Human History Collection
CollectionThese 230,000 objects represent the story of human achievement, including collections from Birmingham and across the world. It spans ancient world civilizations, British and European archaeology, world cultures (also known as ethnography), coins and currency (numismatics) and postage stamps (philately), as well as Birmingham-related collections.
Please be aware that objects from our collections are not always on public display.
If you are hoping to view a specific object or collection, please check the ‘Highlights' or 'What to See’ pages on our venue websites for current display information for that venue. Alternatively, feel free to contact us before your visit.
The collection is made of these categories:
City Sound Archive
Comprising of oral history interviews from Birmingham people of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Birmingham History
The collection reflects the history of the people and city of Birmingham from around 1500 to the present.
Topographical Views
The collection comprises prints, drawings, watercolours, postcards, photographs and paintings depicting Birmingham, and its people and places, from the 18th century up to the present.
West Midlands History and Archaeology
This collection dates from Prehistory to Post-Medieval periods with material from 61 sites in the West Midlands area.
Numismatics and Philately
Our numismatics collection includes coins, medals and tokens from around the world, with a focus on Birmingham products.
European Archaeology
Objects in this collection date from the Palaeolithic period (around 250,000 BC) to the European Iron Age (around 800BC to AD 400).
Ancient Civilisations
The ancient civilisations collection spans ancient Asia, the near eastern regions, the early Mediterranean founding states and the ancient Americas.
World Cultures (Ethnography)
This collection mainly covers Oceania and Africa, but also some items from Asia and the Americas, spanning the 16th to 21st century.