Files of papers and correspondence relating to the Royal Society's administration of its internal affairs. Currently, the bulk of this material falls within the period 1925-50, although the period covered varies considerably according to subject. At present, the collection forms an important source on the Society's activities during the Second World War, and includes files of the Central Register (Section for Scientific Reseearch) for 1939-1940. Section A of the series contains correspondence of a number of important Fellows; WH Bragg 1935-41; HH Dale 1926-45; ACG Egerton 1939-49; AV Hill 1949-45; FW Lanchester 1942-44; HG Lyons 1939-42; TR Merton 1941-56; R Robinson 1946-50; AC Seward 1932-41; FE Smith 1928-33; HT Tizard 1940

Botanices Institutiones juxta Turnefortii methodum: two volumes of notes of lectures by Pietro Moliterni, given at Naples University, 1738-1739.

Lezioni Anatomiche. Lezioni Chirurgiche. Written by Luigi Calori [1807-1896]. The Anatomical volume is apparently complete with 81 lectures: the first 7 of the Surgical lectures are in the second volume. The first volume has a title pasted down on the spine, inscribed: 'Lezioni Anatomiche Mondiniane', a reference perhaps to Carlo Mondini [1729-1803], or to his son Francesco who both lectured at Bologna. 'Prof. Calori' is inscribed in pencil on the fly-leaf of Vol. 1. Produced in Bologna.

Papers relating to Alexander Monro secundus, 1776-1784, comprising a 2 volumes of manuscript notes titled Lectures of Surgery by Alexander Monro MD, Professor of Anatomy and Surgery in the University of Edinburgh; transcribed from the copy of his lectures as taken down in short hand by Mr Thorburn in the year 1776. With additional abbreviations delivered during the years 1781-2-3 and 4 by James Curry, both containing a pen and ink portrait of Monro, and covering topics such as teeth, sutures, lithotomy, caesarean section, spinal injuries, ranula, trepanning, cupping, and inoculation.

Papers of Alexander Monro, secundus, 1733-1806, comprising lectures of physiology, volume 2, 1772; lectures upon the operations of surgery; anatomical, physiological and surgical lectures, volume 1, 1784; anatomical, physiological and surgical lectures, volume 2, 1784; anatomical, physiological and surgical lectures, volume 3, 1784; anatomical, physiological and surgical lectures, volume 4, 1784; lectures on human anatomy, volume 1; lectures on human anatomy, volume 2; lectures on surgery, volume 1; lectures on surgery, volume 2; lectures on anatomy and physiology, volume 1; lectures on anatomy and physiology, volume 2; lectures on anatomy and physiology, volume 3; lectures on anatomy and physiology, volume 4; lectures on anatomy and physiology, volume 5; praelectiones on anatomy and surgery "Monro by Swan", c 1763; praelectiones on anatomy and surgery "Monro by Swan", c 1763; operations by Monro; gravid uterus by Hunter; operations by Hunter; lectures on anatomy, volume 1; lectures on anatomy, volume 2; lectures on anatomy, volume 3; lectures on anatomy, volume 4; lectures on anatomy, volume 5; lectures on anatomy, volume 6 and operations of surgery, volume 1; lectures on anatomy, volume 7 and operations of surgery, volume 2; lectures on physiology and on comparative anatomy; notes of lectures "by Swan", volume 2; notes of lectures "by Swan", volume 3; A Treatise of Wounds and Tumours; History of Anatomy by Monro primus, 1733; a letter from Monro secundus to William Clift at the Royal College of Surgeons of London, 7 Sep 1806. requesting that Clift send his preparations to Westminster for taking on board a ship to Leith.

Papers of Thomas Moore, early 19th century, comprising a volume of manuscript notes taken at the anatomical, physiological, and surgical lectures of, presumably, Alexander Monro secundus, at the University of Edinburgh, covering topics such as sutures, lithotomy, paracentesis and hare lip; and a volume of manuscript notes titled An account of the operations of surgery taken from the lectures of Alexander Monro, professor of anatomy in the University of Edinburgh and FRS, covering topics such as gastroraphia, lithotomy, and couching cataracts.

Papers of Thomas Morrison, 1782, comprising a volume titled Clinical Lectures by John Gregory MD, late Professor of the Practice of Physic in the University of Edinburgh, containing manuscript notes of lectures, and patients' case notes.

