Guide to the Records of the Zoological Society of London (as filmed by the AJCP), 13 August 1821-27 July 1903

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Summary

Collection number:

M1196

Creator:

Zoological Society of London

Extent:

58 items

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.

Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.

Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for reference.

Background

Content Summary:

A small collection of letters, mostly written to P.L. Sclater, relating to the discovery of new species of animals, birds and fishes in Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand, and to the conservation and exchange of animals between zoos.

Correspondents include George Bennett, John Gould, A. Gunther, G. Krefft, Lord Onslow, Sir Stamford Raffles, E.P. Ramsay and A.R. Wallace.

Biographical / Historical:

The first General Meeting of the Zoological Society was held in April 1826, when it was resolved that its objects should be 'the formation of a Collection of living Animals, a Museum of preserved Animals, and a Library connected with the subject.' Sir Stamford Raffles was elected the first President. He died three months later and his Sumatran Collection formed the basis of the Museum. In 1829 the Society became a Chartered Body, with the title of Zoological Society of London.

In the early years much of the interest of the Society's officials was centred on the Museum, but it was an expensive undertaking and in 1856 it was decided to transfer its collections to the British Museum. The Society was granted a lease of 20 acres in Regent's Park in 1826 and in 1828 the Zoological Gardens were opened to the public. In 1834 another 10 acres were granted and the Gardens were further enlarged in later years. In 1928 the Society purchased 480 acres at Whipsnade, Bedfordshire, as a site for a second zoo. From 1843 to 1910 the offices of the Society were in Hanover Square. The library grew steadily, totalling 150,000 volumes in 1980. The first scientific meeting was held in 1829 and the Society's Scientific Proceedings commenced publication in 1830. It was followed by the Transactions in 1833 and in 1886 the Society accepted sole responsibility for the publication of the Zoological Record.

Most of the early records of the Society were disposed of during World War II and only a selection of letters have been retained. They were mostly written to D.W. Mitchell, Secretary in 1847-1859, and P.L. Sclater, Secretary in 1859-1902.

Source: P. Chalmers Mitchell. Centenary history of the Zoological Society of London. (London, Zoological Society of London, 1929)

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:: Available for Access.
Conditions Governing Use:: Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.