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*Posting on behalf of Bonnie Griffin, Assistant Collections Manager at NHMLA* Dear all, Accessory material associated with natural history collections (in the forms of manuscripts, illustrations and descriptions etc) often document the interactions between people and nature and can add new or engaging stories for both the visitors and the media. These resources can be ‘double-edged’ with some of these accounts containing negative racist stereotypes or slurs alongside the biological data. These racist depictions still have the power to shame, embarrass, frighten and humiliate and they can be found so appalling the they can turn visitors off or shut down learning. Despite many collections having a colonial past, even leading museums do not have a clear narrative about this aspect of their collections and while small steps have been taken, there is no clear guide on how to handle this type of material. While there is a need to share and raise up the importance of natural history collections, natural scientists cannot do so for the sole service of the biological agent, at the expense of oppressed peoples. Worryingly, the careless use of this ‘double-edged’ material could not only harm individuals but create a hostile environment which excludes groups already underrepresented in nature history. This preliminary study aims to discover the current occurrence, use, and training levels of those who handle double-edged materials, with the eventual aim to create a practical guide on how to approach interpreting double-edged materials in a professional and non-harmful way. This survey takes just 3 minutes and we’d appreciate as many responses as possible to help give us the baseline and to pinpoint training needs for the future. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TVQBWG6 Your input is very much appreciated, Thank you! -- Bethany Palumbo, ACR www.palumboconservation.com ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the NATSCA list, click the following link: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=NATSCA&A=1