List of keepers of the British Museum

The keepers are heads of the various departments of the British Museum. They are professional curators and related academics. There are currently nine departments plus the Portable Antiquities Scheme that have keepers.

Keepers of Africa, Oceania and the Americas
The Keeper of Africa, Oceania and the Americas is head of the Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas (Department of Ethnography until 2004).


 * 1953–1969: Adrian Digby
 * 1969–1974: William Buller Fagg
 * 1974–1990: Malcolm McLeod
 * 1991–2004: John Mack
 * 2005-2012: J. C. H. King
 * 2012–present: Lissant Bolton

Keepers of Egypt and Sudan
The Keeper of Egypt and Sudan is head of the Department of Egypt and Sudan (formerly Department of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities, Department of Egyptian Antiquities, and Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan).


 * 1893–1924: E. A. Wallis Budge
 * 1924–1930: Henry Hall
 * 1931–1948: Sidney Smith
 * 1948–1955: C. J. Gadd
 * 1955–1974: I. E. S. Edwards
 * 1974–1988: T. G. H. James
 * 1988–2011: Vivian Davies
 * 2012–2021: Neal Spencer
 * 2021–present: Daniel Antoine

Keepers of Asia
The Keeper of Asia is head of the Department of Asia (until 2003, the Department of Oriental Antiquities).


 * 1946–1969: Basil Gray
 * 1969–1977 Douglas Barrett
 * 1977–1987 Lawrence Smith
 * 1987–1994: Jessica Rawson
 * 1994–2006: Robert Knox
 * 2006–2014: Jan Stuart
 * 2014–present: Jane Portal

Keepers of Japanese Antiquities
The Keeper of Japanese Antiquities was head of the Department of Japanese Antiquities. That department merged with the Department of Oriental Antiquities to form the Department of Asia.


 * 1987–1997: Lawrence R. H. Smith
 * 1997–2003: Victor Harris

Keepers of Britain, Europe and Prehistory
The Keeper of Britain, Europe and Prehistory is the head of the Department of Britain, Europe and Prehistory (previously known as the Department of Europe and Prehistory)


 * 2003–2007: Leslie Webster
 * 2012–2015: Roger Bland
 * 2015–present: Jill Cook

Keepers of British and Medieval Antiquities
The Keeper of British and Medieval Antiquities was the head of the Department of British and Medieval Antiquities (Department of British and Medieval Antiquities and Ethnography until 1921).


 * 1866–1896: Augustus Wollaston Franks
 * 1896–1921: Sir Charles Hercules Read
 * 1921–1928: Ormonde Maddock Dalton

Keepers of Prehistoric and Romano-British Antiquities
The Keeper of Prehistoric and Romano-British Antiquities was head of the Department of Prehistoric and Romano-British Antiquities. The department was created from the Department of British and Medieval Antiquities in 1969.


 * 1973–1995: Ian Heaps Longworth
 * 1995–2000: Timothy W. Potter

Keepers of Medieval and Later Antiquities
The Keeper of Medieval and Later Antiquities was head of the Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities. The department was created from the Department of British and Medieval Antiquities in 1969.


 * 1975–1998: Neil Stratford

Keepers of Coins and Medals
The Keeper of Coins and Medals is head of the Department of Coins and Medals.


 * 1861–1870: William Sandys Wright Vaux
 * 1870–1893: Reginald Stuart Poole
 * 1893–1906: Barclay V. Head
 * 1906–1912: Herbert Appold Grueber
 * 1912–1931: George Francis Hill
 * 1931–1949: John Allan
 * 1949–1952: Stanley Robinson
 * 1952–1964: John Walker
 * 1965–1978: G. Kenneth Jenkins
 * 1978–1983: Robert Carson
 * 1983–1990: John Kent
 * 1990–1992: Mark Jones
 * 1992–2003: Andrew Burnett
 * 2003–2010: Joe Cribb
 * 2010–2020: Philip Attwood
 * 2020–2022: Jane Portal; Acting Keeper
 * 2022-present: Tom Hockenhull

Keepers of Conservation
The Keeper of Conservation and Scientific Research is head of the Department of Conservation and Scientific Research.


 * 1975–1979: Harold Barker; Keeper of Conservation and Technical Services
 * 1979 - 1981: Michael W. Pascoe, Keeper of Conservation
 * 1985–2002: Andrew Oddy; Keeper of Conservation
 * 2002–2005: Sheridan Bowman; Keeper of Conservation, Documentation and Science
 * 2005–2015: David Saunders; Keeper of Conservation and Scientific Research
 * 2015-present: Carl Heron

Keepers of Greece and Rome
The Keeper of Greece and Rome is head of the Department of Greece and Rome. It was formerly known as the Keeper of Greek and Roman Antiquities.


 * 1861–1885: Charles Thomas Newton
 * 1886–1904: Alexander Stuart Murray
 * 1904–1909: Cecil Harcourt Smith
 * 1909–1925: Arthur Smith
 * 1925–1932: Henry Beauchamp Walters
 * 1932–1936: John Forsdyke
 * 1936–1939: Frederick N. Pryce
 * 1939–1956: Bernard Ashmole
 * 1956–1976: D. E. L. Haynes
 * 1976–1993: Brian Cook
 * 1993–2007: Dyfri Williams
 * 2007–2023: Lesley Fitton
 * 2023-present: Thomas Harrison

Keepers of the Middle East
The Keeper of the Middle East is head of the Department of the Middle East (formerly Department of Western Asiatic Antiquities, then Department of Ancient Near East).


 * 1955–1974: Richard David Barnett
 * 1974–1983: Edmond Sollberger
 * 1985–1989: Terence Croft Mitchell
 * 1989–2011: John Curtis
 * Jonathan N. Tubb
 * Current: Paul Collins

Keepers of Portable Antiquities and Treasure
Keeper of Portable Antiquities and Treasure is head of the Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure, and head of the Portable Antiquities Scheme.


 * 2005–2013: Roger Bland

Keepers of Prints and Drawings
The Simon Sainsbury Keeper of Prints and Drawings is head of the Department of Prints and Drawings.


 * 1833–1836: William Young Ottley
 * 1836–1845: Henry Josi
 * 1845–1866: William Hookham Carpenter
 * 1866–1883: George William Reid
 * 1883–1912: Sidney Colvin
 * 1912–1932: Campbell Dodgson
 * 1933–1945: Arthur Mayger Hind
 * 1945–1954: Arthur E. Popham
 * 1954–1973: Edward Croft-Murray
 * 1973–1981: John Gere
 * 1981–1991: John Rowlands
 * 1991–2011: Antony Griffiths
 * 2011–present: Hugo Chapman