Fonds GB 0096 AL44a - Darwin, Charles Robert: letter ([1850])

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0096 AL44a

Title

Darwin, Charles Robert: letter ([1850])

Date(s)

  • [1850] (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

2 leaves

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Charles Darwin was born in Shropshire and educated at the University of Edinburgh and Christ's College, Cambridge. After graduating he spent two years exploring the coasts of South America, Australasia as a naturalist on HMS Beagle; the observations that he made during the voyage later led him to formulate his influential theory of evolution by natural selection, now regarded as the foundation of modern biology and one of the most important ideas in science. After returning to Britain he continued to research and published many books, including On the Origin of Species (1859) and The Descent of Man (1871).

Archival history

See archivist

GB 0096 AL44a [1850] fonds 2 leaves Darwin , Charles Robert , 1809-1882 , scientist and naturalist

Charles Darwin was born in Shropshire and educated at the University of Edinburgh and Christ's College, Cambridge. After graduating he spent two years exploring the coasts of South America, Australasia as a naturalist on HMS Beagle; the observations that he made during the voyage later led him to formulate his influential theory of evolution by natural selection, now regarded as the foundation of modern biology and one of the most important ideas in science. After returning to Britain he continued to research and published many books, including On the Origin of Species (1859) and The Descent of Man (1871).

See archivist

Bought from Tregaskis in 1912 (about 2 months after Ludlow's books were sold at Hodgson's).

Letter from Charles Robert Darwin of Down, Farnborough, Kent to an unnamed member of the Council of the Palaeontographical Society [the Secretary, J S Bowerbank], [Feb or Mar 1850]. Thanking him for the loan of Pollicipes cornucopia. Referring to the Society's acceptance of his (Darwin's) proposal [an offer to prepare a monograph on the 'British Fossil Cirripedia']; stating that the plates are being prepared by James de C Sowerby, who will be the best man to engrave them. Concluding: 'I suppose I was admitted a member of the Palaeont. Soc. and shall sometime here when and where I can pay my subscriptions, etc.'

Autograph, with signature.

The events mentioned date the letter to later than 22 Feb 1850, when Darwin's monograph proposal was accepted, and before 15 Mar 1850, when he was proposed to serve as a member of the Society's Council.

See hard copy catalogue.

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Please contact the University Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

English

Typescript list available in the Library's Palaeography Room.

On negative microfilm - reference: MIC 242/2

Compiled by Anya Turner.
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.
July 2008 Societies Darwin , Charles Robert , 1809-1882 , scientist and naturalist Natural sciences Palaeontographical Society Associations Organizations

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Bought from Tregaskis in 1912 (about 2 months after Ludlow's books were sold at Hodgson's).

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Letter from Charles Robert Darwin of Down, Farnborough, Kent to an unnamed member of the Council of the Palaeontographical Society [the Secretary, J S Bowerbank], [Feb or Mar 1850]. Thanking him for the loan of Pollicipes cornucopia. Referring to the Society's acceptance of his (Darwin's) proposal [an offer to prepare a monograph on the 'British Fossil Cirripedia']; stating that the plates are being prepared by James de C Sowerby, who will be the best man to engrave them. Concluding: 'I suppose I was admitted a member of the Palaeont. Soc. and shall sometime here when and where I can pay my subscriptions, etc.'

Autograph, with signature.

The events mentioned date the letter to later than 22 Feb 1850, when Darwin's monograph proposal was accepted, and before 15 Mar 1850, when he was proposed to serve as a member of the Society's Council.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

See hard copy catalogue.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Please contact the University Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Typescript list available in the Library's Palaeography Room.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

On negative microfilm - reference: MIC 242/2

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

Senate House Library, University 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