Explore objects revealing the many ways medical professionals have thought about and treated mental illness, as well as attempts to measure and categorise people, whether physically or mentally.
Psychology, Psychiatry & Anthropometry
‘The Non-verbal ‘thinking’ of children and its place in Psychotherapy’, by Margaret Lowenfeld, P.M.Traill and F.H.Rowles, Institute of Child Psychology (ICP) publication, 1964.
Wallen's peg board "A" Stutsman test by C.H. Stoelting Co., Chicago
1960-1990
Bingley Tutor, a self-administered tutorial device, with three separate teaching scrolls, as used by the Department of Psychology at the University of Liverpool, c.1980-2000.
Peg Board Test, consisting of a 4 x 4 grid of numbered holes, as used by the Department of Psychology at the University of Liverpool, c.1980-2000.
1992-1997
Face mask used in experiments to study the illusion of depth reversal, made in-house, Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Scotland, 1992-97.
Nine square plastic Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (3rd UK Edition) pattern test blocks, by Pearson Assessment, London, England, 1998-2000. Used in the Lothian cohort study.
Record with yellow manufacturing label, marked with 'O (b)' and in a brown paper sleeve. Made by M.S.S. Recording Co. Ltd., Colnbrook, Bucks, England.
4-pole decade box marked 'Thousands, Hundreds, Tens, Units', no maker marked
1900-1920
Replica of handcuffs. The original, probably from the late 19th or early 20th century, was found around 1930 in a chest in the cellar at Hanwell Asylum, the asylum on the outskirts of London whose superintendant, John Conolly (1794-1866), famously renounced all instruments of mechanical restraint in favor of 'moral treatment,' that is, regular labour under constant close surveillance.
Monkey skull, complete with lower mandible, possibly for phrenological use, from the British Phrenological Society.
1990-1999
Colour booklet, 14 pages.
c.1977
Amplivox 115 audiometer with earphones, used for experiments on audition, made in England c. 1977.
Record marked side 3: 3 voices, by Times Film Co. Ltd., Manchester
Record marked Copy 2 I on one side, Copy 2 II on other, in cardboard sleeve, by Times Film Co. Ltd., Manchester
Record marked 'Record I: Voices 1, 2, 3' in cardboard sleeve, by Times Film Co. Ltd., Manchester
Record marked 'To Accompany Film Strip Judgements of Speech' in brown sleeve, by Times Film Co. Ltd., Manchester
Chronoscope, D'Arsonval's electric chronometer, by G. Boulitte, Paris with two switch devices and green cabling
1800-1899
Plaster phrenological head, possibly of a 'companion of Gall's', 19th century.
Plaster phrenological head, possibly of the composer Haydn, 19th century.
Plaster phrenological head of unidentified male, 19th century.
1824
Plaster phrenological head of John Pallet, murderer, by O'Neill, Edinburgh, c.1824
1947
Clarke and Horsley stereotactic apparatus (cat brain tester) by Muirhead and Co. Ltd., 1947
Decade resistance box, Type A-6-A 'Tenths', by Muirhead and Co. Ltd.
1921-1939
A dressmaker's test, parts chosen for display, comprised of needles, bodkins, pins and 2 pieces of webbing with red thread attached. 1918-1939.
1930-1965
Two enamelled plates, one stamped "K.M.H." (Kent Mental Hospital), the other "B.H."( Barming Hospital), 1930-1965
1950-1990
Rubber electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) mouth gag by Ectron used at St. Francis Psychiatric Hospital, 1950-1990. Some teeth marks are visible.
1950-1980
5 piece Manikin object assembly test for use in the Weschler Adult Intelligence Test distributed by The National Foundation for Educational Research in England and Wales, 79 Wimpole Street, London, W1 by arrangement with the Psychological Corporation, New York, original blue box (2001-379/4)
1960-1970
Chronotron model 25E by Electronic Instruments Ltd., England, 1960-1970
1948-1980
Book of slips for patient passes to leave the hospital (blank), from St. Francis Psychiatric Hospital, Haywards Heath, Sussex, England, 1948-1980.
2011
Prototype 5-choice serial reaction time apparatus for automated analysis of impulse control of behaviour in zebrafish, including pipette used to supply food reward (brine shrimp). Developed at Queen Mary, University of London, by Caroline Brennan and Matthew Parker (School of Biological and Chemical Sciences), and Chris Straw, Dennis Ife, and Jun Ma (School of Engineering and Materials Science), 2011.
1961-1990
Nineteen psychological test catalogues from various international suppliers, 1961-1990.
1965-1995
Metal and plastic single switches, used in experiments on reaction time, 1965-1995.
Fish net used to transfer zebrafish between home tanks and behavioural testing apparatus, sold by Aquatic Habitats, used in Caroline Brennan’s laboratory at Queen Mary, University of London, 2011.
1999
'Paleocal-1', dual-axis calipers, made by Paleo-Tech Instruments, Wheeling, Illinois, United States and the Mitutoyo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, 1999. Used by skeletal biologists to study human remains.
1990-2000
Three children's books, American and Canadian, 1990-2000. Titles consist of (1) 'Dazzle the Dinosaur' by Marcus Pfister (North-South Books, Canada, 1994-2000); (2) 'The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System', by Joanna Cole, illustrated by Bruce Degen (Scholastic Inc., New York, United States, 1990); (3) 'The Poky Little Puppy's Little Counting Book', by Rita Balducci and Jean Chandler (A Golden Book, New York, United States, 1996).
1700-1940
Blanket supposedly used to restrain violent inmates. Probably from the 19th or early 20th century; found around 1930 in a chest in the cellar at Hanwell Asylum, the asylum on the outskirts of London whose superintendant, John Conolly (1794-1866), famously renounced all instruments of mechanical restraint in favor of 'moral treatment,' that is, regular labour under constant close surveillance.
1920-1970
Metal model of a tree with rounded, green leaves and a brown trunk, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Wooden model of a conifer, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a man wearing a Native American headress, metallic surface, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a man wearing yellow trousers and carrying a stick, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a cowboy wearing a brown stetson, a blue shirt and brown trousers, holding guns in both hands, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a dark green cannon mounted on a green vehicle, with long barrel, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a clump of reeds, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Plastic model of a swan with an orange beak, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970
Metal model of a man wearing a metal helmet, brown coat and trousers, carrying a brown object in his hand, one articulated arm, unknown maker, used in Margaret Lowenfeld's 'World Technique', 1920-1970