GONTRIBUTIONS TO THE KNOWLEDCE ON THE

FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUCHAREST1)

MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (1830-1960)
by M. IONESCU, B. SCHNAPP and V' DUMITRESCU

on the occasion of the 500-yea,r anniversa,ry of the foundatiou of

the city of Bucharest (1459-1959), interest grows rega,rding the knowletlge
of the iast of Bucharest institutions fomed, in the past century or ea'rlier'
nmong them is the Museum of Natural Historyr which is vaguely known
to have come into being tluring the fourth decad'e of the last century'
A few data tlrawn foom official aots of the time a,re herewith presentedt
with respect to :
L. the peri,oil ol the Museums found,ati'on;
2. the l,ocati,on where the Museum s activity was sta'rted;
3. tha gi,raumstances anil, tha mon which oontributetl to the forming
antl d.evelopment of the Museum in the past century'

1. PBOBLEM OX' TEE MUSEUM S FOUNDATION

The scarce clata previously publishetl admit that the Bucharest

Museum was found,ed around 1834-1836. Grigore Antipa thus wlites :
then minister of
,,This Museum was founded. in 1Q3a by Mihail Ghica,
breetl.s an{l brother of the reigning hospodar Alex. Ghica, antl was named'
Museum of. Zoology and Mineralogyt'2).

r) Also see ,,Travaux du Museum d'hi'stoire Naturelle", Yol. I/1957' Bucharest 1958r
p.7-9. p' 2 (Museum archives' lile n" 2)'
2) Gr. Antipa, from a manuscript r€port of 1898,
Bucharest,1898.
 l0 M. IONESCU, B. SCTINAPP anC V. DUMTTRESCU

The same date is mentioned, with small variations, by

Gr. Antipa
and'by many other researchers who studied the origin of
Among the latter one must mention : r. tn" Museum.
Lepgir;, i. tuga-Ganeaa), M.
B6oescus), Raul crtinescur), Al. v. Grossub),-u.
rauce, efu. In their

{ ,N

Fig' 1. The Museum of Naturar rristory at

- the beginning ot the century.

works, Antipa and the others refe*ed partioulary to

publiohetL around. 18Z8-18?46).
A. x,eturs work,
'with respect
to the year the Museum was found.ed, the authors
fountl a date, close to the above (lg3b), in the Almanach,, for the
years 1836-1841?) (see the ftg. 2, pag. 11). ,rstate
The same date was arso met with in the newspapep
,rMuzeu Nafio-
nal" (,,National Museum") published at the beginning oi raeo, informing

r) r. Lepgi,
,,The Nafional Museum of Natural History,,, from
rI, n' L/1931, p, B, Bucharest, 1g31. ,,Boabe de grfu,,, y'"ag
in tie volume ,,Grigore Antipa, Hommage A son euvre,,, p.64,
."r"n"3rl.rt!t1-Gans2,
tare .-t) M' .Bicescu, The National Museum of Natural
- ilustrate, n" 2-311942, p, 67, Bucharest.- -
History ,,Gr. Antipa,,, Lumea mili-
!) R. Cdlinescu, ,,Introduce_re ln biogeografia
graphy-.of Rumania',), p. 6, Bucharert, fS?O.-- - Romtniei,, (,,Introduction to the biogeo_
o) Al. V. Grossu,
,,eilituza,, (,,duide,,; to the Museum, p. B, Buchafest, 19b6.
') A' Fetu, speech. held-on reception-ai the socletatea i,"ia..ii"a nomhd CRumanian
Academical Society), p. 148, iszi_iCzn.
Bucharesi,
?) Almanahul Statului (State
Almanach) 1g41, p. 149, Bucharcst, 1g41.
 FORMATION AND DSVELOPMENT OF THE BUCHAREST MUSEUM 11

its readers that a ,,l\{useum for Natural Eistory antl Antiquities" had
recently been openecl in Bucharest" 1) (see the fig' 3r Pag' l2-L3)'
similar statements aro also to be found in the booklet of Pius walen-
qte'inz ), a nephew of the Museum's first curator, as well as in the works
of the historian Y. A. Urechia 3). The latter shows that :

j1'. * .r

xESErt. $rsroHr.t.
lreer rtrrlrsarn&m. ch -Fpqlmi! r[ r!rr, !t:li,
:GfilF. ststTsr r|,. Srpe-rtt *"lfink ,{," fin..
BIEilIgItsSr HAEtHrJb"
Iq;eregr trt lmnid, Sirriorcrrg.
; *r t!ry1 I

u f,*reryitrrli

,:,11,,

Fig. 2. - Facsimile from the State Almanach' 1841'

p' 149'

