Our records allow us to engage with historic animals through written accounts and photographs. Our heritage science team also investigates their presence in the physical materials of our records — including dyes, wax seals, and writing materials. This cross-disciplinary research enables exploration of the multifaceted relationships between animals and communities throughout history.
A range of rewilding projects across Britain are working to restore lost species, including beavers, bison, and lynx. To ensure the success of these projects, it’s vital to understand the historical presence of these animals in specific regions and their roles within local ecosystems. Encounters with these under-researched collections can often produce feelings of grief and loss, but where species reintroductions are possible, they can offer hope.
Join us to hear from Professor Dolly Jørgensen, author of Ghosts Behind Glass: Encountering Extinction in Museums (2025), in conversation with Marc Vermeulen, Head of Heritage Science Conservation Research at The National Archives, to explore new methods of researching interactions with animals in historic collections around the world.
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Image: Photograph of an American bull Bison taken at the Zoological Gardens, London, 1906. Catalogue reference: COPY 1/501/32.
