FAQ's

The Museum of Transology is a community-built collection of objects and stories donated by trans, non-binary and intersex people. We have built 16 collections across the UK and Northern Ireland, each housed in the museum, archive or library where it was established. The original collection, including the Black Trans Lives Matter placard collection, is housed at the Bishopsgate Institute.

We are a volunteer-run grassroots organisation that punches above its weight. While our exhibitions can look like those of a large museum, we do not have permanent staff or institutional-scale resources. We operate through community trust, care and collaboration.

The Bishopsgate Institute is a cultural institute based just a few minutes away from Liverpool Street Station, London. Inside the beautiful historic building are the Bishopsgate Institute Special Collections and Archives, where many collections are held, including the Museum of Transology’s.

Bishopsgate Institute provides the building, reading room and physical access arrangements for anyone interested in looking at the Museum of Transology’s collection. Most of the time, you access the collection by requesting objects in advance and viewing them by appointment in the archive reading room.

The Museum of Transology is a community project. We don’t have core funding and we don’t have permanent staff. It was founded in 2014 by E-J Scott, who continues to spearhead the project. During periods without project funding, E-J is often the only team member working on the project, which means the museum operates with extremely limited resources for responding to enquiries, interviews and administrative requests. When contacting us, a clear subject line in your email can help us prioritise and respond more efficiently.

The Bishopsgate Institute manages the care, storage and access to the original Museum of Transology collection. To find out how to access this material, please refer to the Visit the Researchers’ Area section on the Bishopsgate Institute website:

www.bishopsgate.org.uk/archives/visit/

The Museum of Transology has also established collections in museums, libraries and archives across the UK and Northern Ireland. These partner institutions house collections created through the TRANSCESTRY project, Trans Day of Collecting activities, and community collecting at Trans Pride festivals across the UK and Ireland. When you search the collection, you’ll see a field that says “PLACE”. This indicates which institution holds the object you are looking at.

Each partner institution manages its own access procedures for the collections it holds. You can find where an object is located by searching the Museum of Transology collections catalogue. If an object is held by a partner institution, you will need to contact that institution directly to arrange access.

We are currently working on compiling clearer information about where each collection is housed and how to access it, to make it easier for visitors and researchers to locate objects near them.

An archive is a place where historical records and objects are preserved, documented and made available for research. Unlike an exhibition, where objects are displayed publicly in a curated show, an archive functions more like a library of objects.

When visiting the Museum of Transology collection in an archive reading room, objects are requested in advance and viewed for research purposes rather than displayed as part of an exhibition. This means visitors can look at specific items, study them closely, photograph them for social media or their essays or art projects, and cite them in research.

From students, to journalists, to community groups, to carers and kids, and people trying to discover stories that offer them personal guidance when thinking about their own gender — all sorts of people use the Museum of Transology’s collection for all sorts of reasons.

For example, do you want to touch a binder and see what it feels like, and read a note from someone about what it’s like to wear it? And take a photo of it to show the person who might be buying it for you when you need to have that chat?

Do you want to come in with some friends and look at some zines? Maybe you’ve not seen a sachet of Testogel before, or you need some cheering up and would like to hear some positive stories about friends and families who have supported their trans friends and siblings, and see some of the precious gifts they have been given by them.

Archives are also where collections are cared for when they are not on public display. Objects from the Museum of Transology archive are frequently borrowed by museums, galleries or cultural institutions for exhibitions. Some have travelled the world!

Following the successful completion of our recent collecting initiative in partnership with the Art Fund and the National Heritage Lottery Fund for the TRANSCESTRY: 10 years of the Museum of Transology exhibition, which saw community donations from 15 locations across the United Kingdom and Ireland, we are currently not actively collecting donations.

Our current focus is on carefully archiving and displaying these new collections.

As we move forward with the vital work of preserving and sharing the remarkable objects entrusted to our care, we remain committed to the responsible stewardship of our collection and to the enrichment of the cultural life of our community.

