Cole Museum of Zoology

The Cole Museum is a remarkable collection in that it was built up in the period 1907 to 1939 by three main people. Professor Cole, Dr Nellie B Eales and Mr Stoneman. The Museum is matched by an equally impressive collection of books including many first editions that Cole bought from his own finances. The books were often displayed with many of the museum specimens but when Cole retired in 1939 they were housed in the library that formed a central part of his home. On his death in 1959 the University was able to purchase these books which are now kept in a special private collection in the main Library. The Museum contains over 4000 specimens all carefully catalogued by Dr Nellie B. Eales. The entries are handwritten frequently with the price paid - if Cole could not obtain them by any other means.