Biographical material includes the draft of Mourant's autobiography, Blood and Stones published after his death in 1995, together with the correspondence and papers Mourant assembled while writing it. There is also documentation of Mourant's education at Victoria College Jersey and at Exeter College Oxford. The latter includes notes on lectures 1922 - ca 1926. Documentation of Mourant's career, honours and awards is patchy, although there is material relating to his search for employment in the early 1930s. There are pocket diaries spanning 1915-1982, with a fairly continuous sequence 1922-1961. Biographical material also includes extensive family and personal correspondence, much of which dates from or relates to the German occupation of Jersey or shortly thereafter. Mourant's other documented interests include his membership of the Methodist Church and his political affiliations, the League of Nations Union in particular.

There is a little material relating to Mourant's early career with the Geological Survey 1929-1931, miscellaneous material relating to Mourant's service with the MRC's Blood Group Reference Laboratory at the Lister Institute and the Nuffield (later Anthropological) Blood Group Centre at the Royal Anthropological Institute, London, and more extensive but uneven coverage of the Serological Population Genetics Laboratory. Although there is some documentation of the foundation of the Laboratory 1964-1965 and of its staff, the surviving material consists chiefly of correspondence and papers relating to Mourant's largely successful efforts to find continued funding for the Laboratory 1969-1977. Haematological research material, though not extensive, covers Mourant's work in a number of areas from research on blood serum in the mid-1940s to the mapping of blood groups in the 1960s and 1970s. There are early research notes, correspondence and papers relating to student and other expeditions undertaking blood group and physical anthropology research and some MRC material assembled by Mourant relating to projects in which he had an interest. The largest group of research papers, however, is maps and data produced during preparation of the second edition of The Distribution of the Human Blood Groups. There is a chronological sequence of drafts and correspondence relating to Mourant's publications, 1929-1991, with extensive material relating to editions of The Distribution of the Human Blood Groups and to The Genetics of the Jews (1978). There is also editorial correspondence relating to publishers and journals, chiefly invitations to review books or referee papers and an incomplete set of offprints. There is correspondence and papers relating to some of Mourant's lectures and broadcasts, most notably the lectures on blood groups given at the Collège de France, Toulouse, 1978-1979. Societies and organisations material is not extensive, and is confined to brief documentation of only a few of the societies and organisations with which Mourant was associated. It includes professional and geological bodies as well as haematological, biological and medical organisations. Visits and conferences material covers the period 1960-1987. It is not comprehensive, though there is also considerable documentation of Mourant's visits and conferences in the papers he assembled in the course of preparing his biography and with lectures material. Mourant's correspondence is extensive. Its complexity reflects Mourant's organisation of the material, the bulk of which was found in three main series: 'Foreign 1965-1977', 'Biological' and 'Geological', together with a fragment of a fourth series 'Home 1965-1977'. Principal correspondents include C.C. Blackwell, B. Bonné, O.J. Brendemoen, V.A. Clarke, L.L. Cavalli-Sforza, A. W. Eriksson, T.J. Greenwalt, J.K. Moor-Jankowski, T. Jenkins, W.S. Pollitzer, D.F. Roberts, J. Ruffié, D. Tills and J.S. Weiner.

Papers of Lord Berkeley George Andrew Moynihan, 1893-1936, comprising 45 volumes of case books, 1893-1936; 22 volumes relating to private operations, 1908-1935; 7 volumes relating to private operations in London, 1927-1935; 1 notebook relating to London patients, 1920-1922; 2 volumes relating to records of pathological researches, 1921-1923; press cuttings relating to euthanasia, 1924-1936; 2 albums of tributes to Moynihan, 1936; press cuttings relating to Moynihan, 1908-1930; scrap book relating to Moynihan, c1913-1934; miscellaneous material including photographs of Moynihan, letters, lecture notes, testimonials and articles, c1913-1934; album of newspaper cuttings relating to Moynihan, Sep 1934- Aug 1936; album of newspaper cuttings relating to Moynihan, Sep 1930- Jul 1934; and 47 diplomas awarded to Moynihan, 1886-1935.

Papers of Charles Murchison, 1845-1879, comprising school essays, 1845-1846; notebook containing notes and extracts on anatomy and zoology, 1846-1847, including an account of a meeting of the Edinburgh Botanical Society, 1847; notes on the New Testament, 1846; notes on Homer's Iliad, 1846 (3 vols); notes on the skin and subcutaneous cellular structure, with sketches, 1847; notes entitled 'observations on the spleen', with pencil sketches, 1849; note book entitled 'observations on temperature';

lecture notes taken by Charles Murchison as a student, comprising notes on Professor John Hutton Balfour's lectures on botany, delivered at Edinburgh University, 1847, including ink and pencil sketches; notes on Sir Robert Christison's lectures on vegetable material medica, delivered at Edinburgh University, 1847-1848, including diagrams and some notes on electricity (2 vols); notes on Professor James David Forbes' lectures on heat, delivered at Edinburgh University, 1846, with diagrams (2 vols); notes on John Goodsir's lectures on comparative anatomy, delivered at Edinburgh University, 1846-1847, including sketches (5 vols); notes on Robert Jameson's lectures on natural history, including geology and zoology, delivered at Edinburgh University, 1848, including ink diagrams (3 vols); notes on Professor Allen Thomson's lectures on the institutes of medicine, delivered at Edinburgh University, 1848;

