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Royal Society account books, 1660-2004, falling into two chronological groups; the first series contains the early accounts for the Royal Society, 1660-1768. Much of this material deals with the financial state of the Society during the term of office of James West, and represents the administrative work of the two Library Keepers/Clerks, Francis Hauksbee and Emanuel Mendes da Costa. The second group consists of cash-books and ledgers of the 19th and 20th centuries, 1867-1976. These deal with the Society's general finances, as well as its administration of the Government Grant and various Trust Funds. A third section contains copies of the Royal Society's Annual Accounts - both signed and unsigned.

A series of volumes containing additional papers read before, or collected by the Royal Society and others not entered into the Classified Papers series.

Alphabetical Index to the Printed Minutes of the Council of the Royal Society, 1845, in the hand of Dr Roget.

An account of the shipwreck of the 'Johanna', commanded by Captain Robert Brown near the Cape of Good Hope on 29 May 1682, and of the subsequent fate of the crew.

Effect of temperature on the strength of railway axles by Thomas Andrews.

Papers concerning Jean Anisson and his improvements in printing including a memorandum by Anisson on his new press; an extract from the register of the Academie Royale des Sciences and another memorandum by Anisson, 1783.

Notebooks on experiments on worms, frogs and snails (chemical and electrical) 29 December 1858 to 21 July 1859, with an undated fragment of a letter concerning the health of Mrs Petrie.

Scientific papers sent to the Royal Society which remained unpublished at their time of receipt, or which were abstracted in the Society's 'Proceedings' after being read at a meeting of Fellows. Early papers in this sequence are occasionally of interest in being preserved complete with associated correespondence (pre-dating Referees Reports); for example, the Charles Wildbore - Nevil Maskelyne letters 1787-1790 (AP.7.16-34). Mid nineteenth century papers of some significance may exist, in both original and abstracted form, such as HWF Talbot's 'Some account of the art of photogenic drawing' (AP.23.19) The Society's policy now is to return rejected scientific papers to authors, so any current additions to this collection usually take the form of unpublished supplementary data to published papers.

Astronomical Observations at Lauenburg and Lyssabel, 1820.

Astronomical tracts with observations by Tycho Brahe and others including:

1. Tychonis Brahe observationes cometae AD 1585 (folio 1)

2. Ejusdem observationes cometae AD 1590 (folio 10)

3. Ejusdem observationes cometae AD 1596 (folio 18)

4. Observations astronomiques faites a la ville de Cartagene des Indes par le Colonel Don Juan de Herrara et Sotomayor (accompanied with a letter to Dr Halley, dated Cartgena des Indes 12 July 1723) Several of these observations have since been published in the Memoirs de l'Academie des Sciences de Paris 1729 page 361, 362-363, 367 (Folio 23).

5. Observationes astronomiques pour la longitude de Cartagene des Indies faites avec le premier satellite de Jupiter l'annee 1723 (Folio 41);

6. Eclipses Solis et Lunae observatae...in oppido S S Cosmae et DamIani 1719-1726, a P Bonaventura Suarez S J (Folio 44); 7. Immersiones et Emersiones Satellitum Iovis observatae in oppido S S Cosmae et Damiani 1720-1726, a P Bonaventure Suarez S J (Folio 46).

Audio-visual recordings by or about Fellows of the Royal Society. The bulk of the collection consists of audio material, in particular cassette recordings of the Society's named lectures, which have been preserved in this manner since 1974. The remainder of the series has been acquired as supplementary material to the Personal Records (q.v.), although there are a few items which predate those autobiographies.

Letters from the Peruvian Andes, 1921-1922, by Sir Joseph Barcroft.

Collected papers of William Fletcher Barrett including letters to Barrett with supporting documents by Barrett on scientific interests and some photographs.

Papers of Harry Bateman including three notebooks, two (numbered six and seven) containing notes from the lectures of E T Whittaker at Trinity College Cambridge 1903-1904; one containing formulae connected with the Legendre and Bessel functions, with Trinity examination paper 1880 and printed testimonial by Rutherford.

The papers include laboratory notebooks dealing with Bawden's research on various plant viruses, and in particular his collaborative work with N.W. Pirie and with A.A.P. Kleczkowski. There is also a detailed exchange of correspondence with Pirie on research in progress, 1937-1940. (Pirie moved to Rothamsted as Virus Physiologist in 1940 when Bawden became Head of the Plant Physiology Department.) There is a wide range of correspondence, with individuals and institutions. It deals with scientific research and problems including viral nomenclature, lectures, conferences, publications, Bawden's reports on research projects, grant applications and appointments. The correspondence relating to Bawden's overseas visits as adviser or lecturer is mainly after 1958 and is sometimes accompanied by Bawden's reports.

