IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0402 CB3
Held at: Royal Geographical Society
Title: RGS CORRESPONDENCE BLOCK 1841-1850
Date(s): 1841-1850
Level of description: Collection level (sub-fonds)
Extent: 10 boxes
Name of creator(s): Royal Geographical Society
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The Royal Geographical Society (RGS) was founded in 1830 as the Royal Geographical Society of London. Its aim was the advancement of Geographical Science. The Society was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria in 1859. In 1995 the RGS merged with the Institute of British Geographers (IBG) to create the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers).
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Royal Geographical Society Correspondence Block, 1841-1850, consists of correspondence with the Society covering administrative matters as well as all aspects of geography and exploration throughout the world. These files contain incoming letters only, replies are held separately in the out-letter books. Authors include the Admiralty, John Arrowsmith, Sir George Back, William Ainsworth, Sir Francis Beaufort, Charles Tilstone Beke, the Bombay Geographical Society, William D Cooley, G W Earl, the Foreign Office, William John Hamilton, Sir William Hooker, A K Johaston, the Linneaen Society, Roderick Impey Murchison, John Murray, Ordnance Survey, Mansfield Parkyns, Adm William Henry Smyth, Rev George Cecil Renouard, John Washington and James Wyld.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: Mainly English but with some letters in other European languages.
System of arrangement:
Alphabetically by author or institution.
Conditions governing access:
Accessed via the Foyle Reading Room. Free of charge for Fellows, Members and those with valid academic identification. All other users pay a charge and must bring identification in order to register on arrival.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Photocopying at Archivist's discretion, and subject to completion of Request for Copies form. No reproduction or publication without permission of the RGS-IBG Archivist. Please note that in some cases copyright of the author or owner may need to be sought.
Physical characteristics:
Almost all items are handwritten but some files may contain printed items.
Finding aids:
The RGS archives: a handlist / compiled by Christine Kelly. London: RGS, 1977. Also Access to Archives database at www.a2a.org.uk
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Accruals:
Archival history:
In most cases the items were sent to the RGS directly by their authors and have remained with the Society ever since.
Immediate source of acquisition:
Transferred directly from the RGS Secretary to the Archives.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Related material:
Correspondence Blocks 1-2 and 4-11, RGS Administrative Papers, Out-Letter Books.
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Archivist's note: Compiled by Sarah Drewery using hard copy listings held in-house.
Date(s) of descriptions: Nov 2008.