Series GB 378 GSL/COM - Committees of the Council of the Geological Society

Identity area

Reference code

GB 378 GSL/COM

Title

Committees of the Council of the Geological Society

Date(s)

  • 1810-current (Creation)

Level of description

Series

Extent and medium

c.10m

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

From the earliest years of the Society, small committees were formed with specific organisational remits. The Committee of Trustees, appointed at the end of 1807, was the first, its task was to draw up the rules for the regulation of the fledgling Society and instructions to the honorary members to accompany notice of their election. When the Council was established in June 1810, the various 'standing' (that is permanent) committees tasked with overseeing the management of the Society's apartments, maps, publications, etc were formally appointed by and therefore reported to this senior body. Additionally 'Special' committees were formed on an ad hoc basis to deal with a specific issue or project, such as the refurbishment of the Society's apartments or the appointment of new staff, which could not necessarily be dealt with in the day to day business of one of the standing committees.

As the Society grew in size and complication, the 'Special' committees were more likely to be established as permanent committees of their own, however they would report to the hierarchy of the specific major standing committee which had appointed it rather than to Council.

With various reorganisations over the years and adaptations to modern management requirements, the names and functions of the standing committees has been frequently subject to change, with committees merging or being replaced by others.

Archival history

GB 378 GSL/COM 1810-current Series c.10m Geological Society of London , 1807-

From the earliest years of the Society, small committees were formed with specific organisational remits. The Committee of Trustees, appointed at the end of 1807, was the first, its task was to draw up the rules for the regulation of the fledgling Society and instructions to the honorary members to accompany notice of their election. When the Council was established in June 1810, the various 'standing' (that is permanent) committees tasked with overseeing the management of the Society's apartments, maps, publications, etc were formally appointed by and therefore reported to this senior body. Additionally 'Special' committees were formed on an ad hoc basis to deal with a specific issue or project, such as the refurbishment of the Society's apartments or the appointment of new staff, which could not necessarily be dealt with in the day to day business of one of the standing committees.

As the Society grew in size and complication, the 'Special' committees were more likely to be established as permanent committees of their own, however they would report to the hierarchy of the specific major standing committee which had appointed it rather than to Council.

With various reorganisations over the years and adaptations to modern management requirements, the names and functions of the standing committees has been frequently subject to change, with committees merging or being replaced by others.

Minutes, papers and correspondence mostly of the standing committees and sub committees of Council, 1810-current. Series includes some externally run committees which involve the Society's Officers and Executive Secretary. Comprises records of the:

Awards Committee, 1913-current; Accreditation Panel, previously Fellowship and Validation Sub-Committee on Continuing Education and Training, 1994-current; Research Funds Committee, later Sub-Committee for Research Funds, later Research Grants Panel, 1912-current; Alteration Committee, concerning alteration to the Society's apartments in Somerset House, Jul 1834; Appeal Committee, 1969-1983; Committees' attendance books, 1979-1999; Audit Panel, 2000-current; British Petrographic Nomenclature Committee, 1920-1921; Corporate Affiliates Committee, 2001-current; Conservation Committee, later Geoconservation Committee, 1979-1998, 2013-current; Courtyard Secretaries Meetings, 1982-2005; Development and Fundraising Committee, 2008-2013; various Education Committees, 1965-current; Elections Committee, 2001-current; External Relations Committee, previously External Relations Board, previously External Affairs Committee, 1991-current; Finance Committee, 1947-1997; Chartership Committee, previously Fellowship and Validation Committee; 1990-current; House Committee, 1828-1997; Investment Committee, previously Investment Panel, 1993-current; various Library Committees and working groups/reviews, 1919-current; Map Committee, 1839-1883; Management and Finance Committee, 1998-2011; Museum Committee Reports, 1848, 1891; Officers' Meetings, 1972-current; various Publications Committees, 1818-current; Promotions Committee, 1973-1995; Professional Committee, previously Professional Board, previously Membership Services Committee, 1995-current; Remuneration Committee, 2000-2012; Regional Groups Committees, 1991-current; Science Committee, 2001-current; Science and External Relations Committee, 2013-current; Secretaries Meetings, 1980, 1996-2010; Specialist Groups Committee, 1964-2000, 2013; Minutes and reports of Special Committees [ad hoc or working groups], 1810-2006; Sponsorship Committee, 1989-2000; Stratigraphy Commission, previously Stratigraphy Committee, 1971-2012; Vice Presidents Committees, 1981-2001; Web (working) Group, later Web Site Development Working Group, 1999-2005; William Smith Medal Committee, 1976-1996.

As above.

Some files may be restricted for business or other confidentiality reasons. Please contact the Archivist in the first instance.

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

Up until c.2006, most files are in paper form. After this date the files begin to be held as electronic records, generally searchable pdf format.

An online, detailed catalogue will be available shortly.
Description by Caroline Lam. 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. March 2014 Administration Administrative structure Committees Organisation and management Geological Society

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Minutes, papers and correspondence mostly of the standing committees and sub committees of Council, 1810-current. Series includes some externally run committees which involve the Society's Officers and Executive Secretary. Comprises records of the:

Awards Committee, 1913-current; Accreditation Panel, previously Fellowship and Validation Sub-Committee on Continuing Education and Training, 1994-current; Research Funds Committee, later Sub-Committee for Research Funds, later Research Grants Panel, 1912-current; Alteration Committee, concerning alteration to the Society's apartments in Somerset House, Jul 1834; Appeal Committee, 1969-1983; Committees' attendance books, 1979-1999; Audit Panel, 2000-current; British Petrographic Nomenclature Committee, 1920-1921; Corporate Affiliates Committee, 2001-current; Conservation Committee, later Geoconservation Committee, 1979-1998, 2013-current; Courtyard Secretaries Meetings, 1982-2005; Development and Fundraising Committee, 2008-2013; various Education Committees, 1965-current; Elections Committee, 2001-current; External Relations Committee, previously External Relations Board, previously External Affairs Committee, 1991-current; Finance Committee, 1947-1997; Chartership Committee, previously Fellowship and Validation Committee; 1990-current; House Committee, 1828-1997; Investment Committee, previously Investment Panel, 1993-current; various Library Committees and working groups/reviews, 1919-current; Map Committee, 1839-1883; Management and Finance Committee, 1998-2011; Museum Committee Reports, 1848, 1891; Officers' Meetings, 1972-current; various Publications Committees, 1818-current; Promotions Committee, 1973-1995; Professional Committee, previously Professional Board, previously Membership Services Committee, 1995-current; Remuneration Committee, 2000-2012; Regional Groups Committees, 1991-current; Science Committee, 2001-current; Science and External Relations Committee, 2013-current; Secretaries Meetings, 1980, 1996-2010; Specialist Groups Committee, 1964-2000, 2013; Minutes and reports of Special Committees [ad hoc or working groups], 1810-2006; Sponsorship Committee, 1989-2000; Stratigraphy Commission, previously Stratigraphy Committee, 1971-2012; Vice Presidents Committees, 1981-2001; Web (working) Group, later Web Site Development Working Group, 1999-2005; William Smith Medal Committee, 1976-1996.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

As above.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Some files may be restricted for business or other confidentiality reasons. Please contact the Archivist in the first instance.

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.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

An online, detailed catalogue will be available shortly.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Geological Society of London

Rules and/or conventions used

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.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area