ALT Slide with a summary of the natural history contributions of Carl Cotton with a photo of him in front of a museum display of birds. At a young age, Carl Cotton developed an interest in taxidermy. In 1947, he joined the Field Museum as a volunteer and received instruction in preserving fish and reptiles. He was the only African American taxidermist in the Museum. Everyone accounted Cotton as an exceptional taxidermist which was apparent only weeks after he joined the department. In 1966, Cotton began designing and creating exhibits as the first staff member of the museum’s exhibitions department. In this capacity, he bridged the “Golden Age” of taxidermy with modern practices in making dioramas. Cotton’s most famous diorama “Marsh Birds of the Upper Nile,” is still on display.