Reading Heads & Ruling Passions

An Exhibition on Phrenology

Phrenology is commonly regarded derisively as a quirk of history, something best forgotten. However, an examination of the rise of phrenology in the early nineteenth century provides insights into the social, political and scientific transformations occurring in Britain and other English speaking countries.

Phrenology aroused the passions of its supporters and opponents. With the rise of 'practical' phrenologists in the mid nineteenth century, phrenology achieved wider popular appeal at the expense of its more elite supporters. Practical phrenology was at its height at the end of the nineteenth century, but persisted well into the twentieth century. As a window on cultural values phrenology deserves wider recognition than it has received.

Acknowledgements

Reading Heads & Ruling Passions has been prepared by the Macleay Museum with the participation of
Dr Michael Shortland and a group of History and Philosophy of Science students.

The Museum gratefully acknowledges the loan of items from:
Rare Books, Fisher Library
Psychology Department Museum
Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
History of Medicine Library, Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Justice and Police Museum
Brian Hill, 'The Glass Stopper' Antiques
Co-op Bookshop, Bay Street
REMO
and from private individuals.

Philadelphia Museum of Art kindly granted permission to reproduce an original artwork in their possession.