Edinburgh Geological Society
Dates
- Existence: 1834-
Biography
The Edinburgh Geological Society was formed in 1834. It was born out of a meeting of eleven members of a class in mineralogy conducted by Mr Alexander Rose. The meeting was held on Thursday 4 December 1834 in Robertson's Tavern, Milne's Close, in the city, where the decision was taken to start a society for "Discussion and Mutual Instruction". The society was to meet in Mr Rose's house at 2 Drummond Street, and was to be known as the Geological Society
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 49 Collections and/or Records:
Account Book beginning 03 November 1873, 1873-1892
Account book containing daily income and expediture and abstracts of annual accounts. Income is largely subscriptions (giving the the members' names). Expenditure includes printing and advertising.
Account Book beginning 14 November 1915, 1915-1937
Account book containing abstracts of annual accounts. Income is largely subscriptions (giving the the members' names). Expenditure includes printing and advertising.
Account Book beginning 16 November 1892, 1892-1915
Account book containing daily income and expediture and abstracts of annual accounts. Income is largely subscriptions (giving the the members' names). Expenditure includes printing.
Billets of meetings, 1865-1990
Billets of meetings consist of:
- billets of meetings
- programmes of excursions
Cash Book beginning 30 September 1916, 1916-1947
Cash book containing daily income and expediture. Income is largely subscriptions (giving the the members' names). Expenditure includes printing.
Centenary congratulations, 1934
Centenary congratulations consists of:
- commemorative addresses
- congratulatory letters
Congratulatory address from the Académie des Sciences de L'Institut de France, 1934
Letter from the Académie des Sciences de L'Institut de France congratulating the Edinburgh Geological Society on reaching its centenary.
Congratulatory address from the Société de Géologique de Belgique, 1934
Letter from the Société de Géologique de Belgique congratulating the Edinburgh Geological Society on reaching its centenary.
Congratulatory address from the Société Royale des Sciences de Liège, 1934
Letter from the Société Royale des Sciences de Liège congratulating the Edinburgh Geological Society on reaching its centenary.
Congratulatory letter from the Norsk Geologisk Forening (Norwegian Geological Society), August 1934
Letter from the Norsk Geologisk Forening (Norwegian Geological Society) congratulating the Edinburgh Geological Society on reaching its centenary.
Additional filters:
- Type
- Archival Object 48
- Collection 1
- Subject
- Membership 19
- Corporate Minutes 16
- Meetings 15
- Nominations for Membership 13
- Societies, Geological 13
- Accounts 10
- Edinburgh -- Scotland 8
- Scholarly Publishing 8
- Finance 7
- Collection Development (Libraries) 4
- Fieldwork 4
- Geology 4
- Minerals 4
- Printing 4
- Astronomy 3
- Coal 3
- Geology Museums 3
- Mineralogy 3
- Advertising 2
- Awards 2
- Flood, Biblical 2
- Glacial Theory 2
- Speeches, Addresses etc 2
- Stationery 2
- Volcanism 2
- Administration 1
- Arran Buteshire Scotland 1
- Clay 1
- Cramond (Edinburgh, Scotland) 1
- Dinosaurs 1
- Eigg Inverness-shire Scotland 1
- England 1
- Geologists 1
- Geology | Societies, etc. | 1
- Geology, Stratigraphic Carboniferous 1
- Invoices 1
- Isle of Bute Buteshire Scotland 1
- Lanarkshire (Scotland) 1
- Lectures and Lecturing 1
- Leith, Water of (Scotland) 1
- Libraries 1
- Microscopy 1
- Midlothian (Scotland) 1
- North Berwick (Scotland) 1
- Old Red Sandstone 1
- Periodicals 1
- Periodicals, Publishing 1
- Professional Associations 1
- Scotland 1
- Study, Courses of 1
- Theory of Evolution 1
- Transportation 1 + ∧ less