In rare instances, we may still collect incredibly significant objects, but this is at the discretion of MoT Curator E-J Scott and Trustees, on a case-by-case basis.

All future MoT collection periods will be advertised, well in advance, on our website and social media accounts.

The MoT actively seeks skilled and dedicated volunteer Community Curators to support our mission and operations.

When the MoT identifies a need for volunteers with particular expertise or to assist with specific tasks, we create detailed and engaging call-out announcements. These announcements clearly outline the volunteer role, required skills or experience, and the expected time commitment. We also highlight how the volunteer opportunity aligns with our mission and the impact it will have on the trans, non-binary and intersex community.

All specific Volunteer calls will be advertised on our website and social media channels.

Upon donation to the MoT, all objects undergo a documentation process. This includes capturing high-quality digital photographs of each item, recording precise measurements, and cataloging the objects in the museum's archival system. Each object is given a unique identifier consisting of the year of acquisition, place of collection and a sequential number (e.g., MOT/2024/DUND/008).

The MoT is committed to upholding the highest standards of Collection Care and Conservation, as outlined by the Spectrum, UK Museum Collections Standard. Our collection is securely housed at the Bishopsgate Institute in London, UK, which ensures strict adherence to these standards on our behalf.

We understand that the objects you have donated hold significant personal value and meaning. While we are committed to providing a permanent home for these items in our collection, we recognize that circumstances may change, and you may require the return of your donated object(s) in the future.

If such a situation arises, please do not hesitate to contact us info@museumoftransology.com

The MoT greatly appreciates the interest and generosity of individuals who wish to contribute to our mission by offering objects on loan. However, due to our current organizational structure and resources, we are unable to accept loans of items at this time.

Pretty much everything, because you are the curator of your gender expression. We challenge the curatorial hierarchy of knowledge creation from objects and the process of their selective acquisition, frequently inherent in non-consensual colonial collecting of the past. We trust you to shape your own transcestry. When you offer to donate an object to the collection, our Community Curators will actively share the process of archiving with you, including having you, or members of the community, create key words. This is one of the ways we try to limit putting the institution into the collection when we put the collection into the institution.

The Museum of Transology collects material culture that relate to the transgender community, including but not limited to:

• Personal artifact and memorabilia
• Photographs and documents
• Artwork in any medium
• Clothing, accessories, and gender-affirming items
• Objects related to transgender activism, organizations, and events (for example flyers, placards, posters)
• Medical and scientific artifacts related to the individual's gender affirming care.
• Organic objects/samples (for example grass, sand, bird feathers)

Each donated item is accompanied with a handwritten brown label tag explaining the importance, relevance or significance of the object.

The scope of our collection is limited exclusively to physical, tangible objects. We do not actively seek out or accept into our collections any items that exist solely in digital or electronic form e.g. a GIF.

At the Museum of Transology, we are committed to promoting understanding, respect, and inclusion for the transgender community. Our collection aims to preserve and share the rich history and cultural heritage of transgender individuals, while also fostering education and combating prejudice and discrimination.

When considering any object donation, including those that may be perceived as transphobic, we carefully evaluate each case on an individual basis.

In considering donations that may be understood as transphobic, we consider factors such as the historical and cultural context of the item, its provenance, and its potential to contribute to meaningful dialogue and education about transgender experiences. We also weigh the potential impact of the item on our community and visitors, and we are committed to ensuring that our collection does not promote or perpetuate harm or discrimination. For some objects, our decision-making process involves close consultation with our Board of Trustees and our advisory committee, which includes members of the transgender community and allies with expertise in various relevant fields.

In some cases, we may determine that an item with transphobic content or associations can serve an important educational purpose when presented with appropriate context, interpretation, and sensitivity. In other cases, we may conclude that the potential harm of an item outweighs its educational value, and we may decline to accept it into our collection.

Any decision to hold an item that may be considered transphobic is made with the utmost care, consideration, and respect for the transgender community.

As a grassroots organization, the MoT is deeply committed to providing educational opportunities and fostering the professional development of students and emerging professionals in the fields of museum studies, LGBTIQA+ studies, and related disciplines. However, due to our current organizational structure and resources, we regret that we are unable to accommodate formal student internships or work experience placements at this time.