(School Board) of Walachia

,,On July 81 183?r the ,,Eforia qcoalelor"
founds the Museum of Natural Science antt Antiquities, and appoints as
director the drawing Professor walengtein" ' -however, still in urechia's
on page 315
work, there are othJr 6ates liable to lead. the confusion. Thus,
it is staterl that the Museum already existetl in 1836, ancl on page 182

one reacts : ,,In 1832 the Museum is granted. a 5000 lei subsitly"' To clear
and found
up these rliscrepancies the authors investigatetl these references

2) ,,Muzeu Nalional" (,,National .Museum''), Literary and Industrial Gazette, n" l,

year I,'lVeOnesaay February 5, 1836 (first number)'
2) piut W2lengtein, ,,The biography and activity of Carol Walenqtein de Vella", p. 23'
Ploegti, Printing House Lumlna, 1908'
8) V, A. Urechia ,,Istoria gcoalelor (,,Histo.ry of the Schools")' vol' I, 1800-1864,
p. 313, Bucharest, 1892.
t2

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 FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUCFIAREST MUSEUM 13

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ay.<,!c*I{uecpc, , I ., """fi..
,q!ic6 {ff h!d n l*-r*ej|'$ji'i: y1o:t S\p

Fig. 3. - Facsimile from the newspaper,nl\i[uzeu Nalional", p. 1-2.

their origin in the ,,Begul,amentul, Crganic)' (r,Ihe Organic Regulations")t

the first cod.ification with a constitutional character of the Rumanian
Principalities, the first etlition of which was drawn up between 1831 antl
1832, und"er the auspices of the Governor of the Rumanian Principalities,
the Russian general Paul D. Kisseleff.
On page 116 of this document one fintls Urechia's reference about
the subsicly grantetl to the Museum in 1832. Textually : ,,5000 lei shall
be used. in the conrse of the year, to purchase instruments for Physics
and Chemistry, Geometry ancl Mechanics, moclels for Architectureand
Agriculture, collections for Natural Eistory, prints and others" (fig. 5,
pag. 15).
This d.ocument throws light on the oldness of the Museum, proving
that in 1832 alreacly (or before), there existetl in Bucharest organizetl
collections (having the character of a Museum), important enough to be
mentioned. in these codifications, in the press, or by various contemporary
authors. This museum, as there results from the documents available,
vigorously enriches its complex collections connecteal. with education.
So it is that in this same ,rRegulamentul Organictt one can read, at para-
graph 117-page 188-about the organization of theefreelectures on
Natural llistory with ,,The three clivisions of Nature". (A kintl of optional
lectures of that epoch) (fig. 6. pag. 15).
Likewise, in the journals of the Walachia School Board, in 1935 anrL
1836 1) the request is mad.e, the approval is received. and the preparations

r) Jurnalul Eforiei din Muntenia (Journal of the Walachian Board) n' 88 of February
18, 1836. State Archives 777O (ll7-1836) (see the fig. 13, pag. 24).
 PNTBJAilI
o"rJlllI.
l3$l. l*!l al l$f& d
lapr.rrt qr||{ $r sr edr
rclryrlrrt rFii$ a. rr ltsOl Iq.dq +{t{in rF
rata $r {efr ri rf c crF ftl*ia r Intiir+
arrl rlpr oltf lralpt? al c.lorollfill lB&iltl Gfrtrwr
lil ni|l|nu +rrr{r"us ffirg lsl lofit c"ffillnF
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^
BLOP$lm {. IBIIEL($DA A&

ttr6fi{!t.
tlrarr r Etr*r &Isd dffit rn$
-E-er';..;

Fig. 4. - The ,,Regulamentul Organic". Qover of the 1832 and 194? editions,
 FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUCH.{REST MUSEUM

are started for the construction of a hall for the Museum, a fact that
proves beyond any d.oubt the existence and development of the Bucha-

it iiiq;i *'* *r .n *; lr,tp*Ni*u# rr$,r mrtf * ,*r rB*

rtntr itrq8nnr*$f 3r QiSin rui 5r f,ifflr ;r Srorut/r,sl *r l&Xr"
rbrr ro;re{3i nrxt;S t;$rcrSpr ri nnrf trltlr{rr mnlii
m.rf for.ofr nrr8lurf ctrnrrr ui er*rr
.*fu#.A &-- .".Ji q@
*.r.#a

Fig. 5. - Page 116 of the .,Regulamentul Organic" - facsimile'

