The History of Science Museum contains an internationally important collection of scientific objects, but only about one fifth of the collection is on permanent public display.
Regular Special Exhibitions often showcase objects normally in store. The Collections database contains detailed information on over 30,000 objects, manuscripts, and other archives, many of them photographed. Members of the public can, where appropriate, make research visits to view objects.
Conservation is a crucial part of keeping our collections in pristine condition for display. Read about five conservation interventions our objects underwent to get them in their display-ready state.
From February 2020 until late 2025, our Research, Teaching and Collections team is working on a series of major moves to improved facilities where we can better take care of our collections.
Because of the significant work involved, we are unfortunately not able to offer our normal level of lending to short-term exhibitions during this time.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
More information
If you need more information, please contact our Collections Managers at collections@hsm.ox.ac.uk.
Research, loan, and new image photography
Some of our stored collections will also be less accessible for research, loan, and new image photography. If you are interested in a particular object or collection, please submit a Collections Enquiry and we will check availability for you.
This large and impressive brass armillary sphere is both a working astronomical instrument and a decorative object of display, with a finely modelled sculptural base.
This blackboard was preserved from Einstein’s second lecture in Oxford, on 16 May 1931, and its equations connect the age, density and size of the universe.
‘Behold the disc! It will show you many of the wonders that prove the wisdom of the Merciful; its different motions are by virtue of a single mover, and it has meanings going beyond all meanings.’
The lid of this wooden box carries the initials C.L.D, which stand for Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, who is best known as Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
John Dee is known today for his ‘angelic conversations’ in which – with the help of his medium – he conjured a series of angels in the years between 1582 and 1589.
Moseley's X-ray spectrometer and his mother's pocket diary
Using X-ray spectroscopy, Moseley discovered that every chemical element’s identity is uniquely determined by its atomic number, representing the positive charge on its nucleus.
Wimshurst twin plate electrostatic machine and X-ray material
When Wilhelm Röentgen (1845–1923) announced his discovery of X-rays in 1895 he caused a scientific sensation. That it was possible to see inside a living body provoked amazement amongst the wider public too.
![[Anon.], Mirror of Wonders and Goal of Every Seeker in the Art of Medicine, folios 124v and 125r](https://www.hsm.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/listing_tile_text_displayed_image/public/mhs/images/media/preview_manuscripts.jpg?itok=HW37j17W)
