One of the keynote presentations during the 59th CETAF General Assembly (CETAF59) addressed a topic that is receiving growing attention across museums and research institutions: how to engage responsibly with colonial histories embedded within natural history collections.
In her keynote Colonial Objects of Natural History: Recommendations, Research and Reflections, Dr. Katja Kaiser from the Centre for Humanities of Nature at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (MfN) presented the results of a five-year institutional process aimed at developing practical recommendations for working with collections originating from colonial contexts. The project brought together researchers, curators, collection managers and external partners to examine the colonial history of the museum and reflect on how this history continues to shape research, digitisation, exhibitions and collection management today.
Why natural history collections matter in the colonial collections debate
Kaiser highlighted that discussions surrounding colonial collections have traditionally focused on human remains and cultural artefacts, while natural history collections have received comparatively little attention. Yet natural history museums were also deeply connected to colonial systems of collecting, extraction and knowledge production.
Drawing on research conducted at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, she showed how colonial histories are embedded throughout natural history collections and institutions. A striking example is the museum’s famous dinosaur collection from present-day Tanzania, excavated during the German colonial period under conditions that reflected broader colonial structures and inequalities.
As Kaiser noted:
“The colonial past can be found everywhere. Recognising this is important, as colonial collections continue to form the basis of our research, exhibitions, digitisation, and many other areas of museum practices to this day.”
From reflection to practical recommendations
A central aim of the project was not only to investigate the past, but also to develop practical guidance for museums today. The resulting guidelines provide recommendations across several areas of museum work, including cooperation, collection management, digitisation, exhibitions and institutional development.
Among the key recommendations presented were:
- Making international cooperation a guiding principle when working with colonial holdings.
- Collaborating from the outset with institutions, researchers and communities in countries of origin.
- Improving transparency through digitisation and the publication of historical collection information.
- Integrating cultural and historical knowledge into collection databases.
- Reflecting on past and present collecting practices and promoting sustainable and equitable approaches.
- Incorporating colonial histories into exhibitions, educational programmes and public engagement activities.
The guidelines also encourage institutions to invest in staff training, interdisciplinary research and knowledge exchange, while fostering greater awareness of the historical contexts that shaped collections. One of the concluding messages of the recommendations is both simple and powerful:
“Don’t be afraid of your history.”
Transparency, cooperation and institutional transformation
Throughout the presentation, Kaiser emphasised that cooperation and transparency are essential components of responsible collection stewardship. The Museum für Naturkunde Berlin’s experience demonstrated that engaging with colonial histories can deepen knowledge of collections, enrich data, create new research opportunities and strengthen public trust.
Rather than viewing colonial histories solely as a challenge, the project highlighted how critical reflection can support institutional learning and open new avenues for collaboration with researchers, institutions and communities worldwide.
Continuing the conversation within CETAF
The themes discussed during the keynote resonate with ongoing conversations across the CETAF community. During the 2nd CETAF Directors’ Summit, held in Berlin in November 2025, members discussed a series of institutional position statements on integrity, repatriation and cybersecurity.
The resulting CETAF Statement on Repatriation affirms the commitment of member institutions to ethical engagement and dialogue regarding collections shaped by colonial histories and other contexts of unequal power. It emphasises transparency, provenance research, respectful engagement with communities of origin and the recognition of historical injustices, while supporting equitable and responsible scientific practice.
From recommendations to practice
Katja Kaiser’s keynote highlighted that addressing colonial histories is not a separate activity, but increasingly part of the everyday work of museums and collection-holding institutions. As natural history collections continue to play a central role in biodiversity research, digitisation and public engagement, understanding the histories through which they were assembled can contribute to more transparent, collaborative and responsible institutional practices.
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This article is part of CETAF’s coverage of the 59th General Assembly (CETAF59) held in Florence, Italy. Explore related articles on CETAF’s newest members, the 2026 e-SCoRe Award, and key discussions on integrative taxonomy and colonial collections.