Terry Collection

Terry Collection is a renowned anatomy and anthropology collection housed at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.. It is one of the most significant collections of human skeletal remains in the world, with over 1,700 specimens representing a wide range of ages, sexes, and causes of death.

History

The Terry Collection was initiated by Dr. Robert J. Terry, a prominent anatomist and anthropologist, in the early 20th century. Terry began collecting human skeletal remains in 1914 while he was a professor at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. The collection was later transferred to the National Museum of Natural History in 1967.

Significance

The Terry Collection is particularly valuable for its comprehensive documentation. Each specimen is accompanied by detailed records, including the individual's age, sex, cause of death, and often, medical history. This makes the collection an invaluable resource for researchers studying human anatomy, anthropology, and pathology.

Research and Studies

The Terry Collection has been used in numerous research studies over the years. It has contributed to our understanding of human growth and development, aging, disease, and mortality. The collection has also been used to develop forensic techniques for identifying human remains.

See Also

• Human skeletal changes due to bipedalism
• Forensic anthropology
• Osteology
• Physical anthropology