Collections

Tallinn University Museum collects items, photos, publications and other materials which reflect the history of Tallinn University and its predecessors from the beginning of the 20th century until today. The museum’s priority is to collect materials related to university employees, educational activities and research as well as materials that reflect student life and activities outside studies.

The museum accepts such items into the collection that are important in the history of Tallinn University and help to complement the current collection. The main principles of complementing the museum’s collection are:

Main criteria:

• Historical value: is the item connected to Tallinn University or university members, in which way the object helps to understand the history of the university
• Aesthetic value: the item has been manufactured masterfully and is a great example of certain skills
• Scientific value: could the item interest researchers
• Social or community value: the item has been made or used in Tallinn University or is connected to Tallinn University in another way

Additional criteria:

• Origin, legend, level of documentation: the museum collects items connected to Tallinn University
• Distinctiveness, representativeness, rarity: the item is an outstanding, rare or unusual example of a certain activity, period; the item has a legend
• Condition, integrity: the museum collects items that preferably have been preserved in full
• Usability in exhibitions, research: the possible suitability of the item for exhibitions and educational programs is taken into account

Due to multiple removals, many materials of Tallinn University Museum have been lost and damaged; thus, we ask for your help in complementing the collections of the museum. If you find that you hold materials which could be interesting in the light of the university’s history and deserve to be preserved and perpetuated for the future generations, please contact the Museum Project Manager.