List of keepers of the British Museum

The keepers are heads of the various departments of the British Museum. They are professional curators and related academics. There are currently nine departments plus the Portable Antiquities Scheme that have keepers.

Keepers of Africa, Oceania and the Americas

The Keeper of Africa, Oceania and the Americas is head of the Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas (Department of Ethnography until 2004).

• 1953–1969: Adrian Digby[1]
• 1969–1974: William Buller Fagg
• 1974–1990: Malcolm McLeod[2]
• 1991–2004: John Mack[3]
• 1005-2012: J. C. H. King
• 2012–present: Lissant Bolton[4]

Keepers of Ancient Egypt and Sudan

The Keeper of Ancient Egypt and Sudan is head of the Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan (formerly Department of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities and then Department of Egyptian Antiquities).

• 1893–1924: E. A. Wallis Budge
• 1924–1930: Henry Hall
• 1931–1948: Sidney Smith[5]
• 1948–1955: C. J. Gadd
• 1955–1974: I. E. S. Edwards
• 1974–1988: T. G. H. James
• 1988–2011: Vivian Davies[6]
• 2012–2021: Neal Spencer[7]

Keepers of Asia

The Keeper of Asia is head of the Department of Asia (formerly the Department of Oriental Antiquities).

• 1946–1969: Basil Gray
• 1987–1994: Jessica Rawson
• 1994–2006: Robert Knox
• 2006–2014: Jan Stuart
• 2014–present: Jane Portal[8]

Keepers of Japanese Antiquities

The Keeper of Japanese Antiquities was head of the Department of Japanese Antiquities. That department merged with the Department of Oriental Antiquities to form the Department of Asia.

• 1987–1997: Lawrence R. H. Smith[9]
• 1997–2003: Victor Harris[10]

Keepers of Britain, Europe and Prehistory

The Keeper of Britain, Europe and Prehistory is the head of the Department of Britain, Europe and Prehistory (previously known as the Department of Europe and Prehistory)

• 2003–2007: Leslie Webster
• 2012–2015: Roger Bland[11]
• 2015–present: Jill Cook

Keepers of British and Medieval Antiquities

The Keeper of British and Medieval Antiquities was the head of the Department of British and Medieval Antiquities (Department of British and Medieval Antiquities and Ethnography until 1921).

• 1866–1896: Augustus Wollaston Franks
• 1896–1921: Sir Charles Hercules Read
• 1921–1928: Ormonde Maddock Dalton

Keepers of Prehistoric and Romano-British Antiquities

The Keeper of Prehistoric and Romano-British Antiquities was head of the Department of Prehistoric and Romano-British Antiquities. The department was created from the Department of British and Medieval Antiquities in 1969.[12]

• 1973–1995: Ian Heaps Longworth[13]
• 1995–2000: Timothy W. Potter

Keepers of Medieval and Later Antiquities

The Keeper of Medieval and Later Antiquities was head of the Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities. The department was created from the Department of British and Medieval Antiquities in 1969.[12]

• 1975–1998: Neil Stratford[14]

Keepers of Coins and Medals

The Keeper of Coins and Medals is head of the Department of Coins and Medals.

• 1861–1870: William Sandys Wright Vaux
• 1870–1893: Reginald Stuart Poole
• 1893–1906: Barclay V. Head
• 1906–1912: Herbert Appold Grueber[15]
• 1912–1931: George Francis Hill
• 1931–1949: John Allan
• 1952–1964: John Walker[16]
• 1965–1978: G. Kenneth Jenkins
• 1978–1983: Robert Carson
• 1983–1990: John Kent
• 1992–2003: Andrew Burnett
• 2003–2010: Joe Cribb
• 2010–present: Philip Attwood[17]

Keepers of Conservation

The Keeper of Conservation and Scientific Research is head of the Department of Conservation and Scientific Research.

• 1975–1979: Harold Barker;[18] Keeper of Conservation and Technical Services
• 1985–2002: Andrew Oddy; Keeper of Conservation
• 2002–2005: Sheridan Bowman;[19] Keeper of Conservation, Documentation and Science
• 2005–2015: David Saunders;[20] Keeper of Conservation and Scientific Research

Keepers of Greece and Rome

The Keeper of Greece and Rome is head of the Department of Greece and Rome. It was formerly known as the Keeper of Greek and Roman Antiquities.

