GB 0117 CMB - Committee Minute Books

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0117 CMB

Title

Committee Minute Books

Date(s)

  • 1678- (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

427 volumes and 50 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Repository

Archival history

GB 0117 CMB 1678- Collection (fonds) 427 volumes and 50 boxes Royal Society

Minutes of the Royal Society's Standing, Sectional, Joint, British National, ad-hoc and sub-committees. Early minute books in the series contain the business of several committees. Four of the Society's committees were in existence before 1900; the Library Committee (which was appointed in 1678), Finance Committee (1785), Scientific Relief Committee (1859) and Soiree Committee (1873). These Committees, therefore, have the longest and most complete sets of minute books. Many other committees have 'stood' for significant periods, however, including the Committee of Papers (1752).
19th century material additional to the minutes, such as the original letters, was often pasted into books. In 1992, the Committee Minutes ceased to be pasted into books, and are now stored in boxes. Larger collections of papers submitted to, or solicited by committees were increasingly preserved in the late 19th century, and can be found in the Manuscripts General.

30 year rule applies.

No publication without written permission. Apply to Archivist in the first instance.

English

An accessions list of the Committee Minute Books is maintained. The General Card Catalogue (Committees) alphabetically orders by name of committee and gives brief details of the number of minute books accumulated, chronological extent, and refers to related committees. The Society's 'Yearbook' (1897 to date) lists committees standing at the time of publication, with their date of foundation and terms of reference. 'The Library and Archives of the Royal Society 1660-1990' by Marie Boas Hall (London 1992) contains a detailed account of the history of the Library Committee.

The minutes of the earliest of the Society's committees, notably the Mechanical and Geological Committees 1664-1665 are in the Domestic Manuscripts, volume 5. For description see 'The Record of the Royal Society' 1940, pages 32-33. Larger collections of papers submitted to. or solicited by committees were increasingly preserved in the late 19th century, and are to be found in the Manuscripts General series. For more details about the activities of the post-war committees, see 'The Record of the Royal Society; Supplement oto the Fourth Edition 1940-1989', John Rowlinson and Norman Robinson.

Copied from the Royal Society catalogue by Sarah Drewery.

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.

Feb 2009. Learned societies Royal Society Associations Organizations

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Minutes of the Royal Society's Standing, Sectional, Joint, British National, ad-hoc and sub-committees. Early minute books in the series contain the business of several committees. Four of the Society's committees were in existence before 1900; the Library Committee (which was appointed in 1678), Finance Committee (1785), Scientific Relief Committee (1859) and Soiree Committee (1873). These Committees, therefore, have the longest and most complete sets of minute books. Many other committees have 'stood' for significant periods, however, including the Committee of Papers (1752).
19th century material additional to the minutes, such as the original letters, was often pasted into books. In 1992, the Committee Minutes ceased to be pasted into books, and are now stored in boxes. Larger collections of papers submitted to, or solicited by committees were increasingly preserved in the late 19th century, and can be found in the Manuscripts General.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

30 year rule applies.

Conditions governing reproduction

No publication without written permission. Apply to Archivist in the first instance.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

The minutes of the earliest of the Society's committees, notably the Mechanical and Geological Committees 1664-1665 are in the Domestic Manuscripts, volume 5. For description see 'The Record of the Royal Society' 1940, pages 32-33. Larger collections of papers submitted to. or solicited by committees were increasingly preserved in the late 19th century, and are to be found in the Manuscripts General series. For more details about the activities of the post-war committees, see 'The Record of the Royal Society; Supplement oto the Fourth Edition 1940-1989', John Rowlinson and Norman Robinson.

Finding aids

An accessions list of the Committee Minute Books is maintained. The General Card Catalogue (Committees) alphabetically orders by name of committee and gives brief details of the number of minute books accumulated, chronological extent, and refers to related committees. The Society's 'Yearbook' (1897 to date) lists committees standing at the time of publication, with their date of foundation and terms of reference. 'The Library and Archives of the Royal Society 1660-1990' by Marie Boas Hall (London 1992) contains a detailed account of the history of the Library Committee.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Royal Society

Rules and/or conventions used

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.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area