IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0402 JMS
Held at: Royal Geographical Society
Title: RGS JOURNAL MANUSCRIPTS
Date(s): 1830-1997
Level of description: Collection (fonds)
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 AND 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.
Physical characteristics:
Earlier Mss are handwritten later ones are usually typescript. Some items are fragile.
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
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Some 1940's and most post-1950 articles sent to the GJ are awaiting accessioning, weeding and cataloguing.
Accruals:
Accruals from Geographical Journal Office expected on an occasional basis.
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
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
Some items have been microfilmed, others photocopied.
Related material:
Since 1995 the Society has also published Area & Transactions of the IBG, manuscripts from these journals are held in a separate sequence.
Publication note:
Many of these articles were published, either in full or in part, in the Society's Journals.
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
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.