The keepers are heads of the various departments of the British Museum. They are professional curators and related academics. There are currently nine departments plus the Portable Antiquities Scheme that have keepers.
Keepers of Africa, Oceania and the Americas
The Keeper of Africa, Oceania and the Americas is head of the Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas (Department of Ethnography until 2004).
1953–1969: Adrian Digby
1969–1974: William Buller Fagg
1974–1990: Malcolm McLeod
1991–2004: John Mack
2005-2012: J. C. H. King
2012–present: Lissant Bolton
Keepers of Egypt and Sudan
The Keeper of Egypt and Sudan is head of the Department of Egypt and Sudan (formerly Department of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities, Department of Egyptian Antiquities, and Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan).
1893–1924: E. A. Wallis Budge
1924–1930: Henry Hall
1931–1948: Sidney Smith
1948–1955: C. J. Gadd
1955–1974: I. E. S. Edwards
1974–1988: T. G. H. James
1988–2011: Vivian Davies
2012–2021: Neal Spencer
2021–present: Daniel Antoine
Keepers of Asia
The Keeper of Asia is head of the Department of Asia (until 2003, the Department of Oriental Antiquities).
1946–1969: Basil Gray
1969–1977 Douglas Barrett
1977–1987 Lawrence Smith
1987–1994: Jessica Rawson
1994–2006: Robert Knox
2006–2014: Jan Stuart
2014–present: Jane Portal
Keepers of Japanese Antiquities
The Keeper of Japanese Antiquities was head of the Department of Japanese Antiquities. That department merged with the Department of Oriental Antiquities to form the Department of Asia.
1987–1997: Lawrence R. H. Smith
1997–2003: Victor Harris
Keepers of Britain, Europe and Prehistory
The Keeper of Britain, Europe and Prehistory is the head of the Department of Britain, Europe and Prehistory (previously known as the Department of Europe and Prehistory)
2003–2007: Leslie Webster
2012–2015: Roger Bland
2015–present: Jill Cook
Keepers of British and Medieval Antiquities
The Keeper of British and Medieval Antiquities was the head of the Department of British and Medieval Antiquities (Department of British and Medieval Antiquities and Ethnography until 1921).
1866–1896: Augustus Wollaston Franks
1896–1921: Sir Charles Hercules Read
1921–1928: Ormonde Maddock Dalton
Keepers of Prehistoric and Romano-British Antiquities
The Keeper of Prehistoric and Romano-British Antiquities was head of the Department of Prehistoric and Romano-British Antiquities. The department was created from the Department of British and Medieval Antiquities in 1969.
1973–1995: Ian Heaps Longworth
1995–2000: Timothy W. Potter
Keepers of Medieval and Later Antiquities
The Keeper of Medieval and Later Antiquities was head of the Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities. The department was created from the Department of British and Medieval Antiquities in 1969.
1975–1998: Neil Stratford
Keepers of Coins and Medals
The Keeper of Coins and Medals is head of the Department of Coins and Medals.
1861–1870: William Sandys Wright Vaux
1870–1893: Reginald Stuart Poole
1893–1906: Barclay V. Head
1906–1912: Herbert Appold Grueber
1912–1931: George Francis Hill
1931–1949: John Allan
1949–1952: Stanley Robinson
1952–1964: John Walker
1965–1978: G. Kenneth Jenkins
1978–1983: Robert Carson
1983–1990: John Kent
1990–1992: Mark Jones
1992–2003: Andrew Burnett
2003–2010: Joe Cribb
2010–2020: Philip Attwood
2020–2022: Jane Portal; Acting Keeper
2022-present: Tom Hockenhull
Keepers of Conservation
The Keeper of Conservation and Scientific Research is head of the Department of Conservation and Scientific Research.
1975–1979: Harold Barker; Keeper of Conservation and Technical Services
1985–2002: Andrew Oddy; Keeper of Conservation
2002–2005: Sheridan Bowman; Keeper of Conservation, Documentation and Science
2005–2015: David Saunders; Keeper of Conservation and Scientific Research
2015-present: Carl Heron
Keepers of Greece and Rome
The Keeper of Greece and Rome is head of the Department of Greece and Rome. It was formerly known as the Keeper of Greek and Roman Antiquities.