Grrcrtr
[t8(}td
r
odo60A.

frtopii arrtlrrr.
ll?. firrt rUp rr ut lpnt c+rfuri" r 6r rilnoryhgr nr crflt Ar
uer tpi ;lrnrlgili ur nrtBprii 4xrtgtrsgr rrrryii ryiixqr ct or tp.-
u ar 6,oi rnl, ;*r.trf,es r*gir 4rr torrr lilrrr r$.fr *t Xoi rui tr8-
'
*iris.
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ptolfit ,tr re toir* errr*t;$'rl exfaSi 6ir u6r ui +--tl .it1:
u O;orpeo1f,r .r +r.rf 8* rfp *r fol?l,jl Or rr-4rgrerrl$r atrl ru
clrr r'4rfl loeitunru tprlimoeo uri lrrrr tli rfqAtr$r At iurgr
rrin*r' mrrJ$ 4i :rp,rarr n;iri*r
lSm n cr rr {nrr m;rc nqrry8. toril *ositolrtir osyltrtrltlu
tr.frtn1.^1 nlh rrp.ai *6{n*'6,irr rrgrtur''t-+1rrt''r iut*uAtorx
lrt{p'u
iii,,rlt ntofuran, 0ptfio;|; lt nrrrnni 'nrlo6S'r tr*giri '

Fig. 6. - The free lectures, page 88 of the ,,Regulamentul Organic", 1832'

rest Museum in the yea,rs which precede the writing of these documents.
They are the sources of the references mentioned, of the historian Urechia.
Finally, the testimony of the scholar A. Demitloff who visited it in 1837
 M. IONESCU, B. SCHNAPP and V. DUIUITRESCU

and appreciatetl it as being a museum of great prospects 1) is not less

conclusive. There results from these documents that the beginnings
of
the Museum should be sought around. 1g30-1g82, when the Museum had
an universal character, embracing Natural rfistory, physics and
chemistry,
but also Architecture, Agricurture, paintings, prints or various
quities". rn the course of the following yu*.s the d.evelopment of,,anti-
these
collections renders the Museum's premises insufficient, this reason
leading
to the building of a more spacious halr in which it is ahreacty quartered.
Demitloff's visit. At the same time, the increase of the collections,
oi
the
growth of the Museumts importance and prestige, demand
the employment
of a permanent specialist in the person of the giftua professor
walengtein,
as it is proved by the ,rJurnalul Efo'iei" (,,.lournat
of the Board;'1 oi
July 8, 1837, which acquires the varue of an officiar consecration of the
Museum. A gradual formation of this
.institution --in opposition to the
creation at a certain date, acknowledged by an official document _
is
therefore proved.
As an example, ret one consid.er generar rrissereff's act of 1gB4
with respect to the foundation of the other Natural rristory Museum
of
that periotl ,,Muzeul societd,lii de Medici qi Naturariqti" (,,The Museum
of the Society of Physicians and Naturalistsl'; of yassy.
rlere is how the ,rMuseur d,e rstorie naturard, gi, ie antichitdrir, (,,The
Museum of Natural History antt Antiquities',), the ancestor
of the Bucha_
rest museums was brought into existence.

2. PR,OBLEM OF TIIE LOCATION WEER,E THE MUSEUM OT,

NATIONAIT HISTORY WAS FORMED.

with respect to the location where the Museum was formed, Gr.
Antipa states that it was started. at the collea Eospital in Bucharest.
He wrote: ,,The Reigning prince Ghica foundert in bucharest the ffust,
museum of Natural rristory, at colfea, where the schorars
walenqtein
and Ferrerati worked.t,2.
The other resea,rche,rs immetl.iately accepted. this inttication in
their
works. where this erroneous information, lasting until nowaclays
origi-
nated, is not known, as there is nowhere to be found, any official
act with
r) voyage dans la Russie mdridionale et la
Crimds pa1 la Hongrie, la valachie et la Mol-
davie, exi,cutde par Me Anatole de Demidoff, pp. fSS_iS+, p".i.,'iti,iri.
2) Gr-. Antipa: speech at the inauguration
of tt" -"rl,ir"'i"'til"e="joorr,"t ,,universul,,
26 mai 1908.
 FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUCHAREST T,{USEUM

this tenour. A. Fetu's work quoted above mentions on page 140r among
others things, the existe;rce of anatomic museums of the Bucharest ,,Dforia
Spitalelor Civile" (,,Board. of Civil llospitals") or the Bucha'rest ,,$coala
de Metlicind, qi Farmaeie" (,,School of Medicine and Pharmacy"). These
were however by no means museums of Natural lfistory, but only strictly
specialized. collections useful to the medical teaching of that period. The

