Records relating to the inquest on the victims of the wreck of the steamship "Princess Alice", 1878-1966. Records include inquisition giving names, ages, relationship and occupations of deceased; sworn statements of witnesses; verbatim report of inquest proceedings at Town Hall, Woolwich; indexes of witnesses; list of persons saved from the "Princess Alice"; correspondence; report of the Board of Trade investigation into the wreck of the "Princess Alice"; supporting documentation including maps of the area and navigation regulations.

Also items relating to the disaster including memorial cards, songs, press cuttings and notes made by Gavin Thurston in preparation for his book The Great Thames Disaster.

Records of the Daily Herald Order of Industrial Heroism, 1923-1964, comprising: Scrap book, covering awards 1-181 (1923-1947), giving details of the recipient, and presentation, Daily Herald and other press cuttings, and photographs of recipients where available; box file, covering awards 182-440 (1947-1964), giving details of recipient and presentation, Daily Herald press notice giving details of award, and press cuttings where availanle [no press cutttings present after 1958]' card indexes to awards by name of recipient and by union; series of 16 box files on awards 17-440, including correspondendce, press cuttings and photographs.

Records of the Greater London Area War Risk Study (GLAWARS) comprising:

GLAWARS/1 - Home Office: records from the Home Office regarding emergency planning and civil defence in local authorities, 1975-1987

GLAWARS/2 - Greater London Council (GLC): GLC records regarding civil defence, emergency planning, the GLAWARS and the Civil Defence Regulations 1983, 1975-1985

GLAWARS/3 - Research Materials: records regarding civil defence, emergency planning and local and global effects of nuclear war or attacks, 1967-1987

GLAWARS/4 - Background, Terms of Reference and Research Task Outlines: outlines and outcomes for 11 of the 12 tasks required by the GLAWARS. Task Eight is not included, c.1984-1986

GLAWARS/5 - Newsletters, Progress Reports, Home Office and Consultants' Meetings, 1984-1985

GLAWARS/6 - Commissioners: records concerning the seven GLAWARS commissioners, their roles, memorandum and meeting minutes, 1984-1986

GLAWARS/7 - Presscuttings regarding the GLAWARS and the publishing of 'London Under Attack', 1984-1986

GLAWARS/8 - 'London Under Attack': publicity and publishing records for the GLAWARS findings published in a book entitled 'London Under Attack', 1985-1986

Records of the Royal Humane Society comprising:

minutes of the Committee, 1774-1784, 1815-2000 (33 vols); General Court 1820-1947 (4 vols); and Select Committee, 1820-1833 (1 vol); agenda of the General Court, 1893-1954;

case books, 1823-2000 (116 vols); medal registers, [1776]-present, (3 vols);

Secretary's letters out books, 1830-1832, 1838-1840, 1844-1945, 1849-1852, 1856-1861, 1861-1967, (6 vols);

typescript lists of winners of school swimming competition medals [1892-1948], and printed copy of suggested rules for swimming competitions (1 vol);

printed Annual Reports of the Society 1774-present, (62 vols); and Transactions of the Royal Humane Society 1774-[1797] (2 vols);

resuscitation essays, shipwrecks essays and other prize essays, and related papers, 1782-1995; advertisements for lifesaving equipment; Stanhope Medal (gold medal) correspondence, 1806-1974; correspondence relating to the Society bylaws, 1958-1982;

miscellaneous papers 1843-1953 including insurance policies 1843 and 1850, advertisement for post of boatman 1856, plans for a new Boathouse 1901, plans for new Receiving House, 1948, 1950, rules for bathing and temperature chart for bathers 1873;

papers relating to resuscitation methods including cuttings, 1889-1891, including Dr Silvester's method of hypodermic inflations cartoon, n.d, `The true physiological method of restoring persons apparently drowned or dead and of resuscitating still born children', by Henry R Silvester, reprinted from the British Medical Journal, 1858; papers relating to Captain Manby, inventor of lifesaving equipment, including pamphlets, lecture, 1814-1846;

papers relating to resuscitation including files comprising 10 photographs illustrating resuscitation method, [1914-1918]; learned papers on resuscitation, 1908-1987; resuscitation 'how to' leaflets [1940s-1980s]; resuscitation apparatus [1930s-1990s];

press cuttings, 1835-1990 (1 file);

