A Conversation with Robert G.W. Anderson Eminent Chemist and Director of the British Museum John H. Wotiz Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901
I n 1971 I started teaching a unique travel and study course i n the History of Chemistry ( I ) . This course was repeated 10 times in a 20-year span. I arranged a n itinerary all over Europe that brought us to places where history of chemistry had been made andlor where i t was on exhibit (museums). I also arranged special lectures by local historians andlor curators. I soon became acquainted with most of the European science curators and also was able to compare the quality of the exhibits. A critical directory of chemistry museums of Europe was published i n 1982 (21. The top honor went to Robert G.W. Anderson, and the exhibits that he curated andior developed. I followed his career from Assistant Keeper i n the Royal Scottish Museum (RSMj, to become head chemistry curator of The Science Museum. South Kensineton (London), and back to < included vasr curnroKdinhurgh ;is Ilin~ctorof R S ~ Thi.; t i r i l rrwmeihilitie-; bwnnd iciencc arid technolocv. The exhibits siarted to take on the "Anderson Touch". ?;hey were effective, informative, and arranged i n a manner that even the non-connoisseur could understand, enjoy, and learn from. I t was my personal pleasure to have nominated Anderson for the ACS Dexter Award, a n international honor that he received i n 1986 recognizing his outstanding contribution to the history of chemistry through his exquisite exhibits. This was the first. and still is the onlv. " . Dexter Award to a curator. I n the nomination for the Dexter Award I made a medict i m that Andrrson wnuld e\,entually berome the Ilirector ofthe entire London Scienre Museum, which in my opinion is the most prc.it~gioussrlence museum in the world. A'aturnllv. I am most !,leased that ,\ndrrarn "dis;ivollintd" inc by becoming the ~ i r e c t oof r the British use& which position is several notches higher. The conversation below began in October 1992, when he hosted my wife and me for lunch in his elegant private quarters in the British Museum. The interview was finished by correspondence during 1993. Q. You arc nou 15.)eor%old, t v p ~ J U toU hut.< ~ u~hi(wd the, hioh-nr~iilc no