a) b)
Figures 7 a and b - M. Ghica and Al. Ghika
more conclusive seems to be the fact that all the documents investigated.t
without any exception, point to the College of St. Sava as being the first
place where the Bucharest, Museum was initially formed and. developed.
So it is that Pius Walenqtein, leaflet mentioned, writes ,,the Museum was
installeil at St. Sava's in 1836" 1).
Ilrechia also states directly in his work quoted" above : ,,At. St.
Savats there is a museum. In 1832 the museum is granted a subsidy. . - - ."')'
The same information is also found in the contemporary publications
mentioned. fn another number of the State Aimanach one finds :
,,This establishment was founded in 1835 under the protection of
the great Ban M. Ghica, curator D. K. Walenqteintt s;. vl'alenqtein however,

r) Pius Walen$tein, op. cit. p. 23.

- P. 182.
t) V. A. Urechia, op. cit.
3) Op. cit. 1839, p. 137.

2 .- c. 3222
 M. IONESCU, B. SCHN_q.pp and V. DUMITRESCU

the curator of the Museum w&s a professor at the college and his nomjna_
tion was made by the school Boa,rd from under the leadership of.p. poe.
na,ru, the Eeadmaster of the college. Moreover, immediately under
this
information the Armanach deals about the college, leaving no doubt

CAHOL 11'ALLENBfSII[ DS VI*trLA

rx rmatrE xm {8 e:n
nupi ux $oErBsr rrroaaf or:: ru
;:
nrxuqr
:,' i,rrs'.-"'rr.trr I -
, l|.$rtTl+.._;+i,illi,:
,,'', ,,,rr,.t,,,t.,:j;i

Fig. 8. _ G. Walengtein.

whatover that the premises of the Museum are understood. as being within
the College(see the fig. 9, pag. 19).
ft also reminded that in the ,,Regulamentul Organic',, on page 116,
the enumeration of the collections for the purchase of which * *r*iay
was granted in 1832 shows beyond any doubt the didacti" *"op", o"""-
ssarily linked with the National college
that time. - the only college existing at
 FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUCHAREST MUSEUM 19

Also, tb.e gazette ,,Muzeu Nalional" (r,National Museumtt), in

which, among other ,,industrial" problems, the opening of the Museum
isannounced, was publishetl by the School Board led by P. Poena,rut

ffi1

fqfq rr
us
rcr l{|&f x*

l*t
g;ffiffire8*n
fdrr* rc nad *oas *erqF|.'* a(f{r_
__ - 1r.
tl'c$4r ta iFIFe! ruGnl{E r cr*l
s,ffiHffiltffi
ffi$ffi;&;h$t#
Srnor*e*e; llr
'iffiAq*ee*.or & -a.rpe-

%ffi'ffi*trpfu.o.ff
*TYY.
Fig. 9.- Facsimile from the State Almanach, 1839.

the director of the College 1). On the other hand. the researchers which
occupied themselves with the history of the College, such as Al. N. Yiiznz),

1) ,,In August 1835, by the written request n' 406, undoubtedly prompted by P. Poe-
naru, the Board members Al. Filipescu and C. Bildceanu sollicited for permission from the
Reigning Prince, to publish a ne$'spaper in the Rumanian and French languages".V.A.Urechia,
op. cit. p. 300.
3) Al. N. Vitzu ,,Studiu asupra lnvdfimlntului secundar,,, pag. 18, Buch., lgggn
 NJ

,1ro**,-t

dBYr

\1
-s,
M'
Fig. 10. - The oltl plan of the city and the location of the trtuseunr at St. Sava's, in comparison with the present
position of the buildings (according to Al. N. Vitzu).
 FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF 'THE BUCHAREST MUSEUM 2l

Mihai Popescul), $tefan Popt) regularly mention the Museum, as well

as its location.
Thus, Stefan Pop quotes from the ,,Curierul Rominesc" (,,Ruma-
nian Mail") n' 109 of 1839, with respect to the visit of the ruler Alex.
Ghica on the occasion of the closing clay festival of July 2, 1839 : ,,AJter
that, His Eighness inspectetl the College boartl.ing-house and. from there
walked. clown to the Museum and. to the National Library"s).
Moreover, Demid.offts testimony is clea,r.When d.escribing the College'
d.uring his visiting of the Museum, he proves that both institutions were
located. in the same premisesa).
There subsists no shad.ow of a tloubt that the Museum remained
at St. Sava's College until 1867, when it was moved to the University
by Gregoriu $tefd,nescu, all the researchers being in agreement on this
point 5. Therefore, the Museum was nevbr housed at the Collea Eospitalt
which was not more distant from the Museum than the University, as it
can be seen from the brief examination of the oltl plans of the city.
Moreovet it is possible for this confusion to have a reason because
of the very proximity of these two institutions, either physical or inother
espects.