The papers are extensive, relating to almost every aspect of Blackett's career in science and public life. There is biographical and personal material including large numbers of letters of congratulation received on the occasion of the various scientific and public awards and honours with which Blackett's achievements were recognised. There are records of his work on particle disintegration, cosmic rays, astrophysics and magnetism in the form of laboratory notebooks, working papers, correspondence, lectures, publications and broadcasts. There is documentation of his activities on various defence projects and as a member of government committees before, during and after the Second World War. Blackett's political interests are represented by material relating to the Association of Scientific Workers, Labour Party discussion groups on science and technology policy and the Ministry of Technology instituted after the Party's 1964 electoral victory. There are records of a wide range of science-related interests such as the history of science and technology, science, education and government, and nuclear weapons and disarmament, and of his overseas activities including material relating specifically to India and that concerned with matters more generally affecting developing countries.

A few lacunae in the surviving material have been identified. There are no documents relative to Blackett's service with the National Research and Development Corporation or the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and, of his correspondence during the Second World War, only that for 1942 survives.

The correspondence, papers and diaries of Sir Charles Blagden. Blagden's papers are interesting on several levels, generally for his close contact with European men of learning, and his relationship with Sir Joseph Banks. Blagden's professional researches are represented by medical notes in the boxed sequence. These are grouped with papers on other subject interests, including linguistics, e.g. a draft Tahitian-English dictionary, compiled from conversations with Omai, whom Blagden inoculated after Omai's voyage to England with James Cook. Blagden's interest in antiquities and travel is documented by diary entries, as is his intercourse with fellow scientists, particularly those associated with the founding of the Royal Institution.

Letter from Sir Charles Blagden to Sir Joseph Banks concerning papers published needing correction, 31 August 1790.

Papers relating to Charles Blagden and the Blagden family, comprising assorted letters, including letters from Louis Odier, a series of more than a dozen letters from Daniel de la Roche (a fellow student of medicine at Edinburgh and subsequently editor of the Chirurgie section of the 'Encyclopedie Methodique') letters from Thomas Curtis, including descriptions of visits to the surgeon and antiquary William Barrett, and a note from Joseph Banks.
One section of Blagden's diary is also present here comprising of 45 leaves (90 pages) of loose sheets for 1792-1794. There are brief daily notes on visits paid and people he has seen including Joseph Banks, Mr Boswell, Mr Gibbon, Dr Herschel, the Duchess of Devonshire, Mrs Garrick, and many others.
The letters and papers of John Blagden Hale include notes on Matthew Hale; books and manuscripts in his possession as well as correspondence.

Mathematical and scientific papers of George Boole.

Reports to the Medical Research Council by W R Boon and W B Hawes on two processes:

1. Methods of separation of blood fractions as developed at Harvard Medical School by Dr Cohn

2. High-vacuum - infra-red drying methods as developed at Samuel Deutsch Serum Center, Chicago, by Dr Sidney O Levinson.

Papers of Alfred Gibbs Bourne including research notes, drawings and water-colour sketches of earthworms.

Two articles by Frank Philip Bowden entitled: 'A study of the physical and chemical phenomena associated with the rubbing and with the impact of solids' and 'A plan for the study of solids'. Both with various manuscript notes and appendicies, and both documents marked 'confidential' . Undated, but post 1944.

Letters and other Papers of the Hon Robert Boyle. The Letters cover Boyle's correspondence; in addition to the letters by scientists such as Hartlib, Beale, Southwell, Wallis and Cole, the series contains letters from members of Boyle's family (Viscountess Ranelagh in particular). There are 37 letters of Boyle's preserved, and substantial blocks of papers from religious figures such as Robert Sharrock. The Papers cover his philosophical, scientific, theological and other interests, and cover most aspects of his life and works.

Commonplace Book of Theology of Robert Boyle.

Papers, mainly accounts, concerning the British Antarctic expedition (1910-1913).

Letters concerning the British Empire Exhibition Committee covering the period January to December 1925.

Bibliography of the works of L E J Brouwer by Walter P Van Stight.

Notes compiled by Sir William Paton and F C MacIntosh, and drafts and proofs of the biographical memoir of George Lindor Brown.

The correspondence, papers and scientific notebooks of Sir George Lindor Brown. The majority of notebooks relate to the investigations of Brown and his co-workers (notably Feldberg, Harvey and Maycock) at the National Institute for Medical Research, Hampstead, into neuromuscular transmission. The correspondence and remaining papers cover Brown's administrative work in the decades from the 1950's. His relationships with the Royal Society and the Medical Research Council are well represented. The papers include personal files, correspondence with institutions and individuals, working scientific notes and sets of slides.

