Anatomical Museum
Anatomical Museum
Anatomy@Edinburgh
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Malcolm MacCallum

Anatomical Museum Curator / Researcher

  • Anatomical Museum
  • The University of Edinburgh
  • College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine

Contact details

Other affiliations 

Centre for Research Collections

Biography

Malcolm has worked in the heritage sector since 1996 as curator, researcher and project manager for a variety of museums. Prior to joining the Anatomical Museum, Malcolm worked at the National Museums Scotland, the National Football Museum and Surgeons Hall Museum. During this time he curated a diverse range of exhibitions including displays on the Scottish Enlightenment, Concorde, the History of the FA Cup, and the development of Sports and Exercise Medicine. During his time at Surgeons Hall Museum he was touring exhibition manager for the ‘Anatomy Acts’ exhibition which toured Scotland highlighting the rich medical history and collections that are held in Scotland’s museums.

Role Overview and Research

Malcolm leads a major collections inventory project at the Anatomical Museum which is taking place prior to the planned re-location of the museum to a new site. His role also includes managing the curatorial team at the museum, carrying out research on the collections and curating the displays in the new museum.  Malcolm's current job involves working with both colleagues in the Anatomy Department as well as the Centre for Research Collections. The most recent collaborative project they have been involved in is the ‘Visual Dissection’ exhibition in the University’s Main Library.

Ruth Pollitt

Museum and Collections Assistant

  • Anatomical Museum
  • The University Of Edinburgh
  • Teviot Place

Contact details

Biography

Ruth has worked in the heritage sector since 1992 primarily within Natural Sciences at National Museums Scotland preparing zoology skins and skeletons for scientific research and exhibition taxidermy and then in Glasgow Museums Riverside Project where she was responsible for ensuring zoology specimens were ready for decant to new storage facilities and the preparation of objects for display in the Riverside Museum. Ruth has also worked with Surgeons Hall Museums assisting with the ‘Anatomy Acts’ exhibition in 2006.

Role Overview and Research

As Museum and Collections Assistant, Ruth's primary role is to facilitate public and academic enquiries regarding the collections, undertaking research for exhibitions and liaise with colleagues both within Anatomy and the Centre for Research Collections. Ruth is responsible for maintanance  of the collections database and the physical care and appropriate storage of the collections. The collection holds around 12,000 objects with a wide range of items: human remains, death masks, anatomical models, zoological bones, artworks, sculpture, paintings, books and a large paper archive.

In 2005, Ruth completed a Museum Studies, Master of Arts Degree at Newcastle University and undertook a historical research dissertation on the surgical instrument maker Archibald Young & Son of Edinburgh.

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