Catalogue description British Museum (Natural History): Department of Zoology: Keeper's John Murray Expedition Files

This record is held by Natural History Museum Library and Archives

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Details of DF 215
Reference: DF 215
Title: British Museum (Natural History): Department of Zoology: Keeper's John Murray Expedition Files
Description:

William Thomas Calman's committee papers and expedition correspondence are held in DF 215/1-4; remaining pieces relate to the publication of the reports on the John Murray Expedition.

Series held at The Natural History Museum are catalogued more fully in its online catalogue (reference DF ZOO/213/113). Online descriptions of some individual records can also be viewed on Discovery, see DF 215.

Date: 1932-1967
Separated material:

R B Seymour Sewell's manuscript journal, together with logbooks and station records are held in the Zoology Library.
Held by: Natural History Museum Library and Archives, not available at The National Archives
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Physical description: 41 file(s)
Access conditions: Subject to 30 year closure unless otherwise stated
Immediate source of acquisition:

The records were transferred to the archives in 1982.
Unpublished finding aids:

The John Murray Expedition Scientific Reports, (British Museum (Natural History), 1935-1967), 11 Volumes. Deep-sea challenge, the John Murray / Mabahiss Expedition to the Indian Ocean 1933-34, A L Rice (Ed), (Unesco 1986).

Administrative / biographical background:

Sir John Murray (1841-1914), the oceanographer, left shares in his will to finance 'scientific research or investigations, or explorations'. By 1930 the sum available had reached £20,000, and members of his family approached the Keeper of Zoology, William Thomas Calman, among others, for advice as to how best to spend it. It was decided to sponsor an oceanographic expedition in the Indian Ocean. A committee was formed with Sir John's son, J C Murray, as President and Treasurer and Professor J Stanley Gardiner as Secretary. R B Seymour Sewell (1880-1964) was appointed Leader, and the Egyptian Government lent the ship Mabahiss for the voyage. Mabahiss, with a scientific party of seven, left Alexandria in September 1933 and sailed through the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, across the northwestern Indian Ocean and through the Gulf of Oman. She returned to Alexandria in May 1934, having worked 209 scientific stations and collected a vast store of data and specimens. The British Museum (Natural History) became the home for the principal collections, and took responsibility for editing and publishing the scientific reports.

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