The department maintains several notable collections of human and primate remains, and fossil casts of hominoids and other primates. These are used in a range of disciplines, from evolutionary study to pathology, prosthetic prototyping and orthopedics. With more than 1,000 non-human primate skeletons purchased by Carl A. Hamann and T. Wingate Todd from private collections and the taxidermy firm Gerrard & Sons of London, this collection includes the great apes—chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans.

In October 2022, the Museum embarked on a new digitization project to scan and make public the skulls of a representative sample of all species housed within the collection, with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.