Personal papers and correspondence of Sir Joseph Banks, 1609-1618. His correspondence is primarily related to his interest in botany, hence the letters sent by Banks, were mainly sent to and about naturalists. In particular he was concerned with the welfare of naturalists and petitioned against the imprisonment of several naturalists as well as the provision of a salary for botanist Francis Masson (1741-1805). The papers reflect his overseas interests such as, his trip to Holland 1773, papers relating to China, and details of an expedition to India for which he provided instruction. His commitments in Lincolnshire are also represented in his papers, such as the survival of an account book for Hemingby Hospital. Family papers also survive, MS.5215: 1609-1816. In addition MS. 5250 consists of some surviving correspondence and papers, 1721-1739, of the Banks family, baronets, of Revesby Abbey, Lincolnshire.

Copies of detailed manuscript notes on Hunt's life and military career, 1924-1953, including sportingachievements and details of mountaineering expeditions, especially the British Everest Expedition, 1952-1953.

Papers of Sir Albert Hastings Markham, including a log, 1856 to 1874; a diary, 1875 to 1876, and an admiral's journal, 1892 to 1894. For the TRIUMPH, 1879 to 1882, there is a night order book, a captain's information book, a remark book and a letterbook. There is a night order book for the HECLA, 1879 to 1885, a remark book for the ACTIVE, Training Squadron, 1888, a telegram book and reports for the Mediterranean, 1892 to 1894, and press cuttings and photograph albums. The papers include correspondence on the voyage of the ROSARIO; official correspondence, 1886 to 1889, 1892 to 1893; papers relating to the collisions in which Markham was involved; letters and papers on Antarctic exploration and on Markham's literary work. Finally, there is Markham's semi-official and private correspondence throughout his career. This includes letters from his cousin Sir Clements Markham (1830-1916).

Papers of Gen Charles George Gordon, 1856-1880, including two letters to R F Burton about his religious beliefs and Abyssinian affairs, 1878; letter of thanks for election as an Honorary Corresponding Member to H W Bates of the Royal Geographical Society, 2 Feb 1880; list in Arabic of the Princes of Harar; log book (Dutton's logarithmic tables) and authentication of Gordon's camel saddle.

Director's Correspondence collection, 1947 onwards, consists of correspondence with the Society since 1947. The material consists of communication with the Director's Office, both incoming and out-going letters, covering a wide range of administrative matters and geographical subjects. Files may contain a variety of printed items such as journal off prints, lecture bills and photographs.

Journals, notebooks, papers and letters of Maj Dixon Denham, 1815-1827, chiefly relating to the Denham / Clapperton / Oudney expedition from Tripoli to Bornu 1821-1825; also including diaries kept during the Waterloo campaign and subsequent travels around Europe; papers relating to Ensign Tootle and to the Sahara expedition of 1822-1824.

Papers of Dr John Rae, 1852-1883, including drafts of eleven letters, 1852-1856, addressed to the Admiralty and others on Arctic exploration; letter to H W Feilden, 19 Apri 1878; six short essays on Arctic subjects including 'On certain phenomena observed on the Arctic coast', and on treatment of frostbite; nine letters to Rae from various correspondents, 1855-1883 and diary on board the screw yacht FOX on a north Atlantic voyage, Jul-Nov 1860.

Papers of Edward Ayearst Reeves, 1909-1930, including notes on Robert E Peary's report and observations from his expedition to the North Pole, 1919, 'On terrestrial magnetism', letters, maps, and observations (of which some are copies of Peary's and others unidentified), 1909 and memoirs of Reeves' time at the Royal Geographical Society, 1930.

Logbooks of the schooner ELIZA SCOTT on the discovery of the Balleny Islands and the first sighting of Antarctica comprising logbook of Captain John Balleney, Jul 1838-May 1839 and logbook of Balleny's chief mate, William Moore, 1838-1839. The voyage went from London to New Zealand, sighted Antarctica and then on to Madagascar.

