AGM 2000


AGM 2000

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AGM and Spring Meeting 3 April 2000

Movers and shakers: disseminating natural history, Geological Society, London.

The first Monday afternoon in April saw a gathering of 40 people in the Meeting Room of the Geological Society to hear four presentations covering various aspects of the ways in which information on natural history has been disseminated.

Dr David Allen chose to emphasise the ways in which the unofficial aspects of learned societies, in the form of dining clubs and similar social activities, served as methods of communication. He emphasised the difference between the metropolitan bodies, where the formal business of a Society was eased by dining clubs (which might even include special song), and the rural societies, where field meetings and excursions led to a more informal atmosphere.

Professor W. E. Brock gave us the background to the family firm of Taylor and Francis (Francis being Richard Taylor's illegitimate son by the ex-governess of his daughter) and their involvement in the Philosophical Magazine, the Annals and Magazine of Natural History and many other learned society journals of the time.

Tea and a short AGM were followed by William Noblett talking on the book selling trade in the 18th century as exemplified by Benjamin White, the younger brother of Gilbert White. We discovered how White acquired his stock, in this country and from overseas, and how information on its availability was circulated through printed catalogues.

Lastly, John Parmenter enlightened us about the ways in which the postal service worked and what it cost explaining why the cross-written letter was a money-saving device and how you would get your mail to the UK or Europe if you were collecting in Haiti in the mid-19th century.

Medal Presentations

A brief period of discussion after the last session was followed by the resumption of the adjourned AGM at which the Founders' Medal was presented to Professor Gordon Herries Davies.

The first awards of the John Thackray Medal were made to Natural History Museum (received by Paul Bowers) for the Museum's exhibition “Voyages of Discovery” and to Dr Tony Rice, author of the accompanying volume of the same name (received by representatives of the publishers on his behalf). A copy of the medal was also presented to Mrs Sue Thackray and her family in memory of John.

The meeting then adjourned to the Lower Library of the Geological Society for a reception.

The SHNH would like to thank the Geological Society for the use of their premises for this auspicious occasion.

Gina Douglas
Meetings Secretary

For further information on all Conferences and Meetings contact:

Ms Gina Douglas,
The Linnean Society of London, Burlington House, London, W1J 0BF, England.
Tel: [+ 44] (0) 20 7434 4479 (office) [+ 44] (0) 20 7622 4851 (home)
Fax: 020 7287 9364
email (work): meetings@shnh.org

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