Laboratory Research

Physical Anthropology Lab at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Research activities carried out in the Physical Anthropology Laboratory of the Museum are largely based on the Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection housed in the department.  However, research is also conducted on human origins and evolution, using fossil casts of early hominids that are part of the department’s collection. The department receives more than 200 research request permit applications every year from students and professionals in various fields such as, among others, orthopedics, pathology, prosthetics, human paleontology, and primate osteology.

Research Request

The Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection is accessible for legitimate research and study by all qualified investigators. Researchers interested in conducting studies on the Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection should fill out a Research Request Form and send it to:

Head, Physical Anthropology
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
1 Wade Oval Drive, University Circle
Cleveland OH, 44106

or fax to: (216) 231-5919.

The Physical Anthropology Department of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History also has Policies and Guidelines for the Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection.

These policies and guidelines have been structured with the aim of preserving and enhancing the scientific value of the collection to the public and to the professional community. Researchers planning to study the osteological material should read the policies and guidelines before filling out the Research Request Form.

Additionally, the division offers casts of select specimens to museums and collectors.

For further information, please feel free to contact:
Dr.Yohannes Haile-Selassie at
(216) 231-4600 ext. 3242, or e-mail yhailese@cmnh.org.

The Collections Manager, Lyman M. Jellema, is also available at (216) 231-4600 ext. 3276, or e-mail ljellema@cmnh.org.

The fax number is (216) 231-5919.

Physical Anthropology Lab at the National Museum of Ethiopia

Museum Members Drs. Yohannes Haile-Selassie and Bruce Latimer conduct laboratory research in the Paleoanthropology Laboratory of the National Museum of Ethiopia (NME) in Addis Ababa.  They conduct their research on early hominid fossils that they have recovered from their study area in the Afar region of Ethiopia and also on fossil hominids discovered from other parts of the Ethiopian Rift Valley.  They collaborate with researchers in Ethiopia and academic institutions in the United States.  It is also worth mentioning that the NME and CMNH are sister museums and the CMNH is making efforts to help the NME in developing the museum and training personnel.