Abstract
A large number of Portuguese secondary schools have scientific collections, which are central elements for the memory and identity of the institutions that maintain them, and contribute to understanding the characteristics that over time have defined public secondary education in Portugal. However, this heritage is still largely unknown. This article draws attention to the historiographic debate surrounding the use of material sources in the history of science education, describing the relevance of natural history collections in Portuguese secondary schools as well as their vulnerability, considering the lack of a general policy or guidelines related to conservation.
material culture; history of science; history of education; natural history collections; secondary education