case notes taken at Edinburgh, 1850, containing details of six cases and an autopsy; case notes taken at Edinburgh, 1850, of fifty cases, and at Westminster General Dispensary, 1854-1855, of one hundred and fifty six cases; four volumes of case notes of (mainly male) patients at St Thomas's Hospital, 1871-1879, including temperature charts and letters, written in a variety of hands (4 vols); case books, 1877-1878 containing case notes of female patients at St Thomas's Hospital (4 vols);

Letter to Murchison from [R Cokam] relating to a report of operations (undated); manuscript notes on Metals, 1847; black and white photograph of letter from Mr Snow to Murchison relating to presentation of a book by the late brother of William Snow.

Manuscript notes by an unknown student taken from lectures in obstetrics and gynaecology delivered by Robert Milne Murray.

Papers of the Nesham Family, 1820-1860, comprising 4 volumes of notes by William Nesham, taken at lectures given by Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie FRCS (1783-1862), 1820-1821; and a volume of notes by Nesham's son Thomas Cargill Nesham, taken at lectures given by Sir James Young Simpson (1811-1870), 1860-1861.

Papers of William Newland, 1789, comprising a volume of manuscript notes taken by Newland of the anatomical lectures of Henry Cline, titled Lectures by Henry Cline, St Thomas' Hospital, London. Notes taken by William Newland, 1789; and a continuing volume of manuscript notes taken by Newland of the anatomical lectures of Henry Cline, including information on the art of making preparations.

Papers of Whitlock Nicholl, 1808-1809, comprising a volume of manuscript notes by Nicholl, titled MS Lectures on Surgery given gratuitously to the Pupils of St George's Hospital by Everard Home Esqre, taken in the Winter of 1808-9, by Whitlock Nicholl, Vol. 1, taken at lectures on surgery by Sir Everard Home. Including a biographical account and photograph of Nicholl, written by Charles Hawkins, and a cutting and notes about the poem 'A Country Surgeon'; and a volume of manuscript notes by Nicholl, titled MS Lectures on Surgery given gratuitously to the Pupils of St George's Hospital by Everard Home Esqre, taken in the Winter of 1808, by Whitlock Nicholl, Vol. 2, taken at lectures on surgery by Sir Everard Home.

Manuscript notes from an unidentified teacher training college, including 'Course of lectures for 1st years', on 'principles of teaching'; 'principles applied to methods'; 'methods of teaching'; 'class teaching'; 'collective teaching'; 'chief tests of efficient teaching' in different subject areas; 'questions to test the efficiency of a school' on a range of subjects including furniture, discipline, subjects of instruction and methods of teaching in different subjects. Also includes 'Heads of lectures for students of the second year' and 'Notes of lessons on how a lesson should be prepared' and sample lessons including:'Notes of a lesson on the whale'; 'The uses of the participle'; 'The root of man'; 'Division of fractions'. Also enclosed are separate notes on 'Registration, organization and methods as effected by the Revised Code'. It is unclear whether these notes were compiled by a lecturer or a student.

Four lecture notebooks of Hedwig (Hedy) Lehmann when she was a medical student, covering the period 1942-1945. These items shed light on the curriculum and teaching methods in nursing training in England during the Second World War period. With additional original and copy documents relating to H Lehmann and her nursing career, and transcript of an interview H Lehmann gave to historians Sybille Baumbach and Beate Meyer in London May 1991 investigating the history of the Jewish community in Hamburg during the years up to and including the Second World War.

Student notes of Papa's lectures, Naples, 1728-1731.

Notes of lectures on surgery, [1665], given at the Archispedale di Santo Spirito in Rome. An inscription inside MS.3819 seems to attribute the lectures to Paulus, who is not identified. Produced in Rome.

Papers of Joseph Pearce, 1791, comprising a volume of manuscript notes by Pearce, taken at Lectures on the Principles of Surgery by John Hunter, 1791.

