AD. All the wet preserved specimens in jars in the reserve collection have been properly and systematically arranged. Thiru J.R.Asokan, Curator, Zoology Section has been promoted as Assistant Director (Technical) in 2013. Then Tmt.D.V.Umamaheswari took additional charge till 2014. Tmt.R.D.Thulasi Brinda is the present Curator of this Section.

History of the Geology Section

    The history of the Geology Section in the Chennai Museum is indeed quite interesting, since it was started only with the Geological Collections in the year 1851 AD. In the year 1828 AD, the Madras Literacy Society, a branch of the Asiatic Society of London, desired to have a Museum of Economic Geology at Madras and began collecting geological specimens. But lack of funds and space for an effective Museum, the Society addressed the then Madras Government to take the initiative in the formation of the Museum.     

     In 1843 AD, Major General W. Cullen suggested to the Government the starting of local Museum for helping those who are interested in minerals and encouraging agriculture and processes improvement. On the basis of the letters of General Cullen and the Secretary, Madras Literary Society, the Court of Directors of the East India Company agreed, in 1846 AD, to the formation of Central Museum in Madras.

    In 1850 AD, Assistant Surgeon, Edward Green Balfour, Medical Officer of the Governor’s Bodyguard and Assay Master offered his services as Officer-in-charge of the proposed Museum and his offer was accepted in 1851 AD. The Central Museum thus began its life in the upper storey of the College of Fort. St. George with 1100 geological collections. Due to overcrowding of the rooms and more so owing to damage to the upper storey of the college by the weight of the cases, the museum was shifted to the Pantheon, in 1854 AD, which was then occupied by the Cutchery of the Collector of Madras.

     Thus beginning as a Museum of Practical Geology, its scope was later expanded to cover all the allied fields such as General Geology, Petrology, Mineralogy, Palaeontology and Economic Geology. Since then, the geological galleries have been considerably improved, reorganised and modernised.

     The Geology Gallery building repaired and the gallery has completely refurbished in 2006, during the curatorship of Mr. M. Mohan. After the superannuation of Mr.Mohan, Tmt.R.D.Thulasi Brinda took charge as Curator. Selvi. S.Dhanalakshmi is the present Curator of this Section since 2012.

II. Activities in the Geology Section

     The activities of this section include the maintenance and periodical re-organisations of the Geological Galleries, undertaking tours for collecting geological specimens such as rocks, minerals and fossils, organising special exhibitions on various geological subjects, conducting training programmes, arranging popular lectures etc.

III. Facilities Available

    The training course on "Importance of Geological Specimens" is regularly conducted since 1996 AD every year for the benefit of the Geology students. The Geology Section of the Museum is a treasure house for collection of various types of rocks, minerals and fossils, which is very useful for research scholars and students pertaining to geology for their research work.

IV. Educational Activities

   "Children’s Museum" is a place of wonder for children, which takes them from the land of books to the land of objects. It encourages a child to probe new horizons. It directs children into constructive and worthwhile pastimes. It moulds them sound citizens of the future.

    The Children’s Museum of the Government Museum, Chennai consists of the Basement, Ground Floor and First Floor, having 5000 sq.ft area each. The architecture of the Children’s Museum conforms to that of a model museum building, with all the facilities contemplated in a modern museum. The display arrangement in the Children’s Museum reveals to the children the world in which they live, arouses intellectual curiosity and opens the door to the world of wonder. This museum has galleries such as the Civilisation Gallery, the Costume Dolls Gallery, the Science Gallery, the Transportation Gallery, the Technology Gallery and the Kids Corner.

History of the Children Museum

    The foundation stone was laid for the separate building for the Children's Museum in the Chennai Government Museum campus during the International Museum Week Celebrations in October 1956 AD, by His Excellency, Shri SriPrakasa, the then Governor of Tamil Nadu. Plans were drawn and the cost was estimated to Rs.10.8 lakhs. But unfortunately this proposal had to be deferred indefinitely. Therefore, it was felt   necessary atleast to start with a Children's Gallery. The exhibits that had been collected for this museum, along with a few specially prepared models and diagrams were provisionally displayed in fifteen newly made show-cases, which were arranged in the mezzanine floor of the Geology Gallery. This newly organised Children's Gallery was thrown open to the public on the 'Children's Day' - 14th November 1960 AD.

    Later, in September 1963 AD this Children's Gallery was shifted to the mezzanine floor of the newly constructed Natural History Block where the exhibits were re-arranged and re-exhibited.

    The proposal of constructing a separate new building for Children’s Museum was renewed in 1979 AD during the International Year of Children, and completed by incurring an expenditure of Rs.39 lakhs. Display was organised in modern way, including the existing exhibits of the Children’s Gallery. This newly organised Children’s Museum was inaugurated by His Excellency, Dr. P.C. Alexandar, Governor of Tamil Nadu on 11th April 1988 AD.

    From the inception of the Children's Gallery in the mezzanine floor of the Natural History Block, the Curators of the Zoology Section were holding additional charge of it. Mr. P. Jawahar, Curator, Zoology Section organised the display in the Children’s Museum and held additional charge of the Museum, until the post of Curator, Children's Museum was created in 1996 AD.

