Hunters, dealers, collectors and scientists and the origins of the Elliot Smith primate collection at University College London

Many primates are now listed as endangered species and so historical museum collections that contain primate remains have become an invaluable research resource that can never be replaced. Consequently, it is increasingly important that we document what is known about the origins and the age of specimens in our museums. The Elliot Smith Primate Collection at UCL originated at a time of change immediately after the First World War and while primarily a research collection it was used to teach aspects of comparative anatomy to generations of medical and dental students until the late 1980s. The lives of the people involved in acquiring and using the collection at the turn of the twentieth century provide us with a fascinating insight into their attitudes and ambitions and on what, sadly, was once considered acceptable collecting practise at the time