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Spoliation reports

This institution also provides a list of works with incomplete provenance during the period 1933-1945.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

The Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road
LONDON SW7 5BD

Contact for all enquiries about Holocaust or WWII Spoliation:
Dr. Paul G. Davies, Registrar.
Tel 020-7942-5458
Fax 020-7942-5765

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF COLLECTION
The national collection of art, manuscripts and literature in the natural history subjects. The art collection is comprised principally of art on paper (circa 500,000 items)

1. OVERALL PLANS
A Areas which could contain looted items
Very little, if any, of the Museum's collection is likely to have been the subject of spoliation.

B Areas excluded and why
Virtually all of the Natural History specimen collections, and all items created after 1945.

C Areas prioritised for research and why
Mainly scientific watercolours, acquired since 1933. However, the content of the collection strongly represents the British Colonial experience with many items having come directly to the Museum or via another British government department prior to 1933.
In the case of many European collections, scientific watercolours were kept up to the early post- war period within the specimen collections - and they tended to be overlooked by those looting works of art.

D Areas of Collection to be dealt with in due course and timetable
None

E Areas considered a lower priority and why


2. RESEARCH CARRIED OUT OR BEING CARRIED OUT IN TARGET AREAS.
A Process and sources for initial checks from information readily to hand
The museum is satisfied that the provenance of all items checked is such that none have come into its possession either directly or indirectly as a result of any unlawful activity by any person as a result of their action during the Holocaust or World War II.

B Description of checks being carried out beyond desk research


3. INFORMATION REGARDING PROGRESS IN TARGET AREA
A No. of items in target area
366 collections and items

B No. of items where provenance has been tested satisfactorily.
366 collections and items.


4. INFORMATION ON MAKING GENERAL ENQUIRIES OR ABOUT COLLECTIONS
A Contact for all enquiries about Holocaust or WWII Spoliation
Christopher Mills, Head of Collections & Readers Services. Tel 020-7942-5574
Fax 020-7942-5559

B Details of information sources held and how to get access to them
Details on the collections can be found via the Library's catalogue and in various printed guides:
Catalogue of the books, manuscripts, maps and drawings in the British Museum (Natural History).
Thackray, J.C. A guide to the Official Archives of The Natural History Museum, London
Sawyer, F.C. A short history of the Libraries and list of MSS and original drawings in The British Museum (Natural History)
Thackray, J.C. A Catalogue of portraits, paintings and sculpture at The Natural History Museum, London
Thackray, J.C. A Catalogue of manuscripts and drawings in the General Library of The Natural History Museum, London
Harvey, J.M.V et al. A catalogue of manuscripts in the Entomology Library of The Natural History Museum, London
Warr, F.E. Manuscripts and drawings in the Ornithology and Rothschild Libraries of The Natural History Museum at Tring
Conversion of the card catalogue onto the catalogue is 80% complete. Card catalogues in each library should be consulted also, for the remaining 20%.

Archives
The Official Archives of The Natural History Museum comprise those papers, drawings, photographs and other media generated as a result of the work of the Museum that have been selected for permanent preservation and handed over to the care of the Archivist. All aspects of the Museum's work are documented in the Archives. Its contents range from scientific research, curation, exhibition production, education, publishing, building maintenance, library provision and internal management to letters from correspondents world-wide requesting or providing advice and expertise. The records are classed as public records and the Official Archives are recognised as a Place of Deposit by The National Archives. Although most records date from the opening of the Museum in 1881, the earliest items in the collection date from 1755 and represent items transferred to South Kensington by the natural history departments after leaving the British Museum.

The Official Archives also provide a Modern Records Service to many Museum departments facilitating the management of documentation created on a day to day basis and enabling the selection of key records for permanent preservation.

Access to the official Archives is via the General Library Reading Room, open to the public Monday to Friday, 10am to 4.30pm by appointment.

A guide to the archives has been published, ' A Guide to the Official Archives of The Natural History Museum, London' by John C Thackray 1998 ISBN 0 901 843 08 3.

Data for records held is being sent to The National Archives for participation in their PROCAT electronic catalogue. Further information is available from the Archivist, Department of Library and Information Services
The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, email: archives@nhm.ac.uk

The Museum holds its own records. For information on what is held see:
Thackray, J.C. A guide to the Official Archives of The Natural History Museum, London. A database is held in the Archive Office giving greater detail and this will shortly be made available via The National Archives AD2001 website.
Records are normally available after 30 years.

C How to make enquiries about collections
Initial enquiries should be made to the appropriate Subject Librarian or the Head of Collections and Readers' Services. Appointments can be made to see particular items and to discuss them with the appropriate member of staff. The Library is open Monday to Friday 10am - 4.30pm but visitors should ring in advance to make an appointment

D Press office contact

Sarah Hoyle
020 7942 5189
s.hoyle@nhm.ac.uk

E Address of the institution
The Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road
LONDON
SW7 5BD

F Website
www.nhm.ac.uk