We understand that this may be disappointing news, and we want to assure you that we are actively working to expand our resources and capacity to be able to offer such opportunities in the future.

We don’t have a permanent venue with permanent displays. We have curated major exhibitions, worked with over 19 museums, archives and libraries, curated pop-up displays in community spaces and run archiving events.

To find out about the Museum of Transology’s exhibitions or displays, head over to:
www.museumoftransology.com/exhibitions

Opening times

The Bishopsgate Institute Researchers’ Area, where the original Museum of Transology collection is housed, is open Monday–Friday, 10am–5pm. On Wednesdays, the Researchers’ Area is open late until 8pm. The Researchers’ Area is closed at the weekend.

Other Museum of Transology collections are housed in partner museums, libraries and archives across the UK and Northern Ireland. Opening times and access arrangements for these collections are managed by the institution where they are held.

Group Visits

To book a group visit to view objects from the Museum of Transology collection at the Bishopsgate Institute, please contact the archive team directly.

Email: library@bishopsgate.org.uk
Phone number: 020 7392 9290

If the objects you wish to view are held by one of the Museum of Transology’s partner museums, libraries or archives, you will need to contact that institution directly to arrange a group visit, as access procedures vary between institutions.

Booking

To research or access objects from the Museum of Transology collection, you will first need to identify where the object is held.

The original Museum of Transology collection is housed at the Bishopsgate Institute, where objects can be requested in advance and viewed in person in the archive reading room.

Other Museum of Transology collections are housed in partner museums, libraries and archives across the UK and Northern Ireland. These institutions manage their own access procedures for the collections they hold, so you will need to contact them directly to arrange access.

To see what is in the Museum of Transology’s collection, you can visit our online collections catalogue on our website, where you can note the object name, object number and the institution where it is held. When enquiring about a research visit, please include your topic, preferred date or visit window, specific items or themes, intended outputs (thesis, article, exhibition, film), access needs, and whether you require images or reproduction permission.

If the object you wish to see is held at Bishopsgate Institute, we advise emailing the archive team in advance with the object(s) you are interested in viewing and arranging a time that suits both parties.

Bishopsgate Institute Contact Details

Email: library@bishopsgate.org.uk
Phone number: 020 7392 9290
Address: 230 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4QH

Further information on accessing the Bishopsgate Institute archive can be found on their website under Visit the Researchers’ Area:

www.bishopsgate.org.uk/archives/visit/

The Museum of Transology approaches accessibility through the social model of disability, which recognises that people are often disabled not by their bodies or minds, but by barriers created by environments, infrastructure and social systems.

Our work therefore focuses on identifying and reducing barriers wherever possible. We recognise that trans, non-binary and intersex people often encounter overlapping barriers relating to disability, safety, privacy, documentation, migration status, class, race and other forms of structural inequality.

Accessibility is not a fixed checklist but an ongoing process of listening, learning and adapting. Our accessibility work is supported by the Museum of Transology Accessibility Team, which is led by trans people with lived experience. We draw on their expertise to help identify barriers, shape access measures and improve how visitors experience our exhibitions, events and research access.

The original Museum of Transology collection is housed within the Bishopsgate Institute Special Collections and Archives, where objects can be viewed in the archive reading room. The Bishopsgate Institute Researchers’ Area is: wheelchair accessible open to assistance dogs Accessibility information for the building, including entrances, lifts, toilets and facilities, can be found here: https://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/visit/access-info-and-facilities/ If you have specific access needs when planning a research visit, you may wish to contact the Bishopsgate Institute archives team in advance so arrangements can be made where possible.

When the Museum of Transology produces exhibitions or public programmes, we aim to incorporate accessibility measures wherever possible. These may include:

• accessibility aids such as ear defenders, ear plugs and sensory objects
• quiet or low-stimulation spaces
• community-voiced audio captions and large-print interpretation
• subtitles on video works
• tactile handling objects or replica materials
• seating throughout exhibition spaces
• step-free routes where possible
• accessible tours including audio description, BSL interpretation or tactile engagement

Because exhibitions take place in different venues, the exact access provision may vary depending on the site.

