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Manuscript Notebooks, 1855 - 1861

 Series
Identifier: Coll-203/A3

Scope and Contents

Specially created as a set of seven notebooks, separate from his run of Scientific notebooks, and labelled MS [Manuscript], these notebooks span a critical time in Lyell's life, beginning November 1855. He hears of Darwin's views on the origin of species five months later, during a visit to Down. When he closed the series in 1861, he began to write Antiquity of Man. Leonard G. Wilson has transcribed this series, published in 'Sir Charles Lyell's Scientific Journals on the Species Question', edited by Leonard G. Wilson, published New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 1970.

Content warning:

Lyell uses these MS notebooks to consider his reading and theories on progressive development, evolution and race. The language used in these notebooks is historical, can be discriminatory and may cause offence.

Dates

  • Creation: 1855 - 1861

Creator

Full Extent

From the Fonds: 11 metres

Language of Materials

From the Fonds: English

Bibliography

'Sir Charles Lyell's Scientific journals on the species question', edited by Leonard G. Wilson, published New Haven; London: Yale University Press, 1970. https://archive.org/details/isbn_0300012314/page/n7/mode/2up [Internet Archive accessed 05/02/2025, external link].

Repository Details

Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository

Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
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Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
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