What You Can Find In The Museum

The Kett Museum and Archive contains:

• books dating from the late 17thC on optics, optometry, ophthalmology and vision science that are of historical importance
• ophthalmic and optical instruments dating from the 19thC
• spectacles, spectacle lenses and cases dating from the 18thC
• archival papers and memorabilia to do with the history of optometry in Australia
• photographs, paintings and drawings relating to optometry in Australia

How to find things

Search for specific items in the catalogue. You can also browse the catalogue by category of item, keyword or a person’s name in the keyword field, the author field or the donor field.  You can narrow your search for a keyword or a phrase by choosing the item category field, sub-category or time period from the drop down menus.

Most catalogue entries include a short description of the historical significance of items and most have a photograph of the item or of the author or inventor, in addition to a description of the item.

The location of items is shown on the catalogue record.

Most items are stored in the archive room. A few items are on public display in the Schultz foyer and in the entry to Nathan Library. Most of the paintings and a few photographs are on display in the public areas of the College. The books in the Hewett and Aitken collections are held in the Nathan Library.

You can arrange to visit the museum to see and photograph objects.

We can send you high resolution digital images of photographs and paintings by email. We can copy documents for you and post or email them to you. These services are provided free of charge to members of the College. Non-members pay a small administration fee and postage costs.