Collections Enquiry Service

The collections enquiries service (formerly known as the Study room) is the department's first point of contact for public enquiries or research requests relating to our collections. It is housed in the Centre for Anthropology, at the north entrance of the Museum.

Opening hours:

Monday- Friday: 10.00-12.00 and 13.00-16.45 (by appointment only)
Closed weekends and Bank Holidays.

Contact us:

Tel: 020 7323 8041
aoa@thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

British Museum
Centre for Anthropology
Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3DG

Research facilities

The collection enquiry service offers a number of facilities for researchers:

A selection of photographs of objects in the collections: Stored by continent, the black and white photographs represent around 10% of the objects in the collection. There are fewer colour slides and 5x4" transparencies.

Copies of Accession Registers and the computerised database of the collections. Help is on hand to explain these resources which often exhibit complicated registration numbers or computer notation.

Supplementary ethnographical documents relating to the collections.

Advice about the department, its collections and its exhibitions etc.

A selection of general books pertinent to the study of the Department's collections and the subject matter covered by ethnographic study.

A selection of educational resources.

Receipt and processing of objects or collections for purchase or donation.

A selection of bibliographies on ethnographic topics