Trans Inclusive Practices for Natural History Collections: Recommendations Based on Existing Efforts and Survey Data

From the early cabinets of curiosity to the vast museum repositories of today, natural history collections have been an invaluable resource for scholarship and public education. Curators, researchers, support staff, and others who work with natural history collections (e.g. in museums or universities) determine which objects and specimens are housed, how those materials are maintained, and which items hold scientific value. In turn, those materials, and discoveries gleaned from them, are used to educate the public about science. Natural history collections professionals have largely been white cisgender men, and though recent efforts have highlighted the ways individuals with marginalized identities have shaped collections and education content, trans perspectives have been largely absent. This article is the first to focus specifically on trans identity in natural history collections, particularly as it relates to museum education. The two components of this article are: (1) a survey of trans individuals working in natural history collections, and (2) a review of trans-explicit efforts (e.g. programming and exhibits) assessed with Middleton’s (2017) four tiers for a queer-inclusive museum. Though the sample size was limited, our survey is the first of its kind, and revealed that respondents feel that their transness gives them a unique perspective on the natural world, and that this impacts the way that they teach and/or share natural history information. Survey respondents also reported mixed levels of acceptance and inclusion in natural history collections and museums, as well as a lack of trans mentorship. We synthesized the trends in museum efforts and survey responses to make recommendations that support a future where trans identity is recognized and represented in natural history collections. A major takeaway from our study is that, in addition to being explicit, trans content should be permanent and public-facing.