3. CAUSES AND MEN WHICH CONIRIBUIED

TO TIIE FOR,MATION AND DEYELOPMENT OT' TEE MUSEIIM.

The passing from the feutlal to the capitalist system, which takes
place in the Rumanian countries especiallf beginning in the second half
of the XVIIIIL century and continues intensely in the first half of the
XIXth century, brings about great economical, politica,l, social and cul-
tural changes. Concomitautly with the economical and cultural impulse,
which coincides with the establishement of the capitalist mode of produc-
tion in the Itumanian Principalities, d.uring this historical period. of great
upheavals, the found.ations of the national Bumanian state are laid, the
oltl institutions are liquiclatetl, new ones are created.
In the people's struggle against a double bond.age : national (Otto-
man yoke) and social (estate owners), the people's great leaders anil the

r) Mihai Popescu ,,Colegiul Nalional Sf. Sava", Buch., 1944.

2) $tefan Pop ,,Colegiul Nalional Sf. Sava ,,Boabe de grlu, an IV,N"7, Iulie 1933, Buch.
31
$tefan Pop, op. cit. pag. 20.
a) A. Demidoff, op. cit. p. 134.
5) On August 27, L867,Dr. C. Ferrerati signs for the Iast time as director of the Museum
of Zoology and lVlineralogy at St. Sava's (see Museum Archives ... file no. 4),
 IIT IONESCU, B. SCHNAPP and V. DUMITRESCU

patdots devoted. to the noble cause of national ind.ependence, uaity anil

sovereignty, suoh as T. Yladimiresou, N; BIlcescu, etc., make their
appeartnce.
Among the new sooial and cultural institutions, the nationar sohool,
pressr theatne antt othersr acquire a great importanoe. one of theso new

It. ff. - Facsimile. ,,Albina Romtneasctr,, (,,The

Rumanlan bee,'). The committeo, founded by Scn€ral
Klgselefl, under the of tbe BCn- Brrn-
"l##;f"n
institutions ie the National Museum of Buoha,rest. The struggle for lirrerty
antl for the peopletg sooia,l betternont was granted. 21 important and
unerpeoted. aid by general Paul Kisseleff. Although a representative of
the fierce ozarist oliga,rchy, he knew the Bumanian rrands and was fond
of them, antl helped. in the fomation of their economioal antt. oultural
institutions. Ee was able to tlraw into the government a pleia,il. of capable
and, honest patriots, fuom which he alreatty made up in fAaO a committ€o
 FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BIJCHAREST MUSEUM

meant to study and to take the necesary steps to organize many popular
institutions among which were also the national schools 1).
Ile also directecl the work leatling to the tlrawing up of the ,rBegu-
lamentul Organic". The popularity gained by Kiseleff explains the grateful

Fig. 12. - o.*Tl,Hil:t",rtt;J?irff:Tffi,or the Rumanian

manifestations of the R,umanian state representatives who proclamed

him an honorary citizen ancl even moved. that his statue be raised.
But Kisseleff disagreed and prompted that the fund,s be used, for
public works (the Drive bearing his name being built with them).
The praiseworthy appreciations of Al. Filipescu, D. Bolintinoanu,
M. I{ogilniceanu, A. D. Xenopol, etc. reflect the public opinion of the timet
2),
which responded to the admirable behaviour of general PauI Kisseleff
--t; etlii-. Ro*i.r""."[ gazette from 30 th March 1830.
aj I. Sendrulescu, ,,Paiel Kisseleff qi romlnii" (,,Paul Kisseleff and the Rumanians").
Anal. Univ. C. I. Parhon. Series St' Sociale Istorice no' 9, 1957, pp' 161-162, Bucharcst'
 M. IONESCU, B. SCHN-{pp and V. DUMITRESCU

The formation of the Bucharest Museum is closely connected. with

this multilateral activity of Kisseleff's, to which among
others, Arex. and Mihail Ghica, Ban Brincoveanu, Al."orrt"ibot"d,
Filipescu, cons--
tantin Bd,ld,ceanu, Barbu Stirbey, etc.

:a : t"a.
r:;1'l
f::rSJt'I::'
*r*
b
b

l't'
ir y' tl

ati:

. Fig. 13. _ V. poenaru facsimile (Board Journal).

