Congratulations – Michael Aitken & The Optometry Museum

RECOGNISED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS OVER MANY YEARS

ESA member Michael Aitken was honoured with an Australian Museums and Galleries Association, Victoria Lifetime Achievement for his work with the Cyril Kett Optometry Museum and Archive (established in 1971).

Since 1961, Michael has been an archivist organising and cataloguing items relating to the history of optometry and optometric education. The museum has a collection of more than 4,000 items dating from the 17^th century including spectacles, optometric instruments and equipment, books, art works, archival papers and ephemera has been donated or acquired, all researched and catalogued by the volunteer archivists.

Michael has served continuously as an archivist over 50 years and has been a driving force behind the acquisition and cataloguing of the collection including rare books, while building up a team of volunteers.

The judges commended Michael’s contribution to the organisation in every way possible – financially/philanthropically as well as through collection management and cataloguing. He has contributed significantly to the resource levels of the organisation and his impact has been recognised internationally through several awards.

Visit the Library and see some of the collection:

Some items from the collection are on display in the Schultz foyer and the Nathan library of the College. These displays are changed annually. The Aitken and Hewett Book Collections are held in the Nathan Library. These displays and collections can be visited at any time.

When: ordinary opening hours.
Where: Australian College of Optometry, Corner Keppel and Cardigan Streets. Carlton, Victoria, 3053

The Museum Collection: most of the collection is stored in the basement of the College. Visitors are welcome to visit the museum for historical research or personal curiosity by arrangement with the Librarian or one of the archivists.

Email: acomuseum@aco.org.au

374 Cardigan St, Carlton VIC 3053 Australia

Phone +61 3 9349 7548

See more

Michael has written a guide to sites of sight interest.