The hidden hands that built the foundations of modern natural history collections
In short: European naturalists are often credited with the great discoveries of the colonial era, yet their success relied heavily on the unrecorded expertise of Indigenous and enslaved people. From taxidermy techniques to medicinal plant discoveries, these forgotten figures were essential to the scientific collections we study today.
The Natural History Museum in London houses over 80 million objects, yet the history behind these specimens is often incomplete. During the height of the British Empire and the transatlantic slave trade, European scientists frequently relied on the deep knowledge of local landscapes and nature held by Indigenous and enslaved people. Without this expertise, many expeditions would have failed to source the specimens that now define our understanding of the natural world.
One prominent example is John Edmonstone, a formerly enslaved man from Guyana who taught taxidermy to a young Charles Darwin at Edinburgh University. The skills Edmonstone shared regarding the preservation of bird skins were vital to Darwin’s later work on the HMS Beagle, which ultimately contributed to his theory of evolution. Similarly, the vast collection of Sir Hans Sloane, which forms the core of the museum’s holdings, includes over 800 specimens from Jamaica, some acquired with the help of enslaved people. Sloane is often credited with inventing drinking chocolate, yet historians emphasize that Jamaicans had been preparing the beverage long before his arrival.
The legacy of these contributors is sometimes hidden in plain sight. The plant species Quassia amara, featured on a ceiling panel in the museum's Hintze Hall, is named after the Surinamese freedman and natural scientist Graman Kwasi. Kwasi discovered the plant's medicinal properties and used it to treat various ailments, a success that allowed him to purchase his own freedom. Despite his scientific contributions, he remains a controversial figure in history. By uncovering these stories, curators like Miranda Lowe CBE aim to address the gaps in the colonial record and ensure that the contributions of Black people to science are no longer ignored.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Untold stories: The forgotten collectors | Black natural history
- Also: Black history at the Natural History Museum | Natural History Museum
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/ideas-untold-stories-the-forgotten-collectors-black-natural-histor.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