No.

In addition to the original collection held at Bishopsgate Institute, there are 15 Museum of Transology collections housed in museums, libraries and archives across the UK and Ireland.

These collections were created through community collecting initiatives including:

• the TRANSCESTRY collecting project
• National Days of Trans Collecting
• community collecting activities at Trans Pride festivals

Each collection is cared for by the institution where it is housed and therefore follows that institution’s own access procedures and accessibility policies.

Visitors can identify where objects are located by searching the Museum of Transology collections catalogue. To access objects held by partner institutions, visitors will need to contact the relevant museum, library or archive directly.

We are currently working to compile clearer guidance about where collections are held and how visitors can access objects in their local area.

The Museum of Transology works across multiple museums, libraries and archives. Because each institution manages its own building, infrastructure and safety procedures, certain accessibility information — such as entrances, lifts, toilets, evacuation procedures and building layout — must be provided directly by the institution responsible for the building.

For this reason, we often link to partner institutions’ accessibility pages so visitors can access the most accurate and up-to-date information about the space they are visiting.

We recognise that disabled visitors should not have to search across multiple websites for information. Where possible, the Museum of Transology aims to signpost accessibility information clearly and provide additional guidance for visitors planning their visit.

Yes. Accessibility is an ongoing process.

If you have suggestions, concerns or feedback about accessibility at a Museum of Transology exhibition, event or research visit, we welcome hearing from you. Your feedback helps inform future exhibitions, access tours and programming.

Toilet facilities are provided by the venue hosting the Museum of Transology collection, exhibition or event. At the Bishopsgate Institute, toilet facilities are available within the building. Information about their location and accessibility can be found on the Bishopsgate Institute website: https://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/visit/access-info-and-facilities/ For exhibitions or events hosted at other venues, toilet facilities — including any accessible or gender-neutral options — will depend on the policies and infrastructure of the host institution. Visitors may wish to consult the venue’s accessibility information in advance of their visit.

Visitors are generally welcome to photograph objects for personal research purposes when viewing the collection in an archive reading room.

However, photography policies are set by the institution hosting the collection. Visitors should follow the photography rules of the archive, museum or library where the objects are held.

Please note that some objects or materials may have restrictions due to copyright, donor agreements or safeguarding considerations.

For full guidance, please refer to the Museum of Transology Photography and Recording Policy.

Safeguarding responsibilities depend on where the collection is being accessed.

When visiting objects from the Museum of Transology collection at the Bishopsgate Institute archive reading room, visitors are expected to follow the Bishopsgate Institute’s safeguarding and visitor policies.

For Museum of Transology exhibitions, events and public programmes, safeguarding is managed by the Museum of Transology team in collaboration with the host venue.

For full details, please refer to the Museum of Transology Safeguarding and Code of Conduct policies.

The Museum of Transology collects objects donated by trans, non-binary and intersex people that share stories of lived experience of gender.

The collection is made up of everyday material culture — such as clothing, protest materials, photographs, zines, medical packaging, artworks and personal items — that document trans, non-binary and intersex lives, communities and histories.

The Museum of Transology follows a community archiving approach in which donors interpret their own objects through handwritten tags that explain their personal significance.

For full details about the scope of the collection and collecting principles, please refer to the Museum of Transology Collections Policy.

At present, the Museum of Transology does not have the infrastructure required to safely collect, preserve and provide long-term access to digital-only materials.

Digital preservation requires specialist storage systems, ongoing file migration, metadata management and long-term digital preservation planning. Without this infrastructure, digital files can easily become corrupted, lost or inaccessible as technologies change. Because of these risks, digital materials are often among the most vulnerable forms of cultural heritage.

For this reason, the Museum of Transology currently prioritises collecting physical artefacts, which can be catalogued, stored and preserved using established museum and archive practices and are often more likely to survive long term.

