Graphical version

Geological Society of London

Archive and Conservation Department of the Geological Society of London


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 378 GSL/ARC

Held at: Geological Society of London

Title: Archive and Conservation Department of the Geological Society of London

Date(s): 1971-2004

Level of description: Series

Extent: 16 files, 4 vols and 18 boxes

Name of creator(s): Geological Society of London
Burlington House Conservation Project

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Until 1979, the archives of the Geological Society were spread throughout the offices of Burlington House. Aided with an initial grant subsidy from the British Library which ran between 1979-1982, the Society was able to appoint an archivist and a conservator to at last look after the collections professionally. An archives store was constructed in 1981/1982 funded by the work of the Appeals Committee.

A further grant subsidy from the British Library was awarded at the end of 1983 for what became known as the Burlington House Conservation Project, which involved the conservation studio taking on work from local learned societies and the Royal Academy. However the external funding ended in 1986 and with the Society unable to finance the costly facility itself, the studio closed. Most of the equipment was later exchanged in lieu of conservation services.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of relating to the Archives and Conservation Studio, 1971-2004, comprising:

Surveys and reports on the condition of the archives, 1974-[1986]; Reports and correspondence on the construction and maintenance of the archives store, 1980-1985; Archivist reports, 1980-1987; Historical articles and papers by John Thackray, Honorary Archivist, 1971-1984; material on Archive fundraising and appeals, 2003-2004;

Conservator's reports, 1981-1986; Records of the Joint British Library and Geological Society conservation facility, later Burlington House Conservation Project, 1983-1987; Records relating to the construction, equipment and work of the conservation studio, 1979-1985; Photographs of the work of the conservation studio, later photographs of items requested from the Society's collections, 1981-1999.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Access is by appointment only, daily readership fee is applicable unless you are a member of the Society. Please contact the Archivist for further information.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copies, subject to copyright and the condition of the original, may be supplied. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Archivist.

Finding aids:

Detailed catalogue available on request.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

ALLIED MATERIALS

Related material:

For minutes of the Appeals Committee which raised the money to construct the Archives Vault, see: GSL/COM/AP/3.

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Archivist's note: Description by Caroline Lam

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: April 2011; revised October 2013


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Conservation programme | Cultural programmes | Cultural planning
Conservators | Cultural personnel
Museum laboratories | Museum facilities

Personal names

Corporate names
Geological Society

Places