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 George Perkins, 1908-1980, comprising 2 volumes containing correspondence, testimonials, and certificates relating to his education and professional life, 1908-1957; a folder containing photographs, a typescript, and correspondence relating to the Inaugural George Perkins Lecture, delivered by Professor Maurice Muller, (Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Bern), at St Thomas' Hospital on 1 Oct 1971; a reprint of The Hugh Owen Thomas Memorial Lecture 1946, delivered in the Liverpool Medical Institution by George Perkins on 11 Jul 1946; an envelope containing 11 reviews for the book Orthopaedics, written by Perkins, 1961, and a review for the book Fractures and Dislocation, written by Perkins, 1953; a volume containing a photograph of Perkins, signed by his former colleagues and friends; 3 photographs of Perkins, 1927-1973; obituaries and letters of condolence addressed to George Perkins daughter, Elizabeth, 1980.

Notes taken by students of lectures including those by Caietano Petrone, Naples, some family notes and poetry, [1766-1777].

This collection comprises slides used by Ivor Pfuell in his lectures on the history and development of London. The slides were collected during the 1970s and 1980s, although they depict London locations and landmarks through the ages.

Physiology Volume 2, c1859-c1880, comprising a volume containing notes of lectures on Physiology; prescriptions for medications, with directions on usage, 1859-1880; a rememberance card for Henry Motherby of Henshall, c1870; and a recipe for cough mixture.

Minute books, 1926-1927, and Annual reports, 1926-1938, of the Pioneer Health Centre Peckham, and volumes of press-cuttings about the Centre 1929-1961; files, publications and ephemera relating to the activities of the Centre, 1925-1952; files of the Pioneer Health Centre Ltd following the closure of the Centre, 1950-1999; books about the Centre; photographs, films and videos; papers of George Scott Williamson, 1910-1991, including personalia, correspondence, lectures, drafts of articles and books, notes; papers of Innes Hope Pearse, including personalia, correspondence, notes, manuscripts, drafts of The Quality of Life, reprints; materials relating to Scott Williamson and Pearse's research on pathology and the thyroid, including notes, lectures, manuscripts, correspondence, and reprints.

Praxeos medicinae libri II-IV. Authore D. D. Paschale Pisciottano, ad usum Joachimi de Angelis. Lecture-notes of a student at Naples University, of which Vol. I is wanting. The lectures are all by Pisciottanus except the second in Book IV 'De morbis venereis', which is by Francesco Dolce: and the last of the same Book 'De herniis', given by Agnello Firelli. Contents: Praxeos liber II. De morbis pectoris (1 l. + 37 ff. + 3 ll. (last 2 bl.)). III. De morbis abdominis (1 l. + 144 ff. + 4 bl. ll.). IV. De febribus. De morbis venereis. De morbis mulierum. De morbis infantum. De herniis (3 ll. + 269 ff. + 1 bl. l.). Produced in Naples.

Papers of Sir Alfred Platt, 1968-1986, comprising typescript and photographs relating to The Story of the Manchester Surgical Society, 1970-1971; diaries of trips to the United States of America 1928 and 1946, 1978; typsescript of the lecture The romance of surgery: The Manchester Ship Canal and the birth of accident services, 1968; copy of a postcard to Leslie Turner (FRCS) concerning arrangements for the centenary celebration, 1986; and a presentational folder titled The Transatlantic Connection 1913-1986: A Tribute to Sir Harry Platt by Allan M McKelvie, 7 Oct 1986.

Records of the Polytechnic Parliament, 1883-1970, comprising minutes recording the business of the Council which administered the society's affairs, 1883-1916, 1920-1965, 1970; minutes for sittings of the parliament, 1892-1915, 1920-1964; constituency books, 1883, 1930s; motion books, 1884-1915, 1923-1926; members' address book, 1890s; file of typescript orders and rules, 1933; file re amendments, 1930s; Conservative party records, 1930s; attendance books, 1934-1960s; printed constitution, 1948; report to Development Committee and related papers, 1954; subscription book, 1950s-1960s; undated standing orders and rules; two undated photographs, including Polytechnic Parliament in session in Fyvie Hall (in no 309 Regent Street).

Papers relating to Percivall Pott, [1770-1792], comprising notes on his surgical lectures, taken by an unidentified pupil, [1770].

Papers of Carl Prausnitz-Giles including memorandum on the teaching of hygiene in the German Empire, 1930; lecture 'In Quest of Allergy', 1959; notes; obituary.

Papers of the Prosser-Harvey collection, early 19th century, comprising the notes of a 'Student of Medicine', thought to be William Prosser, on lectures by John Abernethy, late 18th century to early 19th century; lectures by John Clark, early 19th century; lectures by Sir Astley Cooper, early 19th century; lectures by [Joshua?] Brookes, early 19th century; lectures by Andrew Thynne, late 18th century to early 19th century; and a commonplace book and unidentified notes, early to mid-nineteenth century.

