GB 0120 MSS.1302, 2391-2392 & 5403 - Folkes, Martin (1690-1754)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0120 MSS.1302, 2391-2392 & 5403

Title

Folkes, Martin (1690-1754)

Date(s)

  • 1745-1748 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

90 items

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Eldest son of Martin Folkes, a solicitor, and Dorothy his wife; attended University of Saumur, France; entered Clare Hall Cambridge to study mathematics, 1706; matriculated, 1709; MA, 1717; interested in coins; Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, 1719; lost Presidency of Royal Society to Sir Hans Sloane, 1727; succeeded to the Presidency following Sloane's retirement, 1741; under his Presidency the Society's meetings became very 'literary', and the Society lost much of its professional character; Folkes's papers to the Philosophical Transactions concentrated on astronomy; despite the criticisms, Folkes was elected to the 'Academie des Sciences' in succession to Edmund Halley, 1742; following his publication Table of English Gold Coins published at his own expense, his Table of Silver Coins from the Conquest was published by the Society of Antiquaries, 1744; the Tables were much consulted by antiquaries; President of the Society of Antiquaries from 1750 until his death; his communications were on Roman antiquities and coins; when his health failed, he resigned from his office at the Royal Society; died, 1754.

Archival history

GB 0120 MSS.1302, 2391-2392 & 5403 1745-1748 Collection (fonds) 90 items Folkes , Martin , 1690-1754 , antiquary

Eldest son of Martin Folkes, a solicitor, and Dorothy his wife; attended University of Saumur, France; entered Clare Hall Cambridge to study mathematics, 1706; matriculated, 1709; MA, 1717; interested in coins; Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, 1719; lost Presidency of Royal Society to Sir Hans Sloane, 1727; succeeded to the Presidency following Sloane's retirement, 1741; under his Presidency the Society's meetings became very 'literary', and the Society lost much of its professional character; Folkes's papers to the Philosophical Transactions concentrated on astronomy; despite the criticisms, Folkes was elected to the 'Academie des Sciences' in succession to Edmund Halley, 1742; following his publication Table of English Gold Coins published at his own expense, his Table of Silver Coins from the Conquest was published by the Society of Antiquaries, 1744; the Tables were much consulted by antiquaries; President of the Society of Antiquaries from 1750 until his death; his communications were on Roman antiquities and coins; when his health failed, he resigned from his office at the Royal Society; died, 1754.

MS.1302 purchased 1929 and 1934 (acc.63700 and 78977); MSS.2391-2392 purchased 1932 (acc.78820); MS.5403 mainly purchased at various Sotheby's, Stevens' and Glendining's sales, 1932-34, especially Stevens' 14-15 Aug. 1934, lots 283-294.

Letters and papers of Martin Folkes sent to the Royal Society of London, 1745-1748 and mostly published in the Philosophical Transactions. The majority are initialled by Martin Folkes and endorsed with the dates when they were read to the Society. Partly printed. The papers cover a wide range of scientific subjects, in particular relating to natural history and biology (individual studies of mammals, fish, birds, plants, 'flora and fauna'); and a significant number re experiments involving electricity. Also: magnetism, geology, astronomy, poison, geography, chemistry - metallurgy, medicine, anatomy, and fossils. There are also some papers which pertain to Royal Society business.

Within each item, material is arranged alphabetically by author.

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

English

Described in: S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973), and Richard Palmer, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts in the Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine: Western Manuscripts 5120-6244 (London: The Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine, 1999).

Copied from the Wellcome Library catalogue by Sarah Drewery.

In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Feb 2009 Personality disorders Histrionic personality disorder Hysteria Planets Mercury (planet) Biological products Plant preparations Pharmacology Drugs Biological factors Venoms Snake venoms Biology Anatomy Metabolic diseases Oedema Therapy Lithotripsy People People by occupation Personnel Astronomical systems Solar system Meteoroids Medical profession Medical personnel Physicians Agricultural products Plant products Vegetables Allium Palaeontology Fossils Pathology Medical conditions Disorders Disorders of environmental origin Wounds and injuries Foreign bodies Medical sciences Veterinary medicine Pathological conditions, signs and symptoms Pathologic processes Menstruation disturbances Mental diseases Psychopathology Psychiatry Calculi Pathological conditions, anatomical Naturalists Scientists Scientific personnel Botany Dangerous materials Poisons Nutritional diseases Electricity Magnetism Geography Chemistry Metallurgy Folkes , Martin , 1690-1754 , antiquary Church of England Royal Society Diseases

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

MS.1302 purchased 1929 and 1934 (acc.63700 and 78977); MSS.2391-2392 purchased 1932 (acc.78820); MS.5403 mainly purchased at various Sotheby's, Stevens' and Glendining's sales, 1932-34, especially Stevens' 14-15 Aug. 1934, lots 283-294.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Letters and papers of Martin Folkes sent to the Royal Society of London, 1745-1748 and mostly published in the Philosophical Transactions. The majority are initialled by Martin Folkes and endorsed with the dates when they were read to the Society. Partly printed. The papers cover a wide range of scientific subjects, in particular relating to natural history and biology (individual studies of mammals, fish, birds, plants, 'flora and fauna'); and a significant number re experiments involving electricity. Also: magnetism, geology, astronomy, poison, geography, chemistry - metallurgy, medicine, anatomy, and fossils. There are also some papers which pertain to Royal Society business.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Within each item, material is arranged alphabetically by author.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Conditions governing reproduction

Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Described in: S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973), and Richard Palmer, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts in the Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine: Western Manuscripts 5120-6244 (London: The Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine, 1999).

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

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Wellcome Library

Rules and/or conventions used

In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; 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