Papers of Francis Rodd, including typescript copies of journals and astronomical and hypsometric records on expeditions to Air and the southern Sahara, 1922 and 1927. Seven folders of notes and correspondence relating to the same expeditions: notes on the Sahara from authorities of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; journal of route in 1927, with geographical and meteorological notes; drawings, unused chapters of Rodd's book People of the veil; copies of rock drawings, drafts for book lectures; diary, 1927; correspondence concerning the planning and conclusion of the expedition; papers on special subjects arising out of the 1927 expedition including botanical, anthropological and archaeological; survey notes; notes on instruments and chronometer ratings and letters from Francis and Peter Rodd to their parents, May-Jun 1927.

Photocopies of papers relating to Francis Skead, 1858-1861, including notes by Skead on the Zambesi delta, May-June, 1858; positions on the Zambesi river observed by Young and [Skead] and an edited version of the journal of Lieut. R W Brigstock, Jan-Feb 1861, referring to his meeting with the Livingstone party.

Papers of Geoffrey Pratt, 1921-1970, including scientific report by Pratt entitled 'Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1955-1958: Seismic Soundings Across Antarctica', 1960; lecture by Pratt entitled 'Physical Science on the Trans-Antarctic Expedition' delivered, 21 Jan 1959 and personal papers of Miss Pauline May Pratt.

Papers of Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell, 1905-1924, comprises twelve notebooks containing archaeological notes, plans of churches and other sites; records of inscriptions including those from Turkey, Iraq, and Syria; one notebook and folders containing astronomical observations from Arabia, 1913-1914 and a notebook by Lesley Gordon for an exhibition at the University of Newcastle, 1994.

Papers of George Wood-Johnson comprising letters, newscuttings, photographs and transcript of part of a diary relating to expeditions in the Himalayas including the Sikkim expedition, 1928; the Kanghenjunga expedition, 1930 and the Everest expedition, 1933.

Papers of Herbert Arthur Richards including copy of a letter to a friend, 1929, describing hie travels and experiences in Mesopotamia, 1889-1906; photographs of people and places in Persia with notes on Persia, 1889-1896 including typed report on the road Ahwaz to Ispahan, Apr 1896, map of journeys and notes on Ispahan to the Caspian Sea; photographs on a journey from Tehran to Bushire, 1904 and family and personal photographs.

Papers of Harry Lewin Lee Pennell relating to his work as commander of the TERRA NOVA for Robert Falcon Scott's British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913, including sailing orders, 1911 and letters of proceedings, Jan-Mar, 1911; correspondence with members of the TERRA NOVA expedition while in Antarctica, 1910-1913; photocopy of a letter from the committee of the expedition to J J Kinsey; zoological log kept by Pennell, London to Melbourne, Jun-Oct 1910; annotated admiralty charts of the South Polar and Antarctica VIII, 1910 and photographs of Pennell, [1910-1916].

Papers of Harry St John Bridger Philby, 1918-1955, including notebooks, journals, observations, letters and annotated typescript of Arabian Highlands. The journal and notebooks cover his journey across the Empty Quarter (Al Rub al Khali) in 1932. Typewritten reports cover his motorised journeys around Saudi Arabia from 1946-1955. His observations formed the basis for maps of Arabia prepared and published by the Royal Geographical Society.

Journal of Henry Wemyss Feildon entitled 'Journal of a voyage to Smith Sound in the years 1875-76 on board HMS ALERT by HWF naturalist to the expedition'; sketches, engravings, notes and press cuttings enclosed.

Observations by James Baillie Fraser, 1820-1821, including astronomical observations on a journey from Bushire to Tehran, 1821 and observations for latitude time and longitude from Lucknow to Bombay, 1820-1821.

Papers of James McCarthy, [1880-1901], including sketch plan of Bangkok; photograph album of Thailand; photograph of McCarthy at the court of Siam; notes and personal photographs.

