Online collections
Over the last couple of years we have been adding catalogues to our website, making it possible to browse and search some of the collections we hold.
These catalogues give a more in-depth insight into specific aspects of our collections and are useful tools for research and additional information.
World Cultures collection
A selection of artefacts from around the world, including items within our Benham and Dauncey collections. Browse by continent and country.
Find out more on the
World Culture collection page, or go straight to the
online collection website.
Plymouth Pictured: 1949 to 1962
A selection of photographs from the
City Engineers collection charting the reconstruction of Plymouth. Browse the
online collection by area and street name
Plymouth Pictured: 1890s to 1910s
A selection of early photographs taken in and around Plymouth, from our Rugg Monk collection. Browse by area and street name.
Find out more on the
Rugg Monk collection page, or go straight to the
online collection website.
An Edwardian album
Over 1000 mixed subject photographs
searchable by subject. Many images are of local, naval and wider maritime interest. Other subjects include canals, fairgrounds, hop-picking, sport and suffragettes. A 'treasure trove'.
Find more about the collection and the owner of the albums, John Palmer, on our
Edwardian album page.
Keys Microscope collection
Microscope slides including cross-sections of plants, mites and beetles.
A third of the slides can be browsed by simple name.
Find out more on the
Keys entomology collection page, or go straight to the
online collection website.
Barstow Mineral collection
A collection of 1,700 minerals - mainly from mines and quarries in Devon and Cornwall. Search by mineral name.
Find out more on the
Barstow mineral collection page, or go straight to the
online collection website.
St. Aubyn Mineral collection
These minerals collected during the 18th century by Sir John St. Aubyn were later dispersed, but have been brought together online.
Find out more on the
St. Aubyn Mineral collection page, or go straight to the
online collection website.
St. Aubyn Herbarium
Search these plants - collected locally and from 18th century nurseries and important gardens - by scientific name.
Find out more on the
St. Aubyn Herbarium page, or go straight to the
online collection website.
Plants and seaweeds of Devon and Cornwall
Search this collection by
simple name or find out more on
George Carter Bignell, who collected these specimens in the early 1900s.
St. Aubyn Micromounts
A selection of objects from this unusual collection of minerals can be searched by mineral name.
Find out more on the
St. Aubyn Micromounts collection page, or go straight to the
online collection website.
Costume Accessories
Due to the fragile nature of costume and textiles, it is often difficult to display them in the museum. Browse through a
selection of accessories from bags, shoes and hats to fans and parasols.
Martin Brothers
The Martin Brothers were a group of ‘art-potters’ who were working in the late Victorian to early 20th century period. Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery holds over 100 items of Martinware. A large proportion came into the collections in 1965 and once belonged to Sydney Greenslade who was an art critic, collector and close friend of the Martin Brothers. This
e-catalogue introduces just some of the items in the collection. For more collection information, please visit our
ceramics page.
Cottonian Collection
This is an 18th century collection of prints, drawings, paintings, a library and smaller groups of objects. It has been given designation status and has its own
Cottonian website where you can find more information, along with an
educational area for teachers.
Plymouth commemorative plaques
Though not 'collection' items, a significant number of historical plaques around the city have been catalogued by the museum. These have been added to an
online catalogue, and also a
Google map. For more information, please see the
historical plaques page.
Additional collection information
Although not available online, we do have further information on the following collections:
Bignell Entomology collection
Pickle collection
Thomas Flower Herbarium
Keep checking this page for further collections as they are added. In the meantime, happy reading and researching!
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