Catalogue description RGS Journal Manuscripts Collection

This collection consists of articles, letters etc. sent to the Society for publication in its Journals. This material covers all aspects of Geography and exploration across the globe. This includes material from some of the most celebrated 19th and early 20th Century explorations, throughout the World. The articles were often sent to referees and their reports are often to be found with the article, in some cases the referee report has been retained even though the article has been returned to the author.

Arranged in 21 series by Geographical region, country, or subject. Within each series files are arranged by date then alphabetically by author. There is also one bound volume from 1836 which contains most of the ms. published in Vol.6 of the JRGS.

Royal Geographical Society

Access is via the Society's Foyle Reading Room and is free to Members and Fellows of the Society and to those in formal education (proof of educational status required e.g. a student/staff card or formal letter of introduction from your institution). For all other visitors a & #163;10 daily access fee applies. All visitors are required to provide personal i.d. such as a driving licence or passport.

From the editor, or the GJ Office.

Accruals from GJ Office continue on a regular basis.

Many of these articles were published, either in full or in part, in the Society's Journals.

The RGS archives: a handlist/compiled by Christine Kelly. London: RGS, 1977.

The Royal Geographical Society (RGS) was founded in 1830 as the Royal Geographical Society of London. Its aim was the advancement of Geographical Science. The Society was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria in 1859. In 1995 the RGS merged with the Institute of British Geographers (IBG) to create the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers). Since 1831 the Society has published a Journal, initially containing the principal papers read at the Society's evening meetings and abstracts of Geographical works published elsewhere, it is now a refereed academic publication. For further discussion of the early history of the Journal see Mill pp.241-44. The journal has appeared under various titles: Journal of the RGS (JRGS) 1831-1880; Proceedings of the RGS (PRGS) 1857-1878; Proceedings of the RGS (New Series) (PRGS (NS)) 1879-1892; Supplementary Papers (1882-1893); Geographical Journal (GJ) 1893 onwards. Since 1995 the Society has also published Area & Transactions of the IBG, though manuscripts from these journals are held in a separate sequence. At first edited by the Secretary of the Society, the preparation and editing of these journals is currently carried out by the Geographical Journal Office.