photograph of life-saving apparatus, with news cuttings, 1876 (1file); advertising posters - concerning the removal or destruction of RHS lifebuoys, 1949; appointment of icemen during the skating season and the role of the Society in case of accident (1file); illustrations of the RHS work including copy of The Cottager and Artisan, 1 Dec 1865, featuring drawing of RHS worker; prints of the RHS dinner at the Freemason's Hall, with the procession of the persons saved during the year from drowning [1872]; (2 items)

printed copies of sermons delivered in support of the Society including: Sermon ... to recommend the institution of the Society for the recovery of person apparently drowned, Richard Harrison, London 1775; Royal Humane Society Sermons, 1777-1838 (5 vols)

records of the RHS Receiving House including: journal of John Pritchard, Superintendent, Receiving House, Hyde Park, 1837-1840, a daily record of cases, number of bathers, accidents, and weather conditions (1 vol); Bathing Books 1860-1952, superintendent's register of bathers and accidents, (6 vols); Ice Books 1859-1929, a daily register of ice accidents, skater numbers, ice thickness (2 vols); files including correspondence relating to the post of Deputy Superintendent and a female servant, of the Receiving house, 1843-1957 (2 files); Secretary's correspondence concerning the Receiving House, 1949-1957 (4 files); Receiving House papers, Herbert Williams, Superintendent, correspondence 1844-1849 (1 file); Hyde Park papers - including floor plan of a receiving house, photograph of Horace Montague, Chairman 1896-1910, letter to RHS Sec [1844 - 1854] also papers re finances (1 file); architectural plans for the Receiving House and additions, 1939, 1951 (1 file); boxes containing Receiving House correspondence, including printed illustration, (1 box); papers relating to the Receiving House archive, 1939-1948 and 19th century lifesaving apparatus (1 box);

financial records of the RHS including an Anniversary ticket book - Accounts of tickets given to Stewards, Vice-Presidents and Committee 1832-1849 (1 vol); Legacy Book No 2 1847-1894, recording legacies received (1 vol); auditors minutes 1823-1964 (1 vol); ledgers 1840-1881; 1940-1949 (2 vols); financial accounts and papers, obsolete stock receipts, 1898-1928 (1 file); financial records of the Fothergill Bequest / Anthony Fothergill Trust 1819-1885, 1912 (1file); papers relating to the Fothergill Bequest Fund and Prize Essay, 1933-1838 (1file).

Typescript summary of Ceylon Receiver of Wrecks reports, 1862-1881, giving detailed accounts of the loss of 56 vessels off the coast of Ceylon.

Letter from William Ward Jackson of Normanby, [North Riding of Yorkshire] to George Brigham, near Hutton, Rudby, [North Riding of Yorkshire], 20 Mar 1822. Describing how a servant of Jackson's had been killed 'by an accident from a horse' that day and an early inquest is desired. Asks Brigham to tell the bearer of the letter what time he will arrive.

Autograph, with signature.

Manuscript volume containing a draft of a petition of the inhabitants of Russell Street, London, 'whose houses were burnt and blowne up and that lost their goods by the late fire that began in the Theatre Royal' to the Justices of the Peace at Hicks Hall, 1672. The document also contains a list of the men appointed to examine the petitioners, and a list of the petitioners and the value of their losses in goods and property.

Correspondence and papers created by William Baly and his family; Francis Baly, his mother, William Baly, his father, Frances (Fanny) Shipp, nee Baly, and Elizabeth (Bessy) Baly, his sisters, 1807-1878. Includes correspondence between Baly and members of his family and friends, and between members of his family about Baly, spanning Baly's life and career. Also includes papers, notes and correspondence relating to Baly's professional career, his years as a student in London and then in France and Germany, 1831-36; his various appointments, from his early apprenticeship to a general practitioner in 1828 to his appointment as physician extraordinary to the Queen in 1859, such as indentures detailing appointments and a volume of testimonials supporting Baly's appointment as Assistant Physician at St Bartholomew's Hospital, 1854; his licence and diploma for the Royal College of Physicians; a portrait of Baly by one of his sisters; photographs; obituaries; material relating to the Baly Memorial Fund; and genealogical notes on the Baly family.

Papers of Sir Alfred Platt, 1968-1986, comprising typescript and photographs relating to The Story of the Manchester Surgical Society, 1970-1971; diaries of trips to the United States of America 1928 and 1946, 1978; typsescript of the lecture The romance of surgery: The Manchester Ship Canal and the birth of accident services, 1968; copy of a postcard to Leslie Turner (FRCS) concerning arrangements for the centenary celebration, 1986; and a presentational folder titled The Transatlantic Connection 1913-1986: A Tribute to Sir Harry Platt by Allan M McKelvie, 7 Oct 1986.