• 1861–1885: Charles Thomas Newton
• 1886–1904: Alexander Stuart Murray
• 1904–1909: Cecil Harcourt Smith
• 1909–1925: Arthur Smith
• 1925–1932: Henry Beauchamp Walters
• 1932–1936: John Forsdyke
• 1936–1939: Frederick N. Pryce
• 1939–1956: Bernard Ashmole
• 1956–1976: D. E. L. Haynes[21]
• 1976–1993: Brian Cook[22]
• 1993–2007: Dyfri Williams
• 2007–present: Lesley Fitton[23]

Keepers of the Middle East

The Keeper of the Middle East is head of the Department of the Middle East (formerly Department of Western Asiatic Antiquities, then Department of Ancient Near East).

• 1974–1983: Edmond Sollberger[24]
• 1985–1989: Terence Croft Mitchell[25]
• 1989–2011: John Curtis[26]
• current: Jonathan N. Tubb[27]

Keepers of Portable Antiquities and Treasure

Keeper of Portable Antiquities and Treasure is head of the Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure, and head of the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

• 2005–2013: Roger Bland[11]

Keepers of Prints and Drawings

The Simon Sainsbury Keeper of Prints and Drawings is head of the Department of Prints and Drawings.

• 1833–1836: William Young Ottley
• 1836–1845: Henry Josi[28]
• 1845–1866: William Hookham Carpenter
• 1866–1883: George William Reid[29]
• 1883–1912: Sidney Colvin
• 1912–1932: Campbell Dodgson
• 1933–1945: Arthur Mayger Hind
• 1945–1954: Arthur E. Popham
• 1954–1973: Edward Croft-Murray
• 1973–1981: John Gere[30]
• 1981–1991: John Rowlands[31]
• 1991–2011: Antony Griffiths
• 2011–present: Hugo Chapman[32]

References

1. "Adrian Digby (Biographical details)". British Museum. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
2. "Biography of Malcolm McLeod". The University of Glasgow Story. University of Glasgow. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
3. "Mack, Prof. (Brian) John". Who's Who 2019. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
4. "Lissant Bolton". British Museum. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
5. "Assyriology at the British Museum: Dr. Sidney Smith, F.B.A". Nature. 162 (4121): 645. 1 October 1948. doi:10.1038/162645b0. ISSN 1476-4687.
6. "Davies, (William) Vivian". Who's Who 2019. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
7. "Neal Spencer". British Museum. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
8. "Jane Portal". British Museum. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
9. "Lawrence R H Smith (Biographical details)". British Museum. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
10. "Harris, (Terence) Victor". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
11. "Bland, Dr Roger Farrant". Who's Who 2019. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
12. Piggott, Stuart (December 1972). "Prehistoric and Roman Studies. Commemorating the opening of the Department of Prehistoric and Romano-British Antiquities. Edited by G. de G. Sieveking. xii + 282 pages, 68 figures and tables, 91 plates. London, The British Museum, 1971. Price £2". Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. 38: 454. doi:10.1017/S0079497X00012469.
13. "Longworth, Ian Heaps". Who's Who 2019. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
14. "Stratford, Neil". The Dictionary of Art Historians. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
15. "Grueber, Herbert Appold". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
16. "Walker, John". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
17. "Philip Attwood". Numismatic Who's Who. CoinsWeekly. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
18. "Barker, Harold". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
19. "Bowman, Dr Sheridan Gail Esther". Who's Who 2019. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
20. "Saunders, David". Who's Who 2019. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
21. "Obituary: D. E. L. Haynes". The Independent. 6 October 1994. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
22. "Cook, Brian Francis". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
23. "J Lesley Fitton". British Museum. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
24. "Sollberger, Edmond". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
25. "Mitchell, Terence Croft". Who's Who 2019. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
26. "Curtis, John Edward". Who's Who 2019. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
27. "Jonathan N. Tubb". British Museum. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
28. Wilson, David (2002). The British Museum: A History. London: British Museum Press. p. 387.
29. Wilson, David (2002). The British Museum: A History. London: British Museum Press. p. 390.
30. "Obituary: John Gere". The Independent. 6 February 1995. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
31. "John Rowlands, art historian – obituary". The Telegraph. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
32. "Hugo Chapman". British Museum. Retrieved 23 February 2019.