Queen Elizabeth College lectures, programmes and events literature, 1909-1986. This class notably contains printed and typescript lectures delivered by Professor Ronald Burge, Professor Arnold Bender, Neville Marsh and others on subjects including on nuclear chemistry, nutrition and experimental botany, 1964-1972; notices, programmes and tickets relating to lectures, 1934-1972 (Ref: Q/EPH/LEC); other programmes, tickets and invitations to Annual Dinner, degree presentations, carol services and other events, 1909-1986 (Ref: Q/EPH/PRG).

Papers of George Ray, 1815-1816, comprising a volume of manuscript notes taken by Ray at the lectures of Sir Astley Paston Cooper, titled Lectures on Surgery, Delivered at the theatre of St Thomas's Hospital by AP Cooper, Esq in the years 1815-1816; and an undated newspaper cutting titled 'The Country Surgeon (A True Bill)' containing a poem about the life and work of a country surgeon.

Book of handwritten notes and sketches, Oct-Dec 1851, taken by Reid from lectures on physiology delivered by Professor Robert Bentley Todd, and Professor Sir William Bowman, King's College London; volume of handwritten notes from lectures given by Professor Sir William Fergusson on the principles and practice of surgery, Oct-Dec 1851, and from clinical lectures given by Fergusson and Professor Richard Partridge, 1852-1853, with several caricatures of staff and other sketches.

Disputatio tertia therapeutica, sive de medendis morbis. Disputatio quarta pyretologica, sive de febribus. Disputatio quinta et ultima pathologica, in qua agitur de curandis affectibus praeter naturam. The first few leaves of Vol. II have a marginal running title 'Onofrii Ricci Practica'. This volume is dated 1650 at the end. These are notes of Lectures in a Course on the general Practice of Medicine. As in that MS. there is the inscription: 'Ex Rev. D. Indico Mancini' written on the verso of the last leaf of each volume. On the verso of the last leaf of Vol. I: 'Indicus Antonius Mancinus Anno MDCLXXXiii': and on the second fly-leaf of Vol. II 'Del Ph[ilippo?] Fidelis Manzi'. Produced in Naples.

Correspondence and papers of Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson, 1846-1897, including notes taken by Richardson as a medical student from the lectures of Dr J A Easton, Professor of Materia Medica, Andersonian University, Glasgow, Winter Session 1846-1847; papers relating to Richardson's life of Thomas Sopwith, the mining engineer, comprising Sopwith's original diaries, or a transcript of them, with Richardson's explanatory notes inserted; papers and drafts of Richardson's unfinished autobiography published posthumously under the title 'Vita Medica'; lecture notes on human physiology; Richardson's case book, 1852-1861 and unpublished works by Richardson.

Notes, taken while a Student at Edinburgh University, of lectures by John Rutherford, William Cullen, John Gregory and Alexander Monro [1733-1817]. Vol. I Gregory (John). Clinical lectures. 1773 (pp 1-204). Cullen (William). Clinical lectures (pp 205-935). Vol. II Monro (A.). Lectures anatomical and physiological (pp 1-253). Operations in surgery (pp 254-365). On the first preliminary leaf, containing notes of a case, is the date 1775. Vol. III Cullen (W.). Part of a course on the Institutes of Medicine (275 pp). Vol. IV Rutherford (J.). Clinical lectures (pp 1-316). Monro (A.). Treatise on wounds in general (pp. 317-386). A treatise on bandages (pp. 368-430). This last volume is in a smaller quarto. It is dated 1752 on p 1, but this may be the date when the lectures were first given. The script is apparently the same as that of the preceding volumes.

Letter from Henry Roberts of 31 Prince's Square, Kensington Gardens, London to C C Nelson, 16 Mar 1861. 'The lecture which you attended some months since at the So[uth] Kensington Museum [now the Victoria and Albert Museum] has just been published by the Ladies' Sanitary Association [under the title Healthy Dwellings]'.

Autograph, with signature.

1 volume, 1784, titled Elements of the Practice of Physic, for the Use of Gentlemen who attend lectures on that subject. Read at Guy's Hospital, By William Saunders M.D. of the Royal College of Physicians, and Physicians to Guy's Hospital. 1784. Taken by Thomas Roberts comprising notes of lectures.

Papers of George W. Robinson, 1924-1965, comprising photographs, slides, correspondence, press cuttings and other papers. The photographic album and photographs relate to Robinson's time at Kew, whilst the correspondence and papers date from the early 1960s. The glass slides on the whole date from Robinson's employment in Chile; although some appear to have been used for lectures given at Oxford.

Papers of Richard Radford Robinson, 1828-1849, comprising details of medical cases, 1831-1836; details of medical cases in Camberwell, 1832-1835; details of surgical cases in Camberwell, 1828-1831; and notes on medical subjects, medical cases, and quotes from lectures, 1833-1849.

