| AdminHistory | Conservation of the Museum collections has its origins within the Department of Geology, later named Department of Palaeontology. The department employed fossil preparators, also known as masons, to prepare fossil specimens for display and study and also to create reconstructions of fossil specimens for example with moulds and plaster casts. It was originally known as the geological workshop, then the Palaeontological Laboratory from c1950. As the Palaeo Lab their work also included conservation of mineralogical and anthropological collections, as well as work on related exhibitions and commercial replication. It later [date?] became known as the Palaeontology Conservation Unit (PCU). The PCU was then [date?] renamed the Conservation Centre. Around 2002 their remit of work expanded significantly with a focus on providing conservation services, preventative and remedial, to the whole of the Museum. Fossil preparation remained a core part of their work, and also included conservation of taxidermy, wet specimens, pinned specimens, models, and paper based collections such as rare books, archives, artwork and botany sheets. Other key activities include exhibition and loan preparation, integrated pest management (IPM), consultancy work and environmental monitoring in galleries and other collections areas.
The Conservation Centre is currently part of the Core Research Labs department, which is part of the Science Directorate.
Early papers regarding fossil preparation can be found within DF PAL - Palaeontology. Photographs of conservators, fossil preparators and their related activities can be found within PH - Photograph Collection.
Here is a selection of notable employees:
CALEB BARLOW (active 1874-1908) ‘Mason’ (fossil preparator), Department of Geology. Appointed by Richard Owen, the first fossil preparator employed at the museum. Much praised for his work on the stegosaur Dacentrurus.
FRANK OSWELL BARLOW (active 1899-1941) Technician, Department of Geology. Responsible for fossil preparation, moulding and casting. Son of Caleb. Achievements include further preparation of Archaeopteryx, reconstructing the skull of Paracyclotosaurus, and for creating a plaster reconstruction of Piltdown skull
LOUIS EMANUEL PARSONS (active 1908-1954) Techincal Assistant, Department of Geology. Fossil preparation and casting. Introduced the use of the air scribe (fossil prep tool, still used today) to the museum. Among other achievements, highly commended for his prep work on Scolosaurus.
HARRY ASHLEY TOOMBS (active: 1928-1958) Chief Experimental Officer, Department of Geology. Known for acid preparation of fossil fish.
ARTHUR EDEN RIXON (active 1933 -1971) Senior Experimental Officer. Pioneered pyrite treatments and acid preparation among other things.
MORNINGTON JOHN MEADE (active 1934-1977) Senior Assistant. Specialties included sectioning, slide making and moulding and casting.
PAT HAMMOND (1947 -? ) Fossil preparator (first female preparator at the museum). Rixon, Hammond and Meade were the core trio at the lab throughout the 1950s.
FRANK HOWIE (1968-1977) Safety and Conservation Advisor. Pyrite treatments and acid preparation.
PETER WHYBROW (active 1971-2002) Senior Scientific Officer and Head of Palaeo Lab in 1981-1990. Prepared the Archaeopteryx braincase and discovered many fossils in Abu Dhabi.
WILLIAM LINDSAY (active 1979-1998) Fossil preparator and illustrator.
RON CROUCHER (active 1956-1994) Senior Scientific Officer. Most notably prepared the dinosaur Baryonyx.
ADRIAN DOYLE (active 1979-2008) Conservation Scientist. Fossil conservation, oxygen free storage and pest management.
LORRAINE CORNISH (active 1980-present) current head of conservation. Specialist replicator and conservator. Has overseen many major projects, including the current Blue Whale central hall display.
GILL COMERFORD (active 1983-present) Preventative conservator and oversees environmental conditions within the collections areas, acting head of conservation
|