| Content Warning | A review of the Archive catalogue and documents within the Archive relating to Anthropology identified that some contain information that may be offensive or distressing. This includes racist language, and descriptions of historical collecting and research methods. The Museum does not condone unacceptable language and practices of the past, but has not redacted these records to maintain authenticity and facilitate discovery of records for research, including study of the history of science and museums
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| Description | This collection of 208 portrait photographs was probably started by William Plane Pycraft (1868-1942) who was Head of the Osteology Section (in which Anthropology was orginally studied) from 1907 until his retirement in 1932, when he was succeeded by Francis Charles Fraser (1903-1978).
Many of the photographs were used in the Natural History Museum's exhibition The Races of Mankind, which opened c1908 and ran until at least the 1920s.
In the preface to the first edition of the exhibition guidebook, R Bowdler Sharpe says: 'It may be hoped that the publication of this Guide-Book will stimulate public interest, and thus lead to the growth of the collection. / The attention of those who may have the opportunity of photographing any of the native races of mankind may be directed to the importance of taking such photographs from two aspects – full face and in profile.'
In the preface to the 1912 second edition, Sidney Harmer says that the 'greater number of the life-size photographs were prepared under the supervision of Dr H O Forbes, late Director of the Museum of Liverpool.' Reproductions of Forbes' collection were made by Peter Entwistle, indicated by the initials P. E. on the prints.
The collection contains portraits of people from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Australia. Few of the photographs are dated but internal evidence suggests the period 1850-1900. There are photographs from the Challenger expedition and Lord Delamere's East Africa expedition.
Mounts have been removed from most of the photographs for conservation purposes but the original label has been kept in the sleeve with each photograph.
The reference numbers in Pycraft's handwriting may refer to a card index that no longer survives.
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