If you have created a digital artwork, zine or document, you are welcome to print a physical version and donate that instead. As with all objects in the collection, it must include a handwritten brown tag explaining its personal significance, which forms part of the archive record.

Occasionally, the Museum of Transology documents community talks, events or interviews and shares them through our YouTube channel so they can also be embedded on our website. These recordings are treated as access resources rather than part of the formal museum collection.

For further information about how the Museum of Transology collects and preserves material culture, please refer to the Museum of Transology Collections Policy.

Due to limited staffing and resources, restrictions placed on objects can be difficult for a small, mostly volunteer-run team to manage. However, we understand that for some trans and intersex people, placing restrictions on how their objects are used can be important in feeling able to hand over ownership.

When getting in contact about a potential donation, we suggest clearly stating any restrictions so that the Museum of Transology team can assess whether these can be accommodated.

We assess object donations on a case-by-case basis. When offering intimate items, our ability to accept your donation may be determined by factors such as storage requirements, consent, sensitivity and any biohazard or safety considerations.

If objects require specialist handling or are considered unsafe, we may need to decline due to the limited resources and staffing available to safely care for both the object and the individuals involved.

In some cases, items may not be suitable to send through the post. If a donation is accepted and cannot be posted safely, arrangements may need to be made for the item to be dropped off or collected.

If you are unsure whether an item can be posted, please refer to the Royal Mail guidance on prohibited and restricted items:
https://www.royalmail.com/sending/restricted-and-prohibited-items

Please do not post or bring objects to the Bishopsgate Institute without prior agreement from the Museum of Transology team.

If an object arrives without prior agreement and we are unable to contact the owner within eight weeks of the object’s arrival, the object will be considered transferred to the Museum of Transology. In this case, it will be dealt with in accordance with the Museum’s Collections Policy, which may include disposal.

If the Museum of Transology cannot accept an object and the owner has been contacted, the object must be returned at the owner’s expense within eight weeks, as the Museum does not have sufficient funds to cover return postage.

The Museum of Transology focuses on collecting physical objects donated by trans, non-binary and intersex people that share stories of lived experience of gender.

Due to limited resources, the Museum is not always able to accept every object offered. Decisions about what can be collected are guided by the Museum of Transology Collections Policy, which considers factors such as conservation requirements, storage capacity, safety considerations and the long-term care of the collection.

However, the Museum of Transology deliberately places the power of selection in the hands of the community member. Rather than curators deciding which objects best represent trans lives, donors are invited to choose the objects that tell their own stories and to explain their significance in their own words through the handwritten tags attached to each donation. This approach intentionally challenges traditional museum practices in which curators interpret and editorialise community histories.

At present, the Museum of Transology does not yet have the infrastructure required to safely collect and preserve digital-only materials. If you have created a digital artwork or zine, you are welcome to print a physical version and donate that instead, accompanied by a handwritten brown tag explaining its significance.

For full details about what the Museum collects and the criteria used when assessing donations, please refer to the Museum of Transology Collections Policy.

Yes. Many donors choose to donate more than one object.

Some people contribute a single item that represents an important moment in their life. Others donate small groups of objects that together tell a fuller story about their experiences of gender, community, healthcare, protest or everyday life.

When donating multiple items, each object must have its own brown tag explaining its significance. This helps ensure that every object and story can be catalogued properly and preserved as part of the historical record.

Because the Museum of Transology operates with limited resources and storage space, it is not always possible to accept every object offered. In some cases, donors may offer a larger collection of items connected to the same story or period of their life. When this happens, we may work with the donor to identify the objects that most clearly represent the story they wish to preserve in the collection.

All donations are considered in line with the Museum of Transology Collections Policy, which helps ensure that the Museum can safely store, care for and preserve the collection for future research and exhibitions.

Once an object has been accepted into the Museum of Transology collection, it becomes part of the historical record documenting trans, non-binary and intersex lives.

The object and its handwritten brown tag are accessioned into the collection and catalogued in the Museum of Transology collections database. This includes recording details such as the object description, donor story, measurements, condition and photographs.

