Identity area
Reference code
Title
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
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
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