   The present Curator, Mr. K. Sekar took charge of the Children's Museum in 1996 AD. In 1996 - 1997 AD, the Civilisation Gallery and Physical Science Gallery were reorganised with new showcases. In 1998 - 1999 AD, the Technology Gallery was established with working models in new aluminium showcases. Many developmental projects are in the anvil.

   The Children's Museum aims to encourage children to touch and feel exhibits to help them understand their heritage and to develop scientific temper.

History of the Laboratory

   With the valuable collection at the Government Museum, Chennai, it was felt necessary to treat the bronzes disfigured by corrosive crusts in order to expose the decorative details and to eliminate the bronze disease, which brought in added deterioration. As a result of the discussion with various chemists, the electrolytic restoration of bronzes was started in the museum. The Chemical Conversation and Research Laboratory in the museum owes to the scientific vision and foresight of Dr. F. H. Gravely, Superintendent of the Government Museum, Chennai in the early 1930s. Dr. S. Paramasivan was appointed as the Chemist in 1930 AD. He was very active both in conservation of cultural property and related research activities. Besides the treatment of bronze objects, ethnological, prehistoric and numismatic objects were treated. In 1935 AD, the Government Museum, Chennai was also of help to the Archaeological Survey of India in the examination of wall paintings at Tanjore, Sittannavasal etc.

Research Activities

   One of the foremost activities of the Laboratory is to conduct research in conservation and materials of the past. In the beginning much research was conducted by Dr. S. Paramasivan, the first Curator of the Laboratory, on paintings and metallic antiquities. The research findings were published in leading scientific journals both in India and abroad. The research activities continued successfully by the Curators of the Laboratory till date. At present research projects such as Study and Conservation of Raja Raja Chola Coins, Conservation of Church Architecture (Buildings) and Their Conservation: A Study, Cotton Brocade of Kodalikaruppur Sari: Characterisation and Conservation-A Study, Traditional and Present Conservation of Manuscripts etc. are under progress.

Publications

   The publication of this Laboratory from its inception is commendable. Leading national and international journals such as Technical Studies, Studies in Conservation, Indian Academy of Sciences, The Current Science, Conservation of Cultural Property in India, etc., published the out come of the research works of this Laboratory. Besides hundreds of research and popular articles many books and bulletins have been published. Many conservation reports have been prepared by the successive Curators regularly through out the career of this Laboratory. Handbook on Conservation in Museums, Care of Museum Objects, Conservation of Archival Materials, An Introduction to the Chemical Conservation and Research Laboratory, Care of Archival Materials, Conservation of Temple Objects, Conservation of Cultural Property in India, Care of Paintings, Care of Records, Authenticity in Art etc., in conservation; Heritage Management, Directory of Museums, Directory of Monuments and A Technical Study on the Coins of Arcot Nawabs are some of the publications.

Training

   In order to disseminate the expertise of the Laboratory, in 1974, a refresher course on Care of Museum Objects was started. Professionals and students of museology and related subjects received the training. Course on Care of Temple Antiquities for the Executive Officers of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, a course on Care of Archival Materials exclusively for the Archivists, a Course on Care of Library Materials for Librarians, a Course on Care of Art Objects exclusively for art students etc. are conducted occasionally. Besides these, training programmes to the school and college students are conducted both in Chennai and districts on Care of Cultural Materials and Preservation of Monuments. It has introduced internship training in Conservation for a period of one year.

Manuscripts Conservation Centre

   The National Mission for Manuscripts, New Delhi has established a Manuscripts Conservation Centre at the Government Museum from September 2004. Dr. V. Jeyaraj, Curator, Chemical Conservation and Research Laboratory of this Museum is the Coordinator and Mr. R. Balasubramanian, Curator, Archaeology Section is the Co-coordinator. It has got two staff to work for the Centre. It conducts workshops on Preventive Conservation of Manuscripts, Awareness Camps, Exhibitions, Special Lectures, training programmes, reorganizing the storage of manuscripts in institutions, which possess manuscripts, carries out both preventive and interventive conservation of manuscripts in institutions through out Tamilnadu.

Conservation Service

   The Laboratory is extending services to the public and other institutions interested in the preservation of objects of the past at nominal charges.

List of Curators

DESIGN AND DISPLAY SECTION

   In order to attend to the day to day maintenance of galleries, set up temporary and permanent exhibitions both in Chennai and Districts, a Design and Display Section was created in the Chennai Museum in the year 1980 AD.

The main functions of the Design and Display Section are as follows:

Organising New District Museums

      In the modern concept, museums should function for increase and diffusion of knowledge among men and women. To achieve this goal, they have to engage themselves in activities related to research education, and preservation which are often defined as great functional trinity of museums. The Government Museum, Chennai is well aware of this basic fact and acts diligently on these spheres from its inception. This museum started its educational activities as early as 1870 AD by initiating popular lecture programmes under which periodically scholars were invited to deliver lectures on topics of public interest for the benefit of town people and students. Soon other educational programmes such as special training courses on taxidermy and museology for teachers, arranged gallery lectures for students and teachers and publication of monographs and bulletins for the museum exhibits have been introduced. The creation of additional guide posts for the museum in 1960’s made it possible to provide Guide Service to the public visitors everyday on prescribed timings. With the creation of the education section in 1970’s a full pledged museum section responsible for educational activities came in to existence. Thiru G. Kalathi, Curator hold this section till January 2014. Dr.R.Balasubramanian is the present Curator of this Section.