Letters addressed to William Buckland (DD, FRS, Dean of Westminster and Reader in Mineralogy and Geology in University of Oxford) and other posthumous correspondence relating to his work.

A biographical listing of the Fellows of the Royal Society 1663-1940 in the form of a sheaf catalogue compiled by William Bullock. Also includes other items, included from annotated copies of the 3rd and 4th editions of 'The Record of the Royal Society', from which the Roll derived its arrangement: lists of Medical Fellows, and Fellows who did not sign the Charter Book: and biogrphical accounts of the Auldjo family, with various rough notes by Bulloch. The Roll provides a chronological list of the Fellowship by date of election. It records the Fellow's name as it appeared in 'The Record' and in a corrected form, giving the date of election and positions held in the Society. The Roll also provides a short biography based on entries in standard printed works of reference, (such as 'The Dictionary of National Biography', Cockayne's 'Peerage' and 'Baronetage', 'The Gentleman's Magazine', 'Munks Roll of the Royal College of Physicians', Boase's 'Modern English Biography', and the volumes of 'Who's Who' and 'Who Was Who').

Papers of John Canton.

Certificates of Election and Candidature for the Royal Society. Early certificates are entirely manuscript, i.e. vols. 1-8 (1731-1840). Printed forms of ordinary certificates appear in volume 9 from November 1839 (candidates elected in 1840); printed forms for 'privileged class' elections were used from 1875, and for Foreign Membership from 1895. Not all certificates represent elected Fellows; a small percentage are for unsuccessful candidates.

Copy of the Will of William Chillingworth from the copy in the Perogative Court of Canterbury, 2 November 1643. Inserted at the front is a letter from Chillingworth on theological subjects.

'Records and recollections' by Arthur Herbert Church, published in Gloucester: John Bellows 1940. Number 4 of 40 copies with 4 photographs and obituaries.

Scientific and other papers sent to the Royal Society, presented at meetings of Fellows, or commissioned by the Society. They form a complementary series to the Early Letters, both of which were superseded by the Letters and Papers. Many of these items, referred to as the 'Guard Books', are duplicated in the Register Book of the Society. The classification is a simplified form of the 'Philosophical Transactions' abridgment by John Lowthorp. This arrangement was completed in 1741 by Thomas Birch. The majority of the papers in these volumes are manuscript, but a few printed documents occur throughout the series. Some of the papers are earlier in date than the grant on 15 July 1662 of the First Charter to the Society. The Committee of Trades seems to have been associated with the earlier meetings of those philosophers who subsequently became Fellows, and produced a number of practical papers, some of which were written in 1639 and which are mostly found in Volume 3(i). There are still earlier documents, mostly in Volume 25, which may have been included in the gift, in 1667, of the Arundel Library.

A notebook of the Clerk of the House of Lords.

Minutes of the Royal Society's Standing, Sectional, Joint, British National, ad-hoc and sub-committees. Early minute books in the series contain the business of several committees. Four of the Society's committees were in existence before 1900; the Library Committee (which was appointed in 1678), Finance Committee (1785), Scientific Relief Committee (1859) and Soiree Committee (1873). These Committees, therefore, have the longest and most complete sets of minute books. Many other committees have 'stood' for significant periods, however, including the Committee of Papers (1752).
19th century material additional to the minutes, such as the original letters, was often pasted into books. In 1992, the Committee Minutes ceased to be pasted into books, and are now stored in boxes. Larger collections of papers submitted to, or solicited by committees were increasingly preserved in the late 19th century, and can be found in the Manuscripts General.

Commonplace book of medical or pharmaceutical recipes in various hands containing receipts from Boate, Hartlib and Willis. Notebook belonging to Robert Boyle.

'Correlations' a quaternary game which can be played. Game devised by Professor D Walker, Professor R G West and Dr S L Duigan. Box of hand-drawn cards and four pages of instructions.

Files of letters and papers submitted to Royal Society Council in consideration of particular topics. Surviving files set out the following information: subject of title of the file, contents, date laid before Council, dates of decisions communicated and notes of action taken

Papers of the Council for Science and Society comprising 138 files; 2 volumes of minutes and associated loose papers and 19 printed books or pamphlets issued by the Council, 1972-1990. The types of records include minutes of the Council meetings and Executive Committee meetings, Financial sub-committee papers and accounts, annual reports, correspondence, press cuttings and miscellaneous items, The series was stored in a single four drawer filing cabinet. (contents now transferred to boxes).

Minutes of the meetings of the Royal Society Council from 1663, concerned with the business and administration of the Society. Entries record discussions of all matters relating to the Society's constitution, activities, awards, funds, bequests, buildings, staff and other administrative matters.

