RGS JOURNAL MANUSCRIPTS

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0402 JMS
Held at	: Royal Geographical Society   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.rgs.org/OurWork/Collections/Collections.htm ›
Full title	: RGS JOURNAL MANUSCRIPTS
Date(s)	: 1830-1997
Level of description	: Collection (fonds) View subfonds/series records
Extent	: 224 boxes + unaccessioned material
Name of creator(s)	: Various

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Royal Geographical Society (RGS) was founded in 1830 as the Royal Geographical Society of London. Its aim was the advancement of Geographical Science. The Society was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria in 1859. In 1995 the RGS merged with the Institute of British Geographers (IBG) to create the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers). Since 1831 the Society has published a Journal, initially containing the principal papers read at the Society's evening meetings and abstracts of Geographical works published elsewhere, it is now a refereed academic publication. The journal has appeared under various titles: Journal of the RGS (JRGS) 1831-1880; Proceedings of the RGS (PRGS) 1857-1878; Proceedings of the RGS (New Series) (PRGS (NS)) 1879-1892; Supplementary Papers (1882-1893); and the Geographical Journal (GJ) 1893 onwards. At first edited by the Secretary of the Society, the preparation and editing of these journals is currently carried out by the Geographical Journal Office.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

A collection of articles and letters sent to the Royal Geographical Society for publication in its Journals. This material covers all aspects of geography and exploration across the globe. This includes material from some of the most celebrated 19th and early 20th Century explorations, throughout the World. The articles were often sent to referees and their reports are often to be found with the article, in some cases the referee report has been retained even though the article has been returned to the author.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Arranged in 21 series by Geographical region, country, or subject. Within each series files are arranged by date then alphabetically by author. There is also one bound volume from 1836 which contains most of the ms. published in Vol.6 of the JRGS.

Conditions governing access:

Accessed via the Foyle Reading Room. Free of charge for Fellows, Members and those with valid academic identification. All other users pay a charge and must bring identification in order to register on arrival.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Photocopying at Archivist's discretion, and subject to completion of 'application for copies' form. No reproduction or publication without permission of the RGS-IBG Archivist. Please note that in more recent cases copyright of the author may need to be sought.

Finding aids:

The RGS archives: a handlist / compiled by Christine Kelly. London: RGS, 1977. Detailed catalogue available in the reading room and online on A2A.

Archival Information

Archival history:

In most cases the items were sent to the RGS directly by their authors and have remained with the Society ever since.

Immediate source of acquisition:

From the editor, or the Geographical Journal Office.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Since 1995 the Society has also published Area & Transactions of the IBG, manuscripts from these journals are held in a separate sequence.

National Register of Archives: Click here to view NRA record

Publication note:

Many of these articles were published, either in full or in part, in the Society's Journals.

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Prepared by Huw Thomas, Archives Assistant using existing records and *The record of the RGS 1830-1930 / by H. R. Mill. London: RGS, 1930. Revised by Sarah Drewery.

Rules or conventions:
ISAD(G) ed.2

Date(s) of descriptions:
2nd June 2000; Nov 2008.