Articles and letters by various authors relating to Australlia, including Papua New Guinea, sent to the Royal Geographical Society for publication in its Journals, 1830-1952. The articles were often sent to referees and their reports are often to be found with the article, in some cases the referee report has been retained even though the article has been returned to the author.

Articles and letters by various authors relating to the Arctic, sent to the Royal Geographical Society for publication in its Journals, 1835-1952. The articles were often sent to referees and their reports are often to be found with the article, in some cases the referee report has been retained even though the article has been returned to the author.

Articles and letters by various authors relating to Central, South and East Africa, including Madagascar, sent to the Royal Geographical Society for publication in its Journals, 1830-1952. The articles were often sent to referees and their reports are often to be found with the article, in some cases the referee report has been retained even though the article has been returned to the author.

Articles and letters by various authors relating to North America, sent to the Royal Geographical Society for publication in its Journals, 1830-1952. The articles were often sent to referees and their reports are often to be found with the article, in some cases the referee report has been retained even though the article has been returned to the author.

Articles and letters by various authors relating to Central America, including the Caribbean, sent to the Royal Geographical Society for publication in its Journals, 1833-1944. The articles were often sent to referees and their reports are often to be found with the article, in some cases the referee report has been retained even though the article has been returned to the author.

Articles and letters by various authors relating to South East Asia including Burma, Indonesia, Philipines and Vietnam, sent to the Royal Geographical Society for publication in its Journals, 1834-1947. The articles were often sent to referees and their reports are often to be found with the article, in some cases the referee report has been retained even though the article has been returned to the author.

Articles and letters by various authors relating to the Near and Middle East including Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan and Turkey, sent to the Royal Geographical Society for publication in its Journals, 1830-1958. The articles were often sent to referees and their reports are often to be found with the article, in some cases the referee report has been retained even though the article has been returned to the author.

Papers of Joseph S Kellet Smith, 1895, concerning explorations in the country west of Lake Nyasa including diary, Jun-Sep, 1895; five unpublished short stories, 'The revolution of Benjamin-wad-Wiri', 'The Lake Trader', 'The sacrificial altar of the Sandili', 'The Brimming cup' and 'The thraldom of Stephen Clinch'; loose pages, untitled, beginning, 'A man's enjoyment of golf...'; fifteen chapters of an unpublished book based on events of the 1895 expedition with 38 photographic prints prepared as illustrations including of river Shire, Hora camp, tribesmen and river steamers.

Papers of Joseph Thompson, 1878-1901, comprising four observations files, 1879-1888, including: computations of observations made in Morocco, 1883-1884 and 1888; positions, altitudes and temperatures, Tanganyika 1879; barometric observations, Morocco, 1888; barometric and hypsometric observations, Kenya, 1883-1884; computations of observations made in Kenya, 1883-1884; journals: of East Africa, 1881-1893; North Africa, 1889 and the Nile, 1879; correspondence, 1878-1901, (Correspondence Blocks 1871-1880, 1881-1910 and 1911-1920) including 17 letters 1878-1880; printed copies of letters Mar and Nov 1882 and Feb 1883; letters from Taveta 4 Apr 1883 and from Mombasa 5 Jun [1883] on his journey to Kilimanjaro and retreat from Ngara; 8 letters, Dec 1882, from the Foreign Office to Royal Geographical Society (RGS); 21 letters from Thomson 1882-1886 and 1892; 11 telegrams with typescript copies, 1883-1886; statement of financial accounts, John Kirk (Consul General, Zanzibar) in account with RGS for Thomson's expedition; 4p. proofs of 'Hints to Travellers' with corrections by Thomson; nine letters from J H Thomson (nephew) ,1901; three letters from J B Thomson (brother), 1895-1896; letters on a portrait of Thomson; letters to J Scott Keltie and letter to Gilmour (Keltie's son-in-law) nd.

Papers of Louis Lucas, 1876, including aneroid observations for altitude of Khartoum, 1876 enclosing a report by J A Grant and a further report by R Strachan; five leatherbound notebooks containing botanical notes, topographical notes and lists of stores and instruments.

