The Thackray Museum

Posted August 26th, 2008 by phl.costelloe
Location: 
Beckett Street
Location: 
Leeds
Location: 
LS9 7LN
Funding Organisation: 
The Thackray is independently funded. The museum was set up by Paul Thackray as a trust. Funding also comes from admittance fees, earned income and grants. Medical trade sponsors occasionally fund specific exhibits.
YLM Questionnaire Completed: 
Yes
Disposal Policy: 
Yes
HR On Display: 
Yes
Iconic HR: 
Yes
How many of these human remains are well documented, with clear context of date and place of exhumation?: 
There is one example of human remains on display in the museum, the body of Mary Bateman (MB). MB’s remains are on loan from the Centre of Human Biology, University of Leeds. The Thackray holds a policy on not acquiring human remains for their collections. There is a full file of information on Mary Bateman with a great deal of context on her life, trial, execution and the history of the use of her remains.
Does the museum have a disposal policy, and is it including HR with negligible potential in its discussions about disposal?: 
The museum does have a disposal policy, however it does not include human remains as the museum does not hold remains in the collection (as MB is a loan she would fall under the remit of the University’s acquisition and disposal policy).
What sources of information about these human remains are in the public domain and where?: 
There is information on MB’s life and death near the display, including an original newspaper article from when she was convicted and sentenced to death. There is also the Museum Library that holds more information on MB and it is accessible to the public by appointment.
Are any of these remains currently on display and in what context?: 
MB is on display in the upper gallery of the Museum. She is exhibited in a gallery devoted to medical school history and the history of surgery.
Does the museum hold any iconic HR, i.e. figures of local or national importance, and are these on display?: 
Mary Bateman is currently in a glass display case directly to the right of the gallery door. Her remains, catalogued as ‘spinal column section entry no. 807), include her spine, skull and both arms and hands. Some ligatures are still visible. MB’s skull is attached to a metal bar connected to the back of the display case that holds her in an upright position. One of MB’s hands is raised while the other arm is at rest to her left side. With the display of her remains is a large board which relays information on MB’s life, trial and execution, a newspaper article from 20 March 1809 detailing her sentencing, a video taken from a BBC programme on reconstructing MB’s facial features using new technology, a plastic model of her reconstructed face and a small notice on the front of the display case listing her as in the museum’s ‘Top Ten’. Other notes on the display: The proximity of MB’s remains to the entrance of the gallery makes the spot a high-traffic area. In addition to this, the notice describing MB as one of the museum’s ‘Top Ten’ as selected by one of the staff members of the museum reads as follows: ‘She is from Bramley (as I am) and I have always found her quite spooky when walking around the galleries on my own especially with the waving hand!’ As for the opinion of the senior curator (maternity cover), Emma King thought the display was dated and perhaps not up to the standards of current museum practice on the display of human remains. There are no reports of local members of the community complaining about the exhibit. While I was observing the gallery, visitors to the museum took a noted interest in MB’s remains and the information available on her life. MB could be classified as iconic. Her skeleton is not complete, but a significant portion of her skeleton is on display. There is also a very well documented story and her interest locally as well as nationally for her controversial life and death would lend her to be considered iconic.