Carl Cotton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carl Cotton
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| Born | 1918 |
| Died | 1971 |
| Occupation | Taxidermist |
| Years active | 1947–1971 |
| Known for | Field Museum taxidermy exhibitions |
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Notable work
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Marsh Birds of the Upper Nile |
Carl Cotton (1918–1971) was a talented American taxidermist. He was famous for his work at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago from 1947 to 1971. Carl was the first African American taxidermist at the Field Museum. Many believe he was also the first professional Black taxidermist in all of Chicago.
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Carl Cotton's Early Life and Interests
Carl Cotton was born in 1918 in South Side, Chicago. He grew up near Washington Park. This area was a hub for creative people. Carl was friends with future historian Timuel Black and poet Gwendolyn Brooks.
Even as a child, Carl loved taxidermy. His friend Timuel Black joked that "cats and rats ran when they saw Carl." Carl practiced by stuffing small, already deceased animals he found. As he got better, neighbors even brought him their dead pets to preserve. Carl wanted to "preserve the image of other life besides human life." A school trip to the Field Museum likely inspired his dream to work there.
Carl Cotton's Career at the Field Museum
In 1940, Carl wrote to the Field Museum. He asked for a taxidermy job. He said he was an amateur who loved working with reptiles. He even offered his personal collection of 30 live snakes! However, the museum said no. They usually needed taxidermists with a special degree or lots of experience.
During World War II, Carl served in the Navy. He worked as a stenographer, which means he took notes very quickly. After the war, in 1947, he wrote to the museum again. This time, he offered to volunteer and show his skills. This was enough! He was hired as a temporary assistant. After just one month, he became a full-time employee.
Carl first specialized in birds. He prepared over a fourth of all the birds in the museum's collection. He helped create an exhibit about how birds use adaptive coloring to protect themselves. But Carl didn't stop there. He also worked on mammals, reptiles, and even insects. He helped with the museum's salmon display too.
In 1966, the museum opened a new exhibitions department. Carl was the very first staff member. He was in charge of preparing exhibits for different museum areas. He even developed new ways to do taxidermy. For example, he learned how to make realistic reptiles without hair. He once made a snapping turtle using a special plastic called cellulose acetate. Carl was also skilled at making plants look real using other materials.
His most famous work is the Marsh Birds of the Upper Nile exhibit. This display features several bird species from Uganda, including the unique shoebill stork. It also shows marshy plants made from wax and muddy terrain. This amazing exhibit has been on display permanently since it first opened.
Carl Cotton's Personal Life
Carl often did taxidermy at home, even while working at the museum. He took on projects for other people. In the 1950s and 60s, he lived with his family in Gary, Indiana. He expanded his garage there to use as his personal lab. It was common to see large animals being preserved in his home lab. Carl Cotton moved back to Chicago shortly before he died from cancer in 1971.
Carl Cotton's Lasting Legacy
For a long time, taxidermists didn't get credit for their work. Their names weren't usually on the exhibits. This meant Carl Cotton's contributions were almost lost in the museum's records.
However, in 2019, museum staff members Reda Brooks and Tori Lee found old photos of Carl. They were looking for material for Black History Month. This discovery led to a new exhibition about Carl Cotton's life and work. It opened in early 2020 and was called A Natural Talent: The Taxidermy of Carl Cotton.
This exhibit showed his amazing work, especially his bird and reptile displays. As part of the exhibit, labels were added to all of his works throughout the museum. This helped to finally give Carl Cotton the recognition he deserved. It also helped unearth many letters, reports, and photos about his history at the museum.
