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Edinburgh Geological Society

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1834-

Biography

Its first President was John Castle, and its first Secretary, James Brodie. Both were members of Mr Rose's class. The first scientific meeting of the Society was held on 8 December 1834, and the subject for discussion being whether or not Arthur's Seat (a hill in the city's Holyrood Park) was of volcanic origin. In 1863, the Society elected Sir Roderick Impey Murchison as its first Patron (1863-71), and he was followed by Sir Charles Lyell (1871-75)

While today the Edinburgh Geological Society draws on the considerable geological expertise of the University of Edinburgh and the British Geological Survey (at Murchison House), it welcomes and encourages amateur and professional alike to become involved in its lectures and excursions. The primary requirement for membership is an interest in geology.

The Society has acquired such prestige that there is little difficulty in attracting high calibre speakers on a wide variety of subjects. Lecture meetings are held throughout the winter in the Grant Institute (Kings Buildings site). In the summer, a varied programme of excursions is organised.

The Society publishes The Edinburgh Geologist once or twice a year. This publication consists of short papers on a wide range of geological topics with descriptions of geological localities.

Found in 11 Collections and/or Records:

Minute Book No 7, 07 November 1867 - 18 March 1879

 Item — Volume MS 2918.1: Series Coll-43/1
Identifier: Coll-43/1/7
Scope and Contents Notebook containing minutes of ordinary meetings with 432 numbered pages. Full details of the Society's business is recorded including: details of honorary, corresponding and normal membership and diplomas awarded, reports from Annual General Meetings including details of office-bearers and their election, financial details, details of the publications of Transactions of the Edinburgh Geological Society, details of donations for the Society's museum and...
Dates: 07 November 1867 - 18 March 1879

Minute Book No 8, 17 April 1879 - 29 April 1897

 Item — Volume MS 2918.2: Series Coll-43/1
Identifier: Coll-43/1/8
Scope and Contents Notebook containing minutes of ordinary meetings with approximately 500 pages. Full details of the Society's business is recorded including: details of honorary, corresponding and normal membership. Also included are details of the nomination of the first lady associate, Grace Milne-Home on 04 May 1893 and the formation of a student membership class on 18 February 1892. Reports from Annual General Meetings include details of office-bearers and their election, financial details,...
Dates: 17 April 1879 - 29 April 1897

Minute Book No 9, 1897-1924

 Item — Volume MS 2919.1: Series Coll-43/1
Identifier: Coll-43/1/9
Scope and Contents Volume containing minutes of ordinary meetings and details of the Society's business. This includes the nomination and election of members such as Henry Briggs in 1908. It also details excursions taken by the society, including one lead by Benjamin Neeve Peach to Lanarkshire. Papers read at meetings and publications in Transactions of the Edinburgh Geological Society are also covered. There is also an obituary to Charles Lapworth. Presidents during this...
Dates: 1897-1924

Minute Book No 10, 1924-1944

 Item — Volume MS 2919.2: Series Coll-43/1
Identifier: Coll-43/1/10
Scope and Contents Volume containing minutes of ordinary meetings and details of the Society's business. This includes the nomination and election of members. It also details excursions taken by the society, papers read at meetings and publications in Transactions of the Edinburgh Geological Society are also covered. There are also obituaries to Benjamin Neeve Peach and Henry Moubray Cadell and details of the Clough Memorial Medal for geological work in Scotland and the north of...
Dates: 1924-1944

Minute Book No I, 04 December 1834 - 13 August 1840

 Item — Volume MS 2917.1: Series Coll-43/1
Identifier: Coll-43/1/1
Scope and Contents Small notebook containing minutes of meetings. These include: details of membership and those which attended each meeting, details of the development of "laws of the society" including subscription rates, and details of mineral and book purchases. A proposed merger with the Cuverian Society is also noted. Geological questions discussed and conclusions reached are minuted. These include "Is coal of vegetable origin?", "Is Arthur's Seat of acqueous or volcanic origin?" and "What...
Dates: 04 December 1834 - 13 August 1840

Minute Book No II, 27 August 1840 - 04 June 1842

 Item — Volume MS 2917.2: Series Coll-43/1
Identifier: Coll-43/1/2
Scope and Contents Notebook containing minutes of meetings. These include: details of membership including those which attended each meeting and the financial affairs of the Society. Annual reports for 1840 and 1841 are included and summarise the society's activities and finances for the year. Lists of names and addresses of all members are included. Geological questions discussed and conclusions reached are minuted. 4 meetings were spent discussing "Is the glacier theory of Agassiz applicable to...
Dates: 27 August 1840 - 04 June 1842

Minute Book No III, 07 July 1842 - 02 May 1850

 Item — Volume MS 2917.3: Series Coll-43/1
Identifier: Coll-43/1/3
Scope and Contents Notebook containing minutes of meetings. Membership details include: details of new and retiring members, those who attended each meeting and deaths. Newspaper obituaries for George Sanderson and Hugh Smith are pasted into the book. The financial affairs of the Society are reported, and a newspaper clipping with the annual report for 1847 included. Details of the development of the society library are minuted. Abstracts of member's papers are minuted, along with the resultant...
Dates: 07 July 1842 - 02 May 1850

Minute Book No IV, 17 October 1850 - 04 June 1857

 Item — Volume MS 2917.4: Series Coll-43/1
Identifier: Coll-43/1/4
Scope and Contents 2 notebooks pasted together containing minutes of meetings. Membership details include: details of new and retiring members and those who attended each meeting. A list of names and address for members in 1858 is pasted into the back of the book. The financial affairs of the Society are reported, and the annual report for 1850 is pasted into the front of the book. The reading of member's papers are minuted, along with the resultant discussions, although many abstracts have been...
Dates: 17 October 1850 - 04 June 1857

Minute Book No V, 16 January 1862 - 26 October 1863

 Item — Volume MS 2917.5: Series Coll-43/1
Identifier: Coll-43/1/5
Scope and Contents Notebook containing minutes of both council and general meetings, including an alphabetical index at the beginning of the book and 172 numbered pages. Full details of the Society's business is recorded including: details of honorary, corresponding and normal membership, details of office-bearers and their election, financial details, reports on the Society's general business, plans and reports on a Conversazione held on 15 March 1863, details of donations for the Society's...
Dates: 16 January 1862 - 26 October 1863

Minute Book No VI, 05 November 1863 - 15 October 1867

 Item — Volume MS 2917.6: Series Coll-43/1
Identifier: Coll-43/1/6
Scope and Contents Notebook containing minutes of both council and general meetings with 398 numbered pages. Full details of the Society's business is recorded including: details of honorary, corresponding and normal membership, reports from Annual General Meetings including details of office-bearers and their election, financial details, reports on the Society's general business including the final decision to admit women members on 23 March 1865, reports on a recruitment drive, details of...
Dates: 05 November 1863 - 15 October 1867

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Corporate Minutes 9
Meetings 9
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Societies, Geological 9