GB 0117 EL - Early Letters

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0117 EL

Title

Early Letters

Date(s)

  • 1613; 1642; 1651-1740 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

38 volumes containing 4,390 items

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Repository

Archival history

GB 0117 EL 1613; 1642; 1651-1740 Collection (fonds) 38 volumes containing 4,390 items Various

Original manuscripts of letters to the Royal Society, which are largely scientific. These papers form the raw material from which the Letter Books were compiled. There are many letters of importance, 1613; 1642; 1651-1740.

Volumes are arranged alphabetically by author, and chronologically within author groups, with a single supplementary volume of letters essentially to Robert Boyle from Henry Oldenburg and from John Beale. This order was published in 1840 by Shuckard, who numbered each letter sequentially in his catalogue. The numbering system used here is the item number assigned to individual letters within each volume and not Shuckard's system. A few letters were added after 1840.

Open

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

English, French, Latin and Dutch

The volumes were rebound in 1991and 1992.

Alphabetical list of correspondents published in W E Shuckard, 'Catalogues of the miscellaneous manuscripts and of the manuscript letters in the possession of the Royal Society' (London: Royal Society, 1840), with dates.

Letters have been microfilmed by University Publications of America (UPA).

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. History of science Science Scientific organizations Learned societies Royal Society Science of science Associations Science administration Organizations

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Original manuscripts of letters to the Royal Society, which are largely scientific. These papers form the raw material from which the Letter Books were compiled. There are many letters of importance, 1613; 1642; 1651-1740.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Volumes are arranged alphabetically by author, and chronologically within author groups, with a single supplementary volume of letters essentially to Robert Boyle from Henry Oldenburg and from John Beale. This order was published in 1840 by Shuckard, who numbered each letter sequentially in his catalogue. The numbering system used here is the item number assigned to individual letters within each volume and not Shuckard's system. A few letters were added after 1840.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open

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, French, Latin and Dutch

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Alphabetical list of correspondents published in W E Shuckard, 'Catalogues of the miscellaneous manuscripts and of the manuscript letters in the possession of the Royal Society' (London: Royal Society, 1840), with dates.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Letters have been microfilmed by University Publications of America (UPA).

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