They either worked in the officiar committees, or as members
of
the school Board. with its seat at the ,,colegiul Nalionar cle ra
(rrNational college of St. sava"), created ny en. r,azilr
sf. sava',
and. then directed_
by ron Eliacte. This is where the renownecl pleiad of d.emocrat champions
headetl by N. Bd,lcescu sprang up.
 FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUCHAREST IV1USEUM

fn the Museums development, an important part was playetl by

Petrache Poenaru, the Headmaster of St. Sava's College, who organizecl
and encouraged the collection activity of valuable material, backing
the development of the Museum both by building the hall already men-
tidnect antL by subsidies for enlarging its collections, etc.
': u!

"'" l=T4u"=fi*Fdffi|

srffrffiEsIrE
duc ryryii oscp*i ,$l*c lirp la
*.Y*',
I
anr.;*
fhqfcop o ,-."q*,q| .st@d ,v{str&

rfrcei {irurx lh rr'd&rt realpt *l ct co

e*r frql*n:nndE$ d dnu ls lqyr cctc.thpitd
n*u*r * ari h lccr&*
. I drlr"ryp'tfhtote.F{#
c dr:lUup*lCh'lidololilr" m .ryi
'd fctqila crcaets4
noac*.s lltt-

trl0sprrt

+
'I :.
;#xr,Pt-*. - ,,,
Fig. 14. - Qover of the leaflet. Wal$tein's ornithology.

It is still Poenaru who found the specialist, capable of scientifically

organizing the collections of the Museum of National Ilistory as well
as the the art oollections (antiquities), in tho person of the eminent painter
and naturalist Carol, Watl,enstain or Walqtein de Vell,a, who offieially
d.irected. the Museum for over twenty years (1837-1957)- During his
management in 1850 the collections of phlTsics and of chemistry
- -
 M. IONESCU, B. SCHNAPP rnd v. DUMITRESCU

a're ttisjoined, there only remrining in the Museum the oollections of natu-
ral history and. antiquitiesr).
rhe activity of walgtein who, ftom 1g60, was also the ttireotor .of
the National Picture Gallery of st. sava's, is the rctivity of a progressist
schola,r, a pioneer ia ornithology r;. Eis successor was the specialist .oarlo

Fig. 15. Autographs of Ferreratfl.

-
Eerrratd, one of the few museologists in this country at that time (lgbg-
untler his leadership the Museum of National Eistory and Anti-
-1867).
quities remains exclusively a Mugeum of Natural Eistory, inasmuch as
its historical oollections a,re transfened to the university (1g64). During
this period. the stook of the Museum increases, growing richer'not onrt
with material collecterl in this countny, but also through collections sent
by the italian Museums of Borino, Genova, Morleua a)- Ferrerati led. the

-- .t) s"" Plus wallensteln, op. cit., p. 1g ,,frgP

,. this year - 1gb0
: - - - the natural hlstory
collectl^on wes disJolned from the physlcr colhcttonf
-.-1
fvl. necescu, I..Tdzllloanu-,,Qentenarul prlmei lucrlri orlglnale de ornltologle roml-
neasctr" (-centenary of the tirst original vork on Rumanlan ornltilogy,,), ocrotrrea"Naturri,
no. 1/1955, p. 127, Bucharegt.
r) Soo archtves of old Museum, inventqry books, filo no 6.
Fig. 16. - Gr. $teflnescu, director of the N[useum (1867-1894)'
 M. IONESCU, B. SCHNAPP and V. DUMITRESCU

Rumanian state clelegation to the 186T paris universal exhibition. At that

time the Museum was called. Museum ol zool,ogy anil Mi,neratogy,).among
its collaborators, Petre Georgescu, a worthy naturalist, assistant in the
Museum, is known, who in 186T substituted for Dr. c. Ferrerati then
in Paris in handing over the inventory of the Museum to unirr. - prof-
-

Fig. 17, - The old University where the museum was from 1g67 to 1894.

Gr $rcfanescu, tb'e famous director of the old Museum of Natural Eistory

(1867-1894). The latter moved. the collections from st. sava's to the
university buikling, in three rooms of the right wing, where the Museum
remained. for over a quarter of a century.
The contribution of the geologist and paleontologist Gr. stefd,nescu
to the development of scientific research is notorious. Among other things
he mad.e the first geological map of Rumania, he discovered. an{ Buper-
vised. the restauration of the huge dinothere of Minza$i the Musdum's
most famed exhibit. under his leadership the stock of the - Museum conti-
nued to increase through collections and donalions2), and in the nineties
r) See also the olds inventory book: o f the l\tuseum.
2) H. lV[itrea donations,
 M. IONESCU. B. SCHNAPP and V. DUMITRESCU 29

a section of botany Museum was founded, under the management of the

great botanist D. Brintlzd,. It is well-known that the Institute and Museum
of Botany (at Cotroceni) was - unfortunately - destroyed. by bombs
on April 4,794L together with its precious collections.