Minutes of the meetings of Council from 1663, concerned with the business and administration of the Society. Entries record discussions of all matters relating to the Society's constitution, activities, awards, funds, bequests, buildings, and staff. The Council Minutes exist in three main forms. The Original Minutes (currently 75 volumes, from 1663) were copied in the manner of the Journal Books until 1822 (8 volumes, 1663-1822). From 1832 the Minutes were printed for distribution to Council Members, and bound sets retained by the Society. Printed agenda for Council meetings have been pasted into bound volumes and annotated since 1950 (currently 24 volumes, 1950-1975). Papers have been kept separately since 1945.

Minutes of the meetings of the Royal Society Council, concerned with the business and administrtion of the Society. Entries record discussions of all matters relating to the Society's constitution, activities, awards, funds and bequests, buildings, staff, etc. From 1832 the Minutes were printed for distribution to Council Members, and bound sets retained by the Society.

Papers of Thomas George Cowling including correspondence with Neil Oscar Weiss, 1964-1989 and P A Gilman, 1980-1982.

Manuscript of 'The plan and heads of an essay for the improvement of clock and watch works' London, February 18th 1765 by Alexander Cumming.

Papers of Sir Henry Hallett Dale, comprising official correspondence, personal files, diaries, lectures and related correspondence, reprints, and miscellaneous items, such as photographs, and slides. Much of the material deals with the war years 1940-1945. The supplementary collection added by Lady Todd (Dale's daughter) in 1978 consisted of additional papers and correspondence, with Dale's medals and awards.

Volume of programme and correspondence of the Darwin Commemoration including: Flyer for 'Darwin and Modern Science; Essays in commemoration of the centenary of the birth of Charles Darwin and of the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of the "Origin of Species", 1909; Programme for the Darwin Commemoration by the University of Cambridge, 22-24 Ju 1909, 31 May 1909; Invitation to attend the commemoration of the centenary of Charles Darwin's birth and the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of the 'Origin of Species', 1908; Invitation to attend the commemoration of the centenary of Charles Darwin's birth and the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of the 'Origin of Species', 1908; Order of Proceedings in the Senate House, University of Cambridge, Wednesday 23 June 1909; List of delegates and other guests invited by the University of Cambridge for the Centenary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Publication of the Origin of Species 3 June 1909; List of delegates and other guests invited by the University of Cambridge for the Centenary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Publication of the Origin of Species, 19 June 1909; article in Cambridge University Reporter, 'The Darwin Celebration 1909',10 June 1909; Speeches as given by the Public Orator in presenting the several distinguished recipients of the Degree of Doctors of Science 'honoris causa', 1909; Information leaflet for visit to Charles Darwin's home at Down in Kent, 1909; Darwin Commemoration Banquet seating plan, University of Cambridge, 23 June 1909; Menu of A C Seward for Darwin Commemoration Banquet, 23 June 1909; Plan of tables for Darwin Celebration, Ladies Dinner at Newnham College, 23 June 1909; Menu for Darwin Celebration Ladies dinner, NewhamCollege, 23 June 1909; Speeches delivered at the Darwin Celebration Banquet, Cambridge, 23 June 1909; Speech celebrating Darwin's achievements given at Darwin Celebration Banquet, 23 June 1909; Newscutting of article on Darwin at Cambridge published in 'The Times' 12 February 1909; Article on Darwin Celebrations in Cambridge from 'Internationale Wochenschrift', 17 July 1909; Article by W T Hewett on Darwin celebrations at Cambridge published in 'The Nation' Vol 89, No 2398, 15 July 1909; Article on Charles Darwin and Cambridge pblished in 'Weekly News and Express', 25 June 1909; Article by J E Sandys listing the honorary degrees to be awarded on 22 June 1909 at Cambridge, 17 June 1909; Article on Darwin Centenary Celebrations at Cambridge - tributes from all nations, published in Cambridgeshire Weekly News, 25 June 1909; Article on 'The Foundation of the Origin of Species' published in the 'Morning Post', 24 June 1909; Article on Darwin Centenary International Celebration at Cambridge in 'Morning Post', 24 June 1909; Article on Darwin Centenary Celebrations Banquet published in 'Cambridge Daily News', 24 June 1909; Article on Darwin Centenary Celebrations at Cambridge published in 'London Daily News', 24 June 1909; Article on the Darwin Centenary celebrations at Cambridge, 24 June 1909; Article on Darwin Centenary celebrations, published in 'The Times', 25 June 1909; Article by C Bougle on Darwin Centenary celebrations published in 'La Depeche', 29 June 1909; Article by T E Hewett on Darwin Centenary celebrations at Cambridge published in 'The Evening Post, New York', 16 July 1909; and correspondence of A C Seward.