Papers of William Maiden, 1812-1824, comprising a cutting from the National Register containing a letter to the editor from T Paxton, on 'Mr Tipple's Extraordinary Case', 26 Jul 1812; a copy of the second edition (1813) of the original publication by Maiden titled An Account of a Case of Recovery after an Extraordinary Accident, by which the shaft of a chaise had been forced through the thorax. The label on the front was written by Sir Richard Owen. Including an autograph letter from William Clift to William Maiden, 18 Feb 1824 and an original drawing by William Clift; draft title pages for the re-publication of the Shaft Case by William Maiden, including notes on Mr Tipple's health for the 10 years following the accident, and an account of the post-mortem; manuscript drafts for the introduction of the re-publication of the case; manuscript containing notes on Tipple's health after the accident. These notes were probably written by J W K Parkinson, Mr Tipple's physician after the accident, and his name is written in pencil at the top right on the first page; draft manuscript notes on the Post Mortem of Mr Tipple, 1823; a letter from James Parkinson to Sir William Blizard, 26 Mar 1823 concerning observations made by William Clift on the post-mortem of Mr Tipple; draft manuscripts of a commentary on the case by Sir William Blizard; 22 letters from William Maiden to William Clift, Sir William Blizard and Mr Carpenter concerning the re-publication of the case details, the plates to be published with it, and the procedure for presenting copies of the work to various gentlemen and institutions. Including replies from William Clift and Mr Carpenter to William Maiden. Sep 1823 - Jul 1824; transcribed measurements of the location of the horse and chaise; manuscript descriptions of the plates for the re-publication, including keys to the letters used in the figures, by William Clift; copy of An Account of a Case of Recovery, after The Shaft of a Chaise had been forced through the Thorax: to which is now added a statement of the health of the sufferer from the period of his recovery, until his decease: with the appearances of the injured parts after death. By William Maiden, MRCS. 1824; original drawings for the plates in the republication by William Clift and proofs of the plates; and printed colour, and black and white plates, and descriptions from the re-published case, 1824.

An account of the shipwreck of the 'Johanna', commanded by Captain Robert Brown near the Cape of Good Hope on 29 May 1682, and of the subsequent fate of the crew.

Correspondence, papers, notebooks and specimens (copper and photographic) compiled by Sir Henry James.

The majority of this correspondence is based around the following themes: James's work for the Ordnance Survey (particularly the book of maps and photographs produced by the OS of Jerusalem), James's investigation of the corrosion by sea water of the copper bottoms of ships, letters discusing George Biddell Airy's proposed system of projection and personal letters of invitation to James.

The majority of the photographs relate to 'The Wreck of the RHONE', and in particular, of a survivor of the shipwreck, a cabin boy called John Bailey. (The RHONE was a steam packet ship, built in London in 1865. It sank off the coast of the Virgin Islands in October 1867, after being struck by strong winds. Of the 197 people on board only 24 survived. The wreck of the RHONE is now regarded as one of the world's most famous wreck dives).

The sketchbook consists mostly of sketches of trilobites drawn whilst James was in Ireland and the notebook contains notes on military topics.

Library Manuscripts comprise manuscript items donated to the Royal Geographical Society. They are chiefly single files or a small number of items which are not large enough to warrant forming a special collection. The papers include, astronomical and meteorological observations, diaries, correspondence, notes, conference papers, reports, articles, photographs, sketches and maps covering all aspects of geography and exploration across the globe and date from 1691 to 1994. Highlights include:

Memorandum on a map of South America, by John Arrowsmith.

Papers of Maj R A Bagnold, 1929-1933, comprising positions, routes and heights in Egypt and letters from Bagnold.

Letters from Sir John Barrow to Lord Melville, 1935-1945 and letters to Barrow from Murzuq, 1822 and J D Dundas, 1818.

Papers of Dr Heinrich Barth, 1846-1952, letters and copy of a sketch map of Timbuktu.

Notes on heights of mountains in America by Capt F W Beechey, 1826.

Letters from the King of Siam to Sir John Bowring, 1855.

Letters relating to the British Arctic Air Route Expedition, 1928-1932.

Correspondence and reports of the British Ornithologists' Union Expedition to New Guinea, 1908-1911.