Notes of Rodati's lectures compiled by students, c 1830, produced in Bologna.

Papers of George Ramsay Rodd, 1807, comprising a volume of manuscript notes by Rodd, taken at the surgical lectures of Sir Astley Cooper in 1807. An inscription on the fly leaf reads "Geo R Rodd's hasty notes of A Coopers Surgical Lectures 1807."

Papers of Sir James Paterson Ross, mid 20th century, comprising a St Barthlomew's Hospital notebook [?], containg addresses; information relating to the rebuilding of the Royal College of Surgeons of England after World War Two bomb damage; a card allowing Ross to remove packages without inspection, 1941; a letter thanking Ross for his lectures on the Nervous System, 15 Jul 1942; printed notes on 'Enemy Gas Attacks'; and a reprint of The Physician's Testimony for Christ by Andrew Clark, an address originally delivered in 1890.

'Chirurgie complète de Ph. J. Roux', Notes of lectures: stated to have belonged to Philibert Joseph Roux by Desgranges, the Paris bookseller. Written by the same hand as MSS. Nos. 4292, 4293, which are also notes of lectures by Roux, and No. 1970 [Cullerier]. Produced in Paris.

Lists of lectures delivered at the Royal Institution of Great Britain.

Records of the Royal Polytechnic Institution (RPI), 1837-1881 and undated, comprising:

Leases of premises, 1838-1876, including no 5 Cavendish Square; prospectus, 1837; correspondence and papers concerning the foundation of the Institution, its provisional committee, shares, status and affairs, 1837-1839 and undated, including its charter, 1839, and papers on arbitration on a dispute between W M Nurse and the Institution; correspondence and papers relating to activities and affairs of the Institution, 1838-1842 and undated, including documents on the alleged infringement by the Institution of a patent for a diving dress, 1838, and an agreement with W H F Talbot permitting the use of his patented photographic process, 1841; photocopy of a letter from Robert Longbottom, RPI Secretary, to Samuel Morse, 1846; copy of charter, 1852; letter concerning a school visit to the RPI, 1858;

Catalogues of the Polytechnic Institution (copies), 1838-1840, and Royal Polytechnic Institution, 1844-1845; programmes for 1861, 1876, 1878 and 1881; bound volumes of RPI programmes, 1873-1878; reports, 1879-1880; particulars and conditions of sale of the RPI premises, 1881;

Books by authors associated with the RPI, including various publications by John Henry Pepper: The Boy's Playbook of Science, 2nd edition, 1860.; Popular Lectures for Young People and Half Hours with the Alchemists, 1st edition, 1855; The Playbook of Metals, 1st edition, 1869 and Cyclopaedic Science Simplified, 1st edition, 1869; The Book of The Lantern by T C Hepworth, 2nd edition, 1889; Memory by William Stokes, 2nd edition, 1888 and Rapid Writing by William Stokes, 4th edition, 1873; issues of various contemporary journals containing information on or advertisements for the Institution [1839]-1845, some with illustrations, among them scientific equipment, including four parts of the London Polytechnic Magazine, 1844, six parts of its continuation, The Polytechnic Review and Magazine, 1844, and five parts, 1845; advertising poster, 1840;

Book of press cuttings relating to the Institution from 1842, many lacking details of their source; five tokens bearing the name of the Institution, 1840; photogenic transfer made at the Institution, 1840; a ceramic plate fired at the RPI, 1866;

Illustrations and photographs of illustrations from 1840, some undated, including the great hall and other shots of the interior and exterior, 1843, and demonstrations, including the diving bell.

Archive, 1754 to date, of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA; formerly the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, or Society of Arts), created by the Society in the course of its activities, and comprising records of its administration (Ref: AD), and records of its activities and events (Ref: PR), also including some printed material dating back to 1634.

Administrative records of the Society include:

Records of Miscellaneous Committees to discuss the programme and administration of the Society, including the Committee of Correspondence and Papers and the Committee of Miscellaneous Matters, 1754-1848 (Ref: AD.MA/104).
Records of the Society from 1754, later the Council (established 1845) (Ref: AD.MA/100).

Records concerning Chairmen of Council (from 1846) and Council membership (Ref: AD.MA/102).

Records of Secretaries (administrative head of the Society), after 1994 known as the Director (Ref: AD.MA/101).

Records of Presidents (Ref: AD.MA/103).

Records of Membership/Fellowship, relating to subscribers to the Society, originally termed 'members', referred to as 'Fellows' from 1908 (Ref: AD.MA/900). (The archive does not include extensive biographical information on RSA Fellows, although dates of membership of Fellows are usually recorded.)
Records concerning the Society's House in John Adam Street from its design and construction by the Adam Brothers, including correspondence, papers, notes, leases and other legal documents, relating to administration, management, alteration and repair of the building (Ref: AD.MA/300).

