Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum Library and Archives collections form a national and international resource for researchers and curators in the natural sciences and increasingly in related disciplines including the arts and humanities. They underpin the curatorial work of the NHM Science and support the research work of the NHM scientists. The collections also support academic outreach and the public engagement role of the Museum through exhibitions, lifelong learning and reaching a broader and culturally more diverse audience. 

The Natural History Museum (NHM) Archives collects and manages the historic records of NHM, preserving records of its administrative, scientific and public engagement work as the designated Place of Deposit for the Museum’s own records under the Public Records Act (1958 and later amendments). The collections are an entirely unique source of information and are utilised for the study of the Museum’s own history, scientific research, and cultural, social and family history research.  

NHM Archives hold the records of the Museum’s Department of Botany (reference DF BOT), which has its origins in the Department of Natural and Artificial Productions set up at the founding of the British Museum in 1756. In 1835 the Museum’s botanical collections, consisting of the Sloane herbarium and Sir Joseph Banks herbarium, were amalgamated to form a Botanical Branch of the Department of Natural History, and by 1965 the Department of Botany was responsible for huge herbaria collections, and was active in research of the floras of tropical Africa, Europe, the West Indies and the Far East. Records held in the Museum Archives include Botany departmental correspondence, papers and reports, subject files and specimen acquisition and exchange records.  

In addition to the extensive collection of published works held in the collections, the Library Special Collections include original manuscripts, archives and artworks that span the subject of natural history including botany. These unique and original resources form a significant historical, cultural and rich research resource holding many links to other global institutions and networks.    

Our Reading Room is based at the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, current opening times and information for which can be found on our website. All NHM Library and Archives collections can be searched via the online Discovery Layer, and the Museum Archives can also be searched directly via CalmView.   

For any enquiries relating to the Museum Archives, please contact archives@nhm.ac.uk. For Library enquires and appointments please contact library@nhm.ac.uk