Display Window Archive: Sidney's South Seas Souvenirs

Years before Sidney W. Brown (1865-1941) joined the BBC in Baden, he sought his fortune overseas. The cabinet exhibition SchaufensterArchiv accompanies the young engineer on his 14-month journey to colonies of the time with the help of original letters, documents, photos and objects. From Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Australia, Sidney W. Brown did not bring back the hoped-for mineral resources to Switzerland in 1889, but he did bring back a box of enigmatic artifacts that were to form the cornerstone of his exotic collection.

The motives of Sidney W. Brown's journey, the route he actually took, and the acquaintances he made along the way remained largely obscure for a long time, as did the exact circumstances of the acquisition of the objects from the South Pacific. Recent research results close gaps in the family tradition and shed light on individual facets of the collection's history.

The Schaufenster Archiv (Display Window Archive) format displays selected archival materials from the extensive museum holdings, on a theme changed twice yearly.

Large parts of the archive were systematically indexed and partially digitised in 2017–18. It contains, among other things, certificates, letters, postcards, diaries and photographs from the Brown family estate. The time frame of the documents spans the years 1850 to 1987.

Main picture: Exhibition view Display Window Archive: Sidney's South Seas Souvenirs