Division of Mammalogy was established in 1932: it was first a laboratory (subsequently section, then department) within the Research Taxonomic Division of the Museum. W.G. Heptner was its first head, and he was staying officialy at this post by 1950. However, it was L.G. Morozova-Turova who actally was leader of the Division since 1941, and she took the position officially in 1950. O.L. Rossolimo headed it in 1959-1991, though she became director of the Museum in 1970. During that period, there were such well known mammalogists in the staff of the Division as V.A. Dolgov (1964-1969), E.N. Matyushkin (1969-1975); I.Ya. Pavlinov has been working since 1967 by now (Chief of the Division since 1995), E.L. Yakhontov was in the staff in 1986-1995 and headed the Division in 1992-1994. The next generation of mammalogists was represented by S.V. Kruskop (since 1991 by now) and A.V. Borissenko (1991-2004). N.M. Spasskaya has been working here since 1999; and A.A. Lissovsky and A.A. Panyutina are both here since 2001. V.S. Lebedev came to the Division in 2004.