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Hall of Human Biology

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1961 - 2006

Historical Note

Abstract:

Permanent exhibition. Opened March 20, 1961 and closed 2005-2006. Located on Floor 1, Section 4. The Hall of Human Biology at the American Museum of Natural History covered topics in physical anthropology. Completed as part of the ten-year expansion program to create more modern halls, the Hall of the Biology of Man, as it was then called, took the place of the Hall of the Natural History of Man in concept (1, 1959/60, p. 11). The hall was originally conceived by curator Harry L. Shapiro (1, 1960/61, p. 25). In an effort led by curator Ian Tattersall, the hall was redesigned between 1982 and 1992 and reopened as the Hall of Human Biology and Evolution (1, 1982/83 p. 2; 1, 1989/90, p. 3).

Summary

Planning for the hall began around 1952 with the purpose of explaining "the anatomy, functions, and development of the human body, some of its basic responses to external conditions and events, and some of the biological aspects of the association of human beings in populations and communities” (1, 1952/53, p. 49).

The original hall was divided into three sections. The first section covered the story of the human species, its relationship to other vertebrates, and its evolution. The second section covered the functioning of human physiological systems down to the microscopic level. The third section showed biological phenomena associated with groups by population, genetics, demographics, and relationship to the environment (2, 1962, p.15). Other exhibits included replica heads of early hominids and the Transparent Woman, a clear model showing internal organs (3, 1972, p. 123-126).

Following the remodeling in the early 1990s, the hall began with a discussion of DNA and continued with displays of vertebrate and mammalian body systems, and primate and human evolution through the earliest archaeological evidence of human artistic creativity. The Hall of Human Biology featured four life-size dioramas of early hominids: Australopithecus afarenis, Homo ergaster, Neanderthal, and Cro-Magnon. Other exhibits included casts of skeletons of Lucy, Turkana Boy, and Peking Man, replicas of Ice Age art from the Dordogne region of France, and a diorama of a skeleton family in a living room watching a videotape of how the skeleton and muscles function (4, 1993, p. 31; 4, 2001, p. 46). The hall was replaced by the Anne and Bernard Spitzer Hall of Human Origins, which opened in 2007.

REFERENCES

(1) American Museum of Natural History. Annual Reports. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1959/60-1989/90.

(2) American Museum of Natural History. General Guide to [the Exhibition Halls of] the American Museum of Natural History. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1962.

(3) American Museum of Natural History. American Museum of Natural History: An Introduction. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1972.

(4) American Museum of Natural History. Official Guide: Images from around American Museum of Natural History. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1993-2001.

Information for the hall appears in the following Museum publications:

American Museum of Natural History Annual Reports for years 1952 (page 35, 49); 1953 (page 53); 1954 (page 50); 1955 (page 42); 1956 (page 11); 1957 (page 4); 1958 (page 9); 1959 (page 11); 1960 (page 25); 1961 (page 53); 1962 (page 3); 1963 (page 71); 1967 (page 24, 72); 1968 (page 18); 1969 (page 18); 1970 (page 20); 1971 (page 16); 1972 (page 7, 30); 1973 (page 15); 1974 (page 7, 14); 1976 (page 8); 1980 (page 7); 1982 (page 2, 8); 1983 (page 58); 1984 (page 52); 1985 (page 8, 53); 1986 (page 10); 1987 (page 10); 1988 (page 5); 1989 (page 3); 1990 (page 1); 1991 (page 3); 1992 (page 14); 1993 (page 7); 1994 (page 38)

American Museum of Natural History General Guides for years 1962 (page 12, 15); 1964 (page 12, 15)

American Museum of Natural History: A Pictorial Guide 1967.

American Museum of Natural History: An Introduction 1972 (page 7, 123)

American Museum of Natural History Official Guides for years 1984 (page 36); 1993 (page 31, 50); 2001 (Table of Contents, page 46, 60)

Museum Floor Plan Winter 2005-2006

Alternative Name Forms

Outline:
  • Uncontrolled name from AMNH publications (dates of use by year)
    • Hall of Human Biology (1952, 1953, 1985)
    • Hall of the Biology of Man (1952, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1980)
    • Hall of Biology of Man (1954, 1967, 1968, 1976, 1982)
    • Biology of Man Hall (1956, 1958, 1984)
    • Biology of Man (1962, 1964, 1967, 1972, 1974)
    • Hall of Human Biology and Evolution (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2001)
    • Human Biology and Evolution (1993, 2001)

Places

Topics

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

Biology of Man Exhibit Artist Renderings, undated

 File — Box: 5, Folder: 5
Identifier: Mss .P375
Scope and Content Note From the Collection:

The collection contains a wide variety of documents pertaining to Albert E. Parr, particularly during his tenure as Museum Director (1942-1959). Additionally, the collection also hosts a large collection of his original publications, as well as an assortment of newspaper clippings, receipts, meeting minutes, drafts of speeches, and correspondence.

Dates: undated

Biology of Man Hall, 2 cards

 File — Box: 20, Folder: 426
Identifier: PPC .C533
Scope and Contents From the Series:

This series features photographs and clippings from temporary exhibitions in the American Museum of Natural History.

Dates: 1879-1959; Majority of material found within 1916-1959

Hall of Biology of Man photographic slides

 Collection
Identifier: PSC 22
Scope and Contents

Slides from exhibits on display in the AMNH Hall of Biology of Man including Circulatory System model, Piltdown Man, Man as a Hominid, Cell Structure as Revealed by an Electron Microscope, Stages of Development of Fetus, and Female Reproductive System.

Slides have glass mounts. Many slides contain K numbers.

Dates: undated

Hall of Human Biology and Evolution Homoerectus Diorama photographic slides, 1993.

 Collection
Identifier: PSC 68
Abstract

Slides from a possible restoration of the Homoerectus Diorama in the AMNH Hall of Human Biology and Evolution. Images of working crew measuring and removing models from the exhibit.

Dates: 1993

Nerve Cell

 Item
Identifier: Art Survey No. 886
Scope and Contents

Black and white rendering of nerve cell, exhibited in the Biology of Man Hall at the Amerian Museum of Natural History.

Dates: undated