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Edinburgh Geological Society

 Organization

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

 Item — Volume MS 2925.1: Series Coll-43/3
Identifier: Coll-43/3/1
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1873-1892

Account Book beginning 14 November 1915, 1915-1937

 Item — Volume MS 2925.3: Series Coll-43/3
Identifier: Coll-43/3/3
Scope and Contents

Account book containing abstracts of annual accounts. Income is largely subscriptions (giving the the members' names). Expenditure includes printing and advertising.

Dates: 1915-1937

Account Book beginning 16 November 1892, 1892-1915

 Item — Volume MS 2925.2: Series Coll-43/3, Box: data_value_missing_d9c2d1dc1a323c6d329ad15aab7f259f, Box: data_value_missing_a65ef9b2efec8f6d095358345b189450
Identifier: Coll-43/3/2
Scope and Contents

Account book containing daily income and expediture and abstracts of annual accounts. Income is largely subscriptions (giving the the members' names). Expenditure includes printing.

Dates: 1892-1915

Billets of meetings, 1865-1990

 Series — Box MS 2930-MS 2931: Series Coll-43/6
Identifier: Coll-43/6
Scope and Contents

Billets of meetings consist of:


  1. billets of meetings
  2. programmes of excursions
Dates: 1865-1990

Cash Book beginning 30 September 1916, 1916-1947

 Item — Volume MS 2926.1: Series Coll-43/3
Identifier: Coll-43/3/4
Scope and Contents

Cash book containing daily income and expediture. Income is largely subscriptions (giving the the members' names). Expenditure includes printing.

Dates: 1916-1947

Centenary congratulations, 1934

 Sub-Series
Identifier: Coll-43 ::: MS 2935.11
Scope and Contents

Centenary congratulations consists of:


  1. commemorative addresses
  2. congratulatory letters
Dates: 1934

Congratulatory address from the Académie des Sciences de L'Institut de France, 1934

 Item
Identifier: Coll-43 ::: MS 2935.11.4
Scope and Contents

Letter from the Académie des Sciences de L'Institut de France congratulating the Edinburgh Geological Society on reaching its centenary.

Dates: 1934

Congratulatory address from the Société de Géologique de Belgique, 1934

 Item
Identifier: Coll-43 ::: MS 2935.11.2
Scope and Contents

Letter from the Société de Géologique de Belgique congratulating the Edinburgh Geological Society on reaching its centenary.

Dates: 1934

Congratulatory address from the Société Royale des Sciences de Liège, 1934

 Item
Identifier: Coll-43 ::: MS 2935.11.3
Scope and Contents

Letter from the Société Royale des Sciences de Liège congratulating the Edinburgh Geological Society on reaching its centenary.

Dates: 1934

Congratulatory letter from the Norsk Geologisk Forening (Norwegian Geological Society), August 1934

 Item
Identifier: Coll-43 ::: MS 2935.11.1
Scope and Contents

Letter from the Norsk Geologisk Forening (Norwegian Geological Society) congratulating the Edinburgh Geological Society on reaching its centenary.

Dates: August 1934

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 48
Collection 1
 
Subject
Membership 19
Corporate Minutes 16
Meetings 15
Nominations for Membership 13
Societies, Geological 13