Records of various House Committees set up at different times to look at the building, its use, function, administration and management (Ref: AD.MA/305).

Accounting and financial records produced by various committees including the Accounts Committee and Finance and General Purposes Committee (Ref: AD.MA/400).

Annual Reports recording the Society's activities over the year, initially within the Journal (from 1852), but later as a separate publication (Ref: AD.MA/701).

Records relating to general lectures (developed from the 1850s when the Society ceased the award of premiums for inventions), with correspondence mainly concerning administrative arrangements for speakers and publication of their texts (in the RSA Journal) and suggestions for topics for discussion (Ref: AD.MA/800).

Records relating to the RSA Silver Medal awarded annually for the most interesting lecture over the preceding year (Ref: AD.MA/803).

Records relating to production of the Journal and other publicity, promotion and communication (Ref: AD.MA/203).

Donations and collections, comprising objects and artefacts donated to or bought by the Society (Ref: AD.MA/204).

Records of the Society's activities (such as award schemes, exhibitions, conferences, seminars and lectures), including joint initiatives with a range of other organisations, include:

Guard Books (30 volumes), 1754-1770, containing correspondence and papers about all Society activities and committees, on a range of subjects (Ref: PR.GE/110).

Manuscript versions of the Society's Transactions, comprising draft versions of the printed Transactions, including drawings, plans and diagrams in support of claims for premiums and awards. Also general correspondence to the Society on various 19th century campaigns, conferences and committees, covering subjects including lectures (arrangements for dates, speakers, chairmen, participants; suggestions for subjects, submission of lecture texts, corrections to texts, requests for tickets/programmes, acceptances, apologies for non-attendance etc), examinations (requests for syllabus, copies of certificates, programmes, rules; complaints, arrangements, agreements with colleges, details of examiners etc), membership (requests for information, applications, replies to circulars, notes accompanying subscriptions, resignations, complaints), Council/committee chairmen (intention to attend meetings, acceptances, general arrangements for meetings, requests for information, dates, times etc), Journal (receipt/non-receipt of copies, reciprocal arrangements with other libraries, requests for extra copies, corrections to proofs, advertising, arrangements for making blocks, photogravures etc), House (letters from freeholders, solicitors, contractors; booking of rooms), staff (applications for employment, testimonials, sick notes etc - a very small number of items), general (invitations, letters from bankers, auditors, business circulars, requests for funding, suggestions for campaigns, policies, events etc), and including artistic copyright, uniform musical pitch, domestic economy, art workmanship, musical training, food committees, patent law reform, prevention of fires in theatres and education exhibitions (Ref: PR.GE/118-19, 121).

Records relating to Premium and Programme committees (Ref: PR.GE/112); Albert Medal (founded 1863) (Ref: PR.GE/101); Memorial Tablet (blue plaque) scheme (founded 1866) (PR.GE/122); War Memorials Advisory Council (established 1944, disbanded 1948), concerning memorials of the Second World War (Ref: PR.GE/117); Exhibition of Exhibitions (1951), concurrent with the Festival of Britain, to commemorate earlier ground-breaking Society exhibitions on contemporary art (1760), industrial design (1847-1850), photography (1852), industry (1761), and the first international exhibition (1851) (Ref: PR.GE/102); R B Bennett Commonwealth Prize (endowed 1944) for outstanding contribution to the promotion of the arts, agriculture, industries and commerce of the Overseas Empire (Ref: PR.GE/116); Commonwealth Committee (Ref: PR.GE/113); proposals and planning for the Festival of Britain (1951) (Ref: PR.GE/103); events for the RSA Bicentenary (1954) (Ref: PR.GE/107); Benjamin Franklin Medal (instituted 1956) (Ref: PR.GE/100); Trusts, bequests, fundraising and development (Ref: PR.GE/111).

Records relating to manufacture and commerce, including the Paris Exhibitions (1844-1900) (Ref: PR.MC/109); Great Exhibition (1851) (Ref: PR.MC/107); International Exhibition (1862) (Ref: PR.MC/108); Chicago Exhibition (World's Columbian Exposition, 1893), British Section (Ref: PR.MC/112); Industry Year/Industry Matters (1986) (Ref: PR.MC/100); Tomorrow's Company (begun 1994), concerning the role of business in a changing world (Ref: PR.MC/115); Redefining Work (launched 1995) (Ref: PR.MC/116); Forum for Ethics in the Workplace (1997) (Ref: PR.MC/117); Manufacturing, Wealth Creation and the Economy (1998) (Ref: PR.MC/118).