*w;

Fis' 18' - Front n' 1e' rlu-

J:H:1tj';,1!iiifir,rYirff)':"n'
During its shelter at the University, the Museum, und"er the mana-
gement of Gr. $tefd,nescu, was called" trIuseum ol Natural History.
Beginning on July 15, 1894, its management is taken over by Gr. A'n-
ti,pa, a doctor in zoology from the lJniversity of Iena, who later became
Fig. 19. - Antipa's collaborators (R. Dombrowsky, C. Diescu and others).
 FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUCHARES'T MUSEUM 31

a gTeat hyilrobiologist antL ichtyologist. Ee moved the Museum's zoolo-

gical collections, from the University, to a builtling (the Porumbaru house)'
str. Polon6l) where, in 9-10 rooms on the grountl. - and. first floorr the
old collections, enla,rgetl by new exhibits, were shown.
Using the sca,rce sta,ff (here, one reminds of the assistant Constantin
Ddescu), to which he acltts the well-known ornithologist R,. Dombrovski

Fig. 20. - The present Museum.

and the renowned entomologist MontandonrAn6ip6 personally prepares

numeroug exhibits that w"ill stand at the basis of the future collections of
the Museum, later known as the Mwseum ol Zool'ogg.
Through journeys in this country, in Europe and. in America, as
well as owing to the support antl help of llaeckel, Kuckenthal, Steindao-
hner, Dohrn, I-.lo Bianco and other numerous naturalists, his colleagUes
anct frientl.s from Iena, many of whom were directors of museums or of
research institutes, A:rtipa succeeds in obtaining faunal material from
the whole world., with which he organizes rich and varied colleotions.

1) On the actual site of the Municipal Building of the 1st of May district, where the
Museum was housed from 1894 to 1906 see also fig. 18, page 29.
 M. IONESCU, B. SCI{N-A,PP and V. DUTVIITRESCU

Beginning in 1906, he transfers this material in the present.building

of rcisseleff -Drive, n" 1, built thanks to his efforts and inaugurated, on
May 24th, 1908,
rn his intensive work of collection, determination and. preparation
of the zoological pieces, Antipa found valorous collaborators in the ento-

Fig. 21. ped:ment worked by the sculptor D. paciurea

-
omologist salay, as well as naturalists such popa Burc6 and others. The
Museumts collections thus increased continuously. To the sixteen initial
roomsr eleven more are ad.tled in 1g14, the exhibits being provid.ed with
painted backgrounds. The basse-relievo, the paintings of this building,
the dioramas renowned jn their time are created. with the help ;f
-
well-known artists such as: the painter - stefan popescu, the sculptor
D. Paciureal), then the painters Canisius, polonic, Sfinlescu, etc.
rn the following years the Bucharest Museum continues to grow
richer, with material from all the branches of natural science, becoming
thanks to Gr. Antipa's efforts better and. better known and appre-
- -
) D-P""t,rt* cr91t9d the artistic group ,,Science" on the Museum,s pediment, which
was destroyed by the 1940 earthquake (See fig. 27 pag. 32).
 !,- '.
6, '' W&,
fu#@4q' :W./;a
t. '.
, **9#
')
e
I
.1 .
:1" ,
:i: '

i,,' 'r . '.: .

;.i ., r .::':i,r .

Irig. 22. - Gr..\ntipa, the director of the \Iuseurrr (113!)1-19.1.1). and Dr.. -\'ictor Piet-
schnrann of Vienna.
:l c.:]:11:.1
 M. IONESCU, B. SCHNAPP and V. DUMITRESCU