Papers of César L M Des Graz on the voyage of the ASTROLABE, 1837-1840, including journal entitled 'Impressions et remarques pendant le voyage des corvettes l'ASTROLABE et la ZELEE', 7 Sep 1837-22 Jun 1840, in three volumes; a varient draft of the journal, 7 Sep 1837-6 Feb. 1838, including pen and ink sketches; 'Tableau comparatif des idiomes des disserents peuplades visitees par l'expedition' (French and fifteen native languages of Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand); eulogy of Dumont D'Urville, and some account of the expedition and 'Latitudes et longitudes et direction des vents de chaque jour pendant le voyage des corvettes l'ASTROLABE et la ZELEE', 1837-1840.

Papers of Vice-Consul Chaillet, comprise 'Observations on the western coast of the Morocco state during my journey from Mogador to Tangier in July and August, 1830; memorandum respecting the foundation of Mogador, its trade, descriptions of the bay...' , bound with copy of a letter to Consul-General Douglas, 21 Aug. 1828, concerning the death of Major Laing.

Papers of Morgan Philips Price, 1910-1954, including letters and transcripts of letters (where the original has been destroyed), corrected typescript for an unpublished book on Russian Central Asia and the typescript of two unpublished chapters of an autobiography, (subsequently published as My Three Revolutions, 1969) and photostats and press cutting of obituaries. The papers chiefly refer to an expedition to Russian Central Asia and Chinese Turkestan undertaken with Douglas Carruthers and J.H. Millar, 1910-1911, and his return journey home from Kuldja after separating from Carruthers and Millar.

Papers of Michael Terry, 1921-1950, including observations and lists of collections made during an expedition to Central West Australia, 1932-1933, used as appendices to an article by Terry, 'Explorations near the Border of Western Australia', published in The Geographical Journal, Vol. 84, No. 6 (Dec, 1934), pp. 498-510; observations from Central Australia, 1928; and geological map with notes.

Journal of the scientific research voyage of HMS Challenger from 1872-1875. Illustrated with watercolours and line drawings. The typescript contains the text of the journal.

Papers relating to Robert Edwin Peary, 1903-1989, including report by Peary to the Peary Arctic Club, 'Field work of the Peary Arctic Club 1889-1902', 1903; letter to Ellis D Robb on the subject of Dr. F A Cook's Chautauqua lectures, 5 Mar 1912; summary of findings of the Navigation Foundation, 1989, recognising Peary as the first to the North Pole; Photostats of messages left at Cape Bourne in 1906 and 27 Letters written to Sir John Scott Keltie, 1892-1910.

Papers of Sir Richard Francis Burton, 1852-1880, comprise 'Proposed Somali expedition' 1855; Field notebook, east coast to Ujiji, 1858; Observations made at Ujiji, 1858; 'The Ukara or Ukerewe Lake', 1872; Log book containing entries made at Santos, Brazil, March to October 1868 and RGS Correspondence files: 61 letters written to the Society by Burton,1852-1880.

Papers of Captain Robert McClure, 1836-1853, including journal, Jun 1836-Sep 1837, as mate on HMS TERROR, on George Back's second expedition in search of the North-West Passage; letter and order book, Dec 1849-Oct 1851; journal Jan-Sep 1850, while in command of HMS INVESTIGATOR on the Franklin search expedition; copies of despatches to the Admiralty, Aug 1850-Apr 1853; photocopy of record deposited on Banks Island, 1851 and copy of a letter to Sir George Back from HMS INVESTIGATOR, Apr 1853, describing the discovery of the Northwest Passage.

Papers of Prof Stanley Henry Beaver, 1930-1980, including papers on European railways; draft chapters for The British Isles; notes for Admiralty Handbooks on the Netherlands East Indies; papers on housing and planning and papers on British sand and gravel resources.