Records of subject-based standing committees set up by the Society from 1754 to judge awards and premiums in particular areas, including minutes and correspondence about awards and attendance at and structure of committees: Agriculture (Ref: PR.MC/103), Chemistry (Ref: PR.MC/105), Colonies and Trade (Ref: PR.MC/104), Manufactures (Ref: PR.MC/102), Mechanics (Ref: PR.MC/101), and Polite Arts - including prints, drawings and other artwork submitted for award (Ref: PR.AR/103).

Records relating to fine and applied arts, including exhibition of works of Ancient and Medieval Art (1847-1850) (Ref: PR.AR/105); exhibition of the works of William Etty and William Mulready (1848-1849), including general correspondence, printed matter, catalogues, press cuttings, tickets and notices about mounting of exhibitions, and attendance (Ref: PR.AR/112); British Art in Industry Exhibition (1935) to publicise good design in articles of everyday use (Ref: PR.AR/101); Humorous Art Exhibition (1949-1950) (Ref: PR.AR/100); Art for Architecture scheme (from 1990), aiming to enhance the urban environment by encouraging cross disciplinary approaches to building and landscape projects, and associated with the Jerwood Art for Architecture Award (introduced 1994) (Ref: PR.AR/110); Shakespeare in Schools (begun 1992), a pilot project to introduce Shakespeare to children (Ref: PR.AR/108).

Records relating to promotion of design, including the Design Bursaries Board, Design Committee, the Design Board, Design Advisory Group and Design Section (Ref: PR.DE/106-7); Industrial Art Bursaries Competition (started 1924), succeeded by the Design Bursaries Competition, Competition of Industrial Designs and Student Design Awards (Ref: PR.DE/100); Royal Designers for Industry (RDI) scheme (created 1936) to encourage a high standard of industrial design (Ref: PR.DE/101); Bicentenary Medal (instituted 1954) for exceptional influence in promoting art and design in British industry (Ref: PR.DE/102); Presidential Awards for Design Management (instituted 1964) to recognise outstanding design policy (Ref: PR.DE/105).
Records relating to education, including the RSA Examinations Board (PR.ED/100); the Education for Capability programme (initiated 1979) to counteract academic bias in British education and promote practical, organising and co-operative skills (Ref: PR.ED/107); the future of Technological Higher Education in Britain (1982), a study group to consider the problems facing Britain in the development of technological higher education (Ref: PR.ED/118); Home-School links (from 1988) (Ref: PR.ED/108); Parents in a Learning Society, a development project to involve parents in education and assess home-school work (Ref: PR.ED/104); the National Advisory Council for Careers and Educational Guidance (established 1994), to promote and advise on provision of guidance for learning and work (Ref: PR.ED/103); Education Futures (2000) (Ref: PR.ED/116).

Records relating to the environment, including the Campaign for the Preservation of Ancient Cottages (begun 1926) to protect cottage architecture, establishing a fund which purchased or restored cottages near Worthing, at Bibury, Gloucestershire, West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, Chiddingstone, Kent, and elsewhere (Ref: PR.EN/100); three 'Countryside in 1970' Conferences (1963-1970) (Ref: PR.EN/104); Environment Committee (formed 1971) to identify and anticipate major environmental problems and provide a forum for discussion (Ref: PR.EN/107), which began the Pollution Abatement Technology Award Scheme (PATAS) (1983-1986) (Ref: PR.EN/103), succeeded by the Better Environment for Industry/European Better Environment Awards for Industry (BEAFI/EBEAFI) (1987-1991) (Ref: PR.EN/101); the Environment Committee's sub-committee the RSA-Cubitt Trust Panel (to 1991), devoted to the built environment and working with the Cubitt Trust to convene conferences, seminars and an annual Cubitt Lecture (Ref: PR.EN/106); After the Earth Summit - What Next? (1992) (Ref: PR.EN/128); RSA Environmental Management Awards (begun 1993) (Ref: PR.EN/102).

The Early Library (Ref: SC/EL/1-5), comprising c500 printed works collected by the Society before 1830, including journals and periodicals, and c300 pamphlets and tracts covering broad-ranging topics relating to premiums and awards of the various sectional committees (Agriculture, Polite Arts, Chemistry, Manufactures, Mechanics, and Colonies and Trade), and including extracts from proceedings of other societies and learned institutions.

Dictata in Materiam Medicam. These MSS. are probably scribal copies of lectures written for the use of students. Produced in Leyden, mid-18th century.

Lecture notes taken down by an unnamed student: written by the same hand as the three Rossi manuscripts (MSS.4267-4269). Produced in Naples.