Other collections
The collection in Elgin Museum comprises some 36,000 items. Most of the objects relate to Moray. Our active collecting policy is restricted to objects that link directly with the people and place of Moray, but historically the Museum has acquired objects from around the world.
Among the objects and collections not mentioned under specific topics are:
Natural history – on display in the Rear Gallery we have a woodland scene with taxidermy animals and birds. There is also a wild cat and the famous “Kellas Cat” on display. In store we have more taxidermy birds and animals, collections of butterflies, moths and eggs, shells and botanical items, mostly dating from the Victorian period.
Costume and textiles – we hold a variety of textiles and costumes in our collection, some locally made and other items brought back by Moray residents from their global travels. This includes ladies’ clothing from around 1850, army and local uniforms and men’s hats, costume jewellery, samplers and embroideries.
Boats – the collection includes the last Spey coracle, a log boat (dated to 1060 AD by C14) and a model Zulu.
Ethnography – one reason for the need for ever increasing space by the Museum founders was the amount of “stuff” they had acquired, brought home by local people who travelled or worked around the world and donated to Elgin Museum. Not all the collectors were men: Mrs Levack voyaged with her sea captain husband and Miss C. F. Gordon Cumming travelled the world including the South Seas, both collecting items of interest on their travels which have been donated to Elgin Museum.
Local history reference material – papers and paraphernalia relating to local Trades, companies (such as Watson’s Sawmill) and societies (such as the Morayshire Farmers’ Club).