Catalogue description British Museum (Natural History): Department of Mineralogy: Keeper of Mineralogy's Internal Correspondence

This series consists of internal correspondence of the British Museum (Natural History) Department of Mineralogy's Keeper of Mineralogy.

Most letters and memoranda are signed by the Principal Librarian of the British Museum or, in later years, by the Director of the Natural History Museum. Others were written by the Museum Secretary and his assistant, fellow keepers of the natural history departments, and members of staff of the Department of Mineralogy. A few, such as the John Tyndall letters in piece 1, were written by external people. From 1890 many of the letters are keepers' circulars duplicated from manuscript.

The subject matter of the letters includes staffing, publications, the receipt of collections, matters relating to finance and accounts, gallery exhibits, security, heating and lighting, and distinguished visitors to the museum. Many of the letters complain that proper procedures have not been followed or that necessary permissions have not been given. No internal correspondence later than 1904 was present in the Department at the time the series was listed in 1981.

Sir Lazarus Fletcher, Knight, (1854-1921)

Mervyn Herbert Nevil Maskelyne, (1823-1911)

Access conditions: Subject to 30 year closure

The records were transferred to the archives in 1981.

Custodial history: The correspondence was raised and housed in the office of the Keeper of Mineralogy and was kept separate from his other papers and correspondence.