Millington - Barnard Collection


JOHN MILLINGTON
1779-1868

John Millington, one of the four original faculty members at the University of Mississippi in 1848, was hired as a professor of natural sciences which included chemistry, geology, mineralogy, botany, and natural philosophy. His election to the first faculty at the age of 69 is greatly attributed to "his possession of an excellent collection of apparatus which he proposed to place at the service of the University."The English-born Millington served as a remarkable teacher to the University's first students. He attended Oxford, England, without attaining a degree but did study law, being admitted to the bar. Also he acquired an M.D. degree and was on the teaching staff at Guy's Hospital. He devoted himself to teaching and engineering and gained prominence in these areas. (More on John Millington)
 

FREDERICK BARNARD
1809-1889
Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard was born and raised in Massachusetts, entered Yale at age 15, and graduated second in his class. At age 45, when he became part of the second wave of teachers at the University of Mississippi, Barnard had already established a widespread reputation as a journalist, editor, poet, orator, scientific experimenter and inventor, astronomer, surveyor and a pioneer in educational philosophy and methods.In 1854, Barnard became professor of mathematics, astronomy, and civil engineering at the University of Mississippi. He also taught physics and chemistry which led to his attempt to make science supreme at the University. In 1856, Barnard was elected president of the faculty of the University after having served as interim president after Judge Augustus Baldwin Longstreet had resigned. (More on Frederick A.P. Barnard)

One highlight of the Millington-Barnard Collection of Scientific Instruments is a "magic lantern" and a set of 30 "magic lantern slides". To view these slides and learn more about them click here. 

Approximately 500 19th century scientific instruments, used by John Millington and Frederick A.P. Barnard to teach University students from 1848 to 1861 are preserved in the University Museums collections. The apparatus consist of actual instruments, models of larger machines, or demonstration devices for the teaching of natural philosophy (physics) and astronomy. Millington brought his scientific apparatus to the University in 1848 after teaching natural sciences in England and the United States. In 1857, Barnard built an astronomical observatory and filled it with the finest precision instruments identical to those used in the prestigious L'Ecole Polytechinque. Many of the pieces came from the Paris instrument makers Lerebours et Secretan, the foremost instrument makers of the time.

Anamorphic Cylinder

Whirling Table

Prisms
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