Much of this work is carried out by members of the community through archiving workshops and volunteer activity. Because the Museum of Transology is a grassroots project without permanent staff, cataloguing and processing donations can take time.

Objects are then carefully stored within the archive collection so they can be preserved for the future. They may also be used in exhibitions, research visits, publications, educational programmes or loans to other museums, galleries and cultural institutions.

Because the Museum of Transology treats both the object and the donor’s handwritten story as part of the collection, the meaning of the object remains connected to the words of the person who donated it.

No. Once an object has been formally accepted into the Museum of Transology collection, ownership is transferred to the Museum of Transology and the object becomes part of the permanent historical record.

In museum practice this process is known as accessioning. Accessioned objects enter the governance structures that regulate museum collections and are preserved for the long term as part of the archive. Removing an accessioned object requires a formal deaccessioning process, which is governed by professional museum standards and strict ethical guidelines.

The Museum of Transology accepts donations, not loans. Loans are temporary agreements where objects are returned to the owner after a set period. Because objects donated to the Museum of Transology are accessioned into the collection, they are not normally returned.

If you are unsure about donating an object, we encourage you to take time to consider whether you are comfortable transferring ownership before submitting it.

For further information, please refer to the Museum of Transology Collections Policy.

Yes.

Objects in the Museum of Transology collection can be viewed through research visits to the archive where the collection is held. The original Museum of Transology collection is housed at the Bishopsgate Institute Special Collections and Archives, where objects can be requested in advance and viewed in the archive reading room.

If your object is held in the Bishopsgate collection, you can arrange a research visit through the Bishopsgate Institute archives team.

Some objects may also appear in Museum of Transology exhibitions or displays hosted by museums, galleries and cultural institutions. Because the Museum does not have a permanent exhibition space, objects move between archive storage, research access and temporary exhibitions.

You can also search for objects in the Museum of Transology collections catalogue on the website to find where they are located.

If your object is held in one of the Museum of Transology’s partner collections across the UK and Ireland, access arrangements will be managed by the institution where that collection is housed.

Yes.

Objects from the Museum of Transology collection are sometimes loaned to museums, galleries, archives and cultural institutions for exhibitions, displays and research.

These loans are arranged through formal loan agreements that set out the conditions for transport, security, environmental care and insurance while the objects are on display.

Because the Museum of Transology does not have a permanent exhibition space, loans to partner institutions are an important way that the collection is shared with wider audiences.

All loans are arranged in line with the Museum of Transology Collections Policy to ensure that objects are cared for appropriately while they are outside the archive.

If you would like to donate an object to the Museum of Transology collection, please contact us by email.

Email: info@museumoftransology.com

If possible, please include:

• A clear photograph of the object
• A short description of the object
• The story behind the object and why it is important to your experience of gender
• The approximate date the object was made or used

Because the Museum of Transology is a volunteer-run grassroots organisation without permanent staff, responses can sometimes take time. Using a clear subject line in your email can help us prioritise enquiries.

Further guidance about preparing objects for donation can be found in the Museum of Transology Donations Guidance and Collections Policy.

Where can I see the Museum of Transology collections catalogue?

You can explore the Museum of Transology collection through the online collections catalogue on the Museum of Transology website.

The catalogue allows you to search for objects in the collection and identify where they are held. Each entry typically includes the object name, object number, description, donor story and photographs.

Because the Museum of Transology has established 16 collections across museums, libraries and archives in the UK and Northern Ireland, the catalogue also indicates which institution holds the object. If you wish to see an object in person, you will need to follow the access procedures of the institution where it is housed.

Objects from the Museum of Transology collection can be cited in research using the object number and collection information provided in the collections catalogue.

When citing an object, you should include:

• Object title or description
• Object number
• Museum of Transology collection
• Institution where the object is held

Including the object number ensures that the item can be clearly identified and located by other researchers.

If you require images or reproduction permission for publications, exhibitions or media, you may need to contact the institution where the object is housed.