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Royal Society

Meteorological Archives


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0117 MA

Held at: Royal Society

Title: Meteorological Archives

Date(s): 1706-1915

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 393 sets of results, 111 bound volumes, 54 boxes of loose papers.

Name of creator(s): Various

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

This type of record has been solicited by the Royal Society during several periods of its history. In 1723 James Jurin appealed for observations via the 'Philosophical Transactions' and from 1725 instruments were sent to foreign observers to assist in this process. The resulting papers were abstracted in the 'Philosophical Transactions' by William Derham and others, but are preserved entire in this series. The Royal Society kept its own observations for the period 1774-1843 from which date the duties were transferred to the Royal Greenwich Observatory. In the mid 19th century further impetus was given to such information gathering by the Meteorological Committee, and many of the manuscripts date from this time.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Manuscripts of meteorological observations, with magnetic surveys and tide tables. The series contains 393 sets of results in all formats from tables to diaries, in all sizes from single sheets to runs of several volumes and from all areas of the world. This type of record has been solicited by the Society during several periods of its history. Its own observations until 1843 (when the duties were transferred to the Royal Greenwich Observatory) are recorded in 16 volumes for the period 1827-1843 (MA.230-249). Various other manuscripts cover the information gathering done by the Meteorological Committee. Includes MA.154 observations sent by Michael Faraday to the Royal Society.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Open

Conditions governing reproduction:

No photocopying.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

In Card Catalogue by name of observer and location of observations. Later entries are kept together under the title 'Meteorological Archives'.

Detailed catalogue

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Copied from the Royal Society catalogue by Sarah Drewery.

Rules or conventions: 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: Feb 2009


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Tides | Dynamic oceanography
Magnetism
Meteorology

Personal names
Faraday | Michael | 1791-1867 | chemist and natural philosopher

Corporate names
Royal Society

Places