Copies of the travel journals of Sir David Wedderburn, 1866-1892, including Vol 1: 1866, United States, Canada, Atlantic passages; Vol 1A: 1868, Ireland; 1873, France, Germany, Luxembourg; Vol 2: 1869, Hungary, Turkey, Syria, Palestine, Egypt; Vol 3: 1870-1871, France, Spain, Gibraltar; 1873, Algeria; Vol 3A: 1871-1872, France, Switzerland, Italy; Vol 3B: 1872-1873 Austria, Channel Islands; Vol 4: 1874, Ceylon. Australia; Vol 5: 1874, Australia, and New Zealand; Vol 6: (Missing); Vol 7: 1876-1877 India; Vol 8: 1877-1878, Ceylon, Java, China, Japan; Vol 9: 1877, Japan and USA, June 1878 Iceland; Vol 10: 1878 Denmark, Russia, Greece, Italy: Vol 11: 1880, Brittany, Ireland, Russia, Pyrenees; Vol 12: 1881-1882 South Africa and a 'Life Sketch' of Sir David Wedderburn 1835-1882, by D A Percival.

Papers of Paul Belloni du Chaillu, 1864, comprise route notes, astronomical observations and calculations, Gabon, 1864; letter from Acra, 25 Aug 1863 and letter from Fernand-Vaz, 7 April 1864 reporting on journey to, and residence on, Fernand-Vaz river and library MSS letters, chiefly of a personal nature, to Sir George Black during the years 1848-1878.

Papers of Lt E C Coleman, 1991, comprise an account of an expedition to King William Island to search for traces of the Franklin Expedition.

Papers of Bolton Glanville Corney, 1903-1924, comprise manuscripts and corrected proofs for volumes edited by Corney for the Hakluyt Society; unpublished, edited transcripts of documents and articles including 'Sidelights on Captain Cook's call at Rio de Janeiro in HMS Endeavour' , 'The narrative of Te-ehe-te-Atua-o-noa', 'The career of the Harrington snow', notebook containing a Fijian vocabulary for medical officers; notes copied from a variety of sources relating to islands inlcuding Easter Island and the Falkland Islands.

Papers of Augustine Courtauld, 1930-1931, comprise two angle books, from the British Arctic Air Route Expedition to Greenland.

Papers of Sir Samuel White Baker including diaries (which include sketches) of expeditions to the Upper Nile between 1861 and 1873, and notes on hunting in Ceylon 1844-1853; cash book for 1869; observations taken in Central Africa, 1860-1873 and papers and letters to John Petherick (1863) and Mr Kerrison (1873).

Papers Verney Lovett Cameron, 1872-1886, relate to the Livingstone Relief Expedition of 1873 and notably include: account books from 1872; correspondence about the preparation and progress of the Expedition, 1873-1875; a diary for October - December 1874; correspondence on funding the exhibition 1873-1881.

Papers of Vilhjamur Stefansson including photostats of records from the Arctic, 1851-1909, found by the Canadian Arctic expedition in 1917 on Banks and Dealy Islands and letters, chiefly on Stefansson's interest on Ogden's system of Basic English, 1926-1954.

Papers of Capt William John Gill, 1874-1884, including travel diary in Constantinople, 1879; travel diary in India (the Marri expedition at the close of the second Afghan War), Persia and Russia, 1880-1881; press cuttings chiefly relating to Indian affairs, 1874-1884; travel diary in Tripoli, Oct 1881-Jun 1882; travel diaries in China, 1876-1877 and 1877-1878, and notes on Chinese characters and place names, 1877.

Notes by William Lockhart and locally printed material concerning Peking and the surrounding region, 1844-1877.

Geological and route notebooks of William Archibald MacFadyen, 1920-1948, including pre war notebooks in Egypt, Farsan Island, Romania, British Somaliland; Iraq and Syria, notebooks made during World War Two in North Africa, Sicily, Corsica and Italy and notebooks made in post war British Somaliland for the General Survey.