Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1881-1994 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
10 series
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Museum has been a publisher throughout its history, producing scholarly monographs and catalogues, expedition reports, periodicals, study guides, popular guidebooks, notes for collectors, posters, wallcharts and postcards. A bookshop opened for the sale of guidebooks and postcards in 1921, and was opened on Sundays after consultation with the Archbishop of Canterbury, as Principal Trustee. From the 1930s editing was the responsibility of the Keepers, permission to publish was recommended by the Trustees' Publications Sub-Committee, and arrangements for printing and the preparation of illustrations was in the hands of the Museum Accountant. When Richard J Drumm (1889-1965) retired as Accountant in 1954 he was retained as a part-time Publications Officer.
At the same time a review of publications policy led to preparation of a series of popular handbooks in addition to the Museum's scholarly output. Arthur E Baker (b 1910) was appointed the first full-time Publications Officer in 1962, and was responsible for liaison between the science departments and the Director on one hand, and printers and illustrators on the other. By 1967 there was a publications staff of ten, who included clerical officers, printers and retail sales staff. The Section was incorporated into the newly formed Department of Public Services in 1975.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0060 DF PUB 1881-1994 Collection (fonds) 10 series Publications Section , Natural History Museum
The Museum has been a publisher throughout its history, producing scholarly monographs and catalogues, expedition reports, periodicals, study guides, popular guidebooks, notes for collectors, posters, wallcharts and postcards. A bookshop opened for the sale of guidebooks and postcards in 1921, and was opened on Sundays after consultation with the Archbishop of Canterbury, as Principal Trustee. From the 1930s editing was the responsibility of the Keepers, permission to publish was recommended by the Trustees' Publications Sub-Committee, and arrangements for printing and the preparation of illustrations was in the hands of the Museum Accountant. When Richard J Drumm (1889-1965) retired as Accountant in 1954 he was retained as a part-time Publications Officer.
At the same time a review of publications policy led to preparation of a series of popular handbooks in addition to the Museum's scholarly output. Arthur E Baker (b 1910) was appointed the first full-time Publications Officer in 1962, and was responsible for liaison between the science departments and the Director on one hand, and printers and illustrators on the other. By 1967 there was a publications staff of ten, who included clerical officers, printers and retail sales staff. The Section was incorporated into the newly formed Department of Public Services in 1975.
Transferred from Publications (later Publishing).
Papers of the Natural history Museum's publication section, 1881-1994, comrising: DF500 Publications Salesbooks;
DF501 Publications Stockbooks;
DF502 Booksellers Account Books;
DF503 Photographic Section Negative Registers;
DF507 Publications Exchanges Registers;
DF508 Publications Presentation Books;
DF509 Postcards and Greetings Cards;
DF510 Catalogues of Publications;
DF511 Calendars, Almanacs and Annuals;
DF512 Diaries.
As outlined in the Scope and Content.
By appointment with the Archivist, by email to archives@nhm.ac.uk or by post to the Museum Archivist, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD.
At the Archivist's discretion. Photocopying service available. Digital photography (without flash) permitted for research purposes on completion of a photography permit form.
English
Entry copied from the Natural History Museum online catalogue by Sarah Drewery.
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.
Sep 2008 Museums Natural history Museum programmes Museum activities Natural History Museum
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Transferred from Publications (later Publishing).
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of the Natural history Museum's publication section, 1881-1994, comrising: DF500 Publications Salesbooks;
DF501 Publications Stockbooks;
DF502 Booksellers Account Books;
DF503 Photographic Section Negative Registers;
DF507 Publications Exchanges Registers;
DF508 Publications Presentation Books;
DF509 Postcards and Greetings Cards;
DF510 Catalogues of Publications;
DF511 Calendars, Almanacs and Annuals;
DF512 Diaries.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
As outlined in the Scope and Content.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
By appointment with the Archivist, by email to archives@nhm.ac.uk or by post to the Museum Archivist, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD.
Conditions governing reproduction
At the Archivist's discretion. Photocopying service available. Digital photography (without flash) permitted for research purposes on completion of a photography permit form.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
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
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