The Division of Crustacea was established on July 1, 1965, as a result of an administrative reorganization in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology. Prior to that time, the national collection of crustacea was under the care of the Division of Marine Invertebrates.

Research staff of the Division of Crustacea have included Fenner Albert Chace, Zoologist Emeritus, 1965- ; Raymond B. Manning, Curator, Research Zoologist, and Senior Research Zoologist, 1965- ; Louis S. Kornicker, Associate Curator, Curator, and Research Zoologist, 1965- ; Thomas E. Bowman, Associate Curator, Curator, and Emeritus Zoologist, 1965-1994; J. Laurens Barnard, Associate Curator and Curator, 1965-1991; Roger F. Cressey, Jr., Associate Curator and Curator, 1965-1990; C.W.M. Hart, Curator, Research Zoologist, and Zoologist Emeritus, 1979-1997; Robert P. Higgins, Curator, 1984-1992; Frank D. Ferrari, Curator and Research Zoologist, 1992- ; Rafael Lemaitre, Curator and Research Zoologist, 1992- ; and James D. Thomas, Research Zoologist, 1993-1998.