Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1919-1965 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
12 series
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Godman Exploration Fund was set up in 1920 following the gift of £5000 by Dame Alice Godman, widow of Frederick Ducane Godman (1834-1919), the zoologist. In a letter dated 24 May 1919 she directed that the money should become the nucleus of a fund 'for the acquirement of specimens, chiefly by exploration', and that it should be vested in the hands of five trustees, one of whom should be the Director of the Natural History Museum and another the Speaker of the House of Commons. A deed to bring her wishes into effect was drawn up on 26 May 1920, and the first grant was made to F V Sherrin to support his zoological collecting in Queensland. From 1920 to 1932 all the grants went to zoological collecting, but from 1933 botanical, entomological and geological projects were also supported.
The Fund was augmented in 1929 when Michael Rogers Oldfield Thomas (1858-1929), the Curator of Mammals, died, leaving the residue of his estate to the Godman Trustees. This amounted in the end to just over £6000 together with the lease of a house in Carlyle Square, which was sold in 1959.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0060 DF 5010 1919-1965 Sub fonds 12 series Godman Exploration Fund
The Godman Exploration Fund was set up in 1920 following the gift of £5000 by Dame Alice Godman, widow of Frederick Ducane Godman (1834-1919), the zoologist. In a letter dated 24 May 1919 she directed that the money should become the nucleus of a fund 'for the acquirement of specimens, chiefly by exploration', and that it should be vested in the hands of five trustees, one of whom should be the Director of the Natural History Museum and another the Speaker of the House of Commons. A deed to bring her wishes into effect was drawn up on 26 May 1920, and the first grant was made to F V Sherrin to support his zoological collecting in Queensland. From 1920 to 1932 all the grants went to zoological collecting, but from 1933 botanical, entomological and geological projects were also supported.
The Fund was augmented in 1929 when Michael Rogers Oldfield Thomas (1858-1929), the Curator of Mammals, died, leaving the residue of his estate to the Godman Trustees. This amounted in the end to just over £6000 together with the lease of a house in Carlyle Square, which was sold in 1959.
Administrative and financial records of the five trustees who administered the Godman Exploration Fund. It includes their annual reports in which they accounted for money disbursed, details of their investments, and correspondence over the lease of a house that they owned.
Arranged in 12 series.
English
There is a Godman Exploration Fund file at DF1004/432 which contains the early correspondence with Dame Alice Godman by which the Fund was set up. There is a file on the Oldfield Thomas bequest at DF1004/91.
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 Exploration Charitable bequests Godman , Frederick Ducane , 1834-1919 , zoologist Godman Exploration Fund Bequests Property transfer Property
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Administrative and financial records of the five trustees who administered the Godman Exploration Fund. It includes their annual reports in which they accounted for money disbursed, details of their investments, and correspondence over the lease of a house that they owned.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Arranged in 12 series.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
There is a Godman Exploration Fund file at DF1004/432 which contains the early correspondence with Dame Alice Godman by which the Fund was set up. There is a file on the Oldfield Thomas bequest at DF1004/91.
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Allied materials area
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Existence and location of copies
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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