ciaterl und"er the name of Nati,onal, Museum ol Natural, Ei,storg, Starting

from its centena,ry celebration in 1933 it acquires in homage to the
contrjbution brought by its director the name -whioh it still bears
nowadays: Museum, ol Natural, Hi,story - ,r@r. Antipa".
Nearing its anniversary of 130 yea,rs of activity, the Museum of
Natural Ilistory ,rGr. Antipa" sprang up anew after tho bomba,rdments
which brought it near to total destruction, being re-opened. at the b"gtg-
ning of 1948. In this scope, the liberal support of our government wqs
necessary, as well as the intensive work of the Museumts staff Bc&roo
in number - dama-
to wrest from destruction many of the pieces seriously
gerl. by the - ea,rthquake, by tho fasoist rebellion and especiatly by thg
bomba,rd.ments. Und.er these difficult cond.itions, the separation wqs
realized. for the first time, of the important forms of aboriginal.animalg,
the exhibition ,rFauna of the Rumanian People's Republict', whose collec-
tions grow richer and. richer, being created.
Through the care of the popular democratic goyernment, the diff!-
culties which cwbod the clevelopment of the Museum anrt tho soientific
resea,rch a,re continuously removed, an unprecedentetl periotl of expansioT
being und.er way.
Year after year the Museumts results are improved., both in the
work of diffusion of culture among tho masses and in the d.evelopment
of its relations with the researchers in this country and abroad. Tho level
of sciontific research, in which the older specialists as well as the younger
ones, formetl in the yea,rs of existence of this young Republio yiekl more
antl more fruitful results, increases.
fhe tlevelopment of the Museum of Natural Eistory is a live example
of the great achievements realized in tho Rumanian Peoplets Eepublic
by the eager, mod.est and persistent work of the whole nation.

coNTRrBUTrr LA CUNOA$TEREA FOEMaBTI $I DEZVOI/Tanrr

Nrazdvt rJr DE ISTOBIE r{ATURALa OnV BUCURESTI
(1830-1e60)

REZUMAT

Autorii aratd, cd' furceputurile Muzeului trebuesc cf,,utate prin anii

1831-18.?.2 la Colegiul Nalional de la Sf. Sava, ale c5,rui colecfii, printre
ca,reimportante coleclii d.e Istorie Natural5,, aveau caracter public, muzeal.
Acte formale do constituirea muzeului nu se gisesc ptnd tn 1937,
dogi numeroase documente confirmd, existenla muzeului cu mult inainto.
 FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE B.UCFIAREST MUSEUM 3F

Muzeul de la sf. sava se tnfiinteaz6 ln mod. oficial tn anul 1gB?

avlnd. ca specialist (conservator) pe Piof. Ca,rol Walstein prefect (direc--
-
tgrJ fiinp dupd, numeroase referinfe Mihail Ghica, pe care fus6 actil ofi.
oial nu-l menfioneazi.
se a,ratd' succesiunea etapelor de d,esvolta,re a muzeurui. mentiontn-
du-se ln .special aaortul adu-s d.e G-regoriu s_tefdnescu E Grigore lntipa,
precum qi oonttifiile favorabile actuale Creato de regimul demociat poprlia,r.

HEITOTOPbIE AAHHbIE O COBAAHT,TI !I PABBTITTNil

FYXA PE CTC T(O IO ECTECTBE H H O-I4CTO PIIIIEC ITO I O MY3 E ff

PEStrOME

_^^^ Asroprr ynaBhrBaror, qro rlatraJro Myaea HaAo r,renarb B fr. 1gg1-
L832 s HarlrrouaJrbgoft Koilefrdr4 Cr. CasLrrr fAe xpauuJrrrcb r(o{Jrenqrra
ny6nuurolo u uyaeftrrofo ftapanrepa, cpeArr Horopr{x HaxoAtrJrr,rcb rr Ba?n-
HEIO €CTeCTB€HIII'I€ nOJ[Jleltqnu.
oopuau'r'-r€ rofiJrMeHrbr rro cograrr.ur Myaer He uMerorcfi no 1gB? f.,
xorE MHOrOqr4CJteHHbIe Aonjmeurbl yrBeprfi Aaror cyrqecrBoBaHrre MSnaen rrd
MtrOfO pAHbrrre
Myaeft upn ftouuerun cn. caasbr 6rr.rr coagan c{nquanrnno n 1&3? r,
lm{e.fl B KaqecrBe cnequaJrucra flpc{. Kapn Ba.refurrefiH u nr4peKropa
rro MHofr{M JrKaBaHusM, Muxalr.n luna, o noroporu n oQuquauurrlx 4oliy-
MeHTaX He JmoMr,rHaeTcff
vraausaerc.s qepenoBaHr.re Erarog paBBrrrrrff Mlaer r,r oco6enuo,
BrrrraA npc$eccopa rp. IllleftHecny u l-pd lp. Anruni, u rrorroilrr4reJrb-
rlbre coBpeMerlHbre ycJIoBff Myaen, coBAarrrrEle crpoeM napopnoft
AeMor(parflI|.