Welcome to the University of Dundee Museum Services

Our fascinating collections cover a wide range of objects of artistic, historical and scientific interest.

PLEASE NOTE - DUE TO RESTRICTIONS RELATING TO COVID-19, OUR MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED. FROM 26 APRIL 2021 WE CAN PROVIDE ACCESS TO SOME OF OUR VENUES AND COLLECTIONS BY APPOINTMENT. PLEASE ALSO CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CONNECTING WITH US ONLINE.

OBJECT OF THE MONTH

‌‌‌‌ butterfly ‌

Specimen of Hypolimnas anthedon (known as the Variable Eggfly) which claims on its accompanying label to come from “Africa (Stanley expedition)”. Sir Henry Stanley was a journalist and explorer famous for his meeting with David Livingstone near Lake Tanganyika and his journeys to find the source of the Nile. He remains a controversial figure because of his role in the Belgian colonisation of the Congo, his deals with slave traders and his alleged mistreatment of African people. The expedition referred to here was probably the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition to the Sudan (1886-89), mainly to rescue the besieged governor of Equatoria, but also to pursue British territorial ambitions. Find out more about our Decolonising the D'Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum project here.

The University has over 30,000 historic artefacts, artworks and specimens acquired during the 140 years of the institution's existence. These are cared for by Museum Services, which has been awarded Full Accreditation as a public museum service.