The Dr. Mohamad Saleh Museum is a specialized museum located at Dr. Mohamad Saleh Street No. 1, Probolinggo City, East Java. The museum occupies a historic house that once served as the residence and medical practice of a prominent indigenous physician, Dr. Mohamad Saleh. It was later transformed into a museum to commemorate his life, professional achievements, and contributions to medical services and social movements in Indonesia.
The museum building is officially designated as a cultural heritage site, reflecting the medical and social life of the colonial period through the early years of Indonesian independence in Probolinggo.
Type and Management of the Museum
The Dr. Mohamad Saleh Museum is classified as a specialized museum, as its collections focus on the professional journey of a physician as well as the social and medical history of the region.
In terms of museum typology, although it is not explicitly categorized under the national A/B/C classification system, the museum is widely recognized as an important historical museum for the local community.
The museum is owned and managed by the Probolinggo City Government, in collaboration with the Boemi Saleh Foundation and the descendants of Dr. Mohamad Saleh. This partnership ensures effective collection management, building preservation, and public services.
History of the Dr. Mohamad Saleh Museum
The building that now functions as the museum was originally the home and medical practice of Dr. Mohamad Saleh, an indigenous physician who graduated from STOVIA (School tot Opleiding van Indlandsche Artsen) during the Dutch East Indies colonial era.
Dr. Mohamad Saleh was born in Boyolali, Central Java, on March 15, 1888. He later served as a doctor in various regions, including Probolinggo from around the 1920s, where he opened a medical practice and provided healthcare services to the wider community.
Beyond his role as a socially committed physician, Dr. Mohamad Saleh was also actively involved in the national movement. He was one of the founders of Boedi Oetomo, an organization that played a crucial role in the history of Indonesia’s national awakening.
After his passing in 1952, the house was preserved by his family. In March 2013, it was officially opened to the public as a museum following a memorandum of understanding between the family and the city government, allowing future generations to learn about his life and legacy.
Collections of the Dr. Mohamad Saleh Museum
The museum houses a collection of significant historical value, particularly related to medical practice and the life of Dr. Mohamad Saleh as well as the social history of Probolinggo in the past, including:
- Medical and surgical instruments used during the Dutch East Indies period
- Doctor’s practice equipment, including desks, chairs, and antique medical tools
- Photographic documentation, books, and personal archives of Dr. Mohamad Saleh
- Family belongings and early 20th-century pharmaceutical collections
The museum also features rooms that reflect Dr. Saleh’s daily activities, including his medical practice room and spaces used for community discussions.
Objectives and Functions of the Dr. Mohamad Saleh Museum
As the museum does not have an officially published vision and mission statement, its objectives and functions can be summarized as follows:
Objectives:
- To preserve Indonesia’s medical heritage through historical medical equipment and the life story of Dr. Mohamad Saleh
- To serve as an educational information source for the public, students, and researchers on the history of medicine and social development in Indonesia
Functions:
- Medical history education, particularly regarding indigenous doctors from the colonial era to the early independence period
- A local cultural and historical documentation center that illustrates the social and medical context of its time
A cultural and historical tourism destination that attracts both local and out-of-town visitors.
Dr. Mohamad Saleh Museum as an Educational Space & Cultural Heritage
The Dr. Mohamad Saleh Museum is more than a repository of medical artifacts; it serves as an educational space that brings together medical history, local culture, and narratives of Indonesia’s national movement. Its presence enriches public understanding of the vital role played by indigenous medical figures in the development of healthcare and social transformation.
With its authentic collections and preserved historic house, the museum acts as a strong bridge between the past and the present, allowing values of dedication, service, and social activism to be understood in a meaningful and contextual way.