Papers of G Wyman Bury, 1913-1918.

Papers of Capt R F M Crozier, 1836-1906.

Account of a journey to Lhasa and central Tibet by Sarat Chandra Das, 1902.

Papers of Lt James Barker Emery, chiefly relating to Mombassa, 1822-1835.

Plan and elevation of the Screw Yacht FRAM as reconstructed in 1898.

'Narrative of a small party of HMS LEVEN under command of Lt C W Browns sent to explore the Zambesi by one of the survivors, a native of Angola', by Antonio Jozi, 1823.

Journal of Joseph Kaye's voyage from London to Genoa.

Papers and maps relating to William Kennish's exploration in South America for a canal route.

Papers relating to the Kufara expedition led by H W C J Penderel and P A Clayton to Gilf Kebir, 1933.

Papers relating to the Livingstone Award, 1875-1970.

H B Molesworth's diary of a journey to Mokalla (Mukalla), 1893.

Letters from Sir John Morrison to Henry Dundas and others concerning Persia and trade with Persia, 1783-1792.

Narrative of a shipwreck on the southern shores of Arabia by B A R Nicholson, 1836.
Correspondence of Walter Oudney, 1821-1823.

Papers of Adm Sir W E Parry, relating to the Arctic, 1819-1823.

Papers relating to the Pitcairn Islands, 1831-1885.

Annotated 'Code of Naval Signals' belonging to Adm Sir Home Popham, 1799.

Letter from Sultan Husain Sufrari, 1708.

Account of explorations on the coast of Patagonia by B Villarino, 1782.

Travel journals of J Washington, chiefly in South America, 1822-1829.

Letters to A F R Wollaston, 1896-1926.

Records, c1725, 1799-1986, of the United Society for Christian Literature (USCL) and its predecessors, including the Religious Tract Society, comprise:

Executive Committee minutes for the RTS, 1799-1935 (some gaps) (Ref: USCL 1-113), continued under the USCL, 1935-1953 (Ref: USCL 113-122), and other minutes, including copyright, finance, and local associations, for the RTS, 1806-1935, and USCL, 1935-1972 (Ref: USCL 123-149, USCL Add 6, 15, 19-22);

copies of outgoing RTS letters, 1824-1889 (Ref: USCL 150-195); miscellaneous correspondence of the RTS, 1824-1847 (Ref: USCL Add 23-26);

annual reports for the RTS, 1820-1935 (many gaps) (Ref: USCL 311-336, USCL Add 34), USCL, 1935-1962 (Ref: USCL 337-357, USCL/S 69-72, 99-103, USCL Add 38), and RTS (China), continued under the USCL, 1884-1947 (Ref: USCL 366-376);

ledgers and accounts, 1836-1952 (Ref: USCL 196-231);

papers of the RTS, succeeded by the USCL, relating to copyright, 1825-1835 (Ref: USCL Add 1-2); reports of sub-committees on anti-popery, 1839, and new warehouses, 1844 (Ref: USCL Add 3-4); salaries books, 1851-1938 (Ref: USCL Add 5); letters, report and pamphlet relating to the Assam mission, India, 1857-1859 (Ref: USCL Add 7); legacies book, 1911-1986 (Ref: USCL Add 11); USCL register of members, 1946-1963, also including declarations of employee names, 1948-1972 (Ref: USCL Add 16); USCL papers concerning premises in Lusaka, Rhodesia, 1949-1955 (Ref: USCL Add 17); reports on USCL officials' visits to India and Ceylon, Northern Rhodesia, and Zambia, 1950-1969 (Ref: USCL Add 18); papers documenting USCL history, 1927-1976 and undated, including notes, chronology, printed material, and photographs, including the fire damage of 1941 (Ref: USCL Add 64-71);

RTS and USCL printed tracts, c1920-c1950 (Ref: USCL 400-401); annotated listings of RTS publications, 1842-1859 (Ref: USCL Add 39); RTS publications, 1822-1934 and undated (Ref: USCL Add 41-57); USCL publications, 1935-1962 and undated (Ref: USCL Add 57-62); miscellaneous publications, c1725, 1816-1960, including some on the work of the RTS but also including other publications, some by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (Ref: USCL 377-399, USCL Add 40, 63).

There are also records, 1858-1950, of the Christian Literature Society (CLS) for India (and Africa) and its predecessor; and records, 1885-1977, of the UCSL (Scotland) and its predecessors.