of the
deposited in the
N James and U O'Sullivan, February 1994
Historical Manuscripts Commission
Conspectus
Council, committee and meetings' records
Secretarial and general correspondence and papers
Financial and stock records
Membership records
British Rainfall Organisation
Other meteorological records
Records relating to publications
Miscellaneous
The British (afterwards Royal) Meteorological Society was founded in 1850 primarily for the study of climatology. It was a successor to the Meteorological Society of London, which lasted from 1823 to 1841. In 1921, the Society amalgamated with the Scottish Meteorological Society, established in 1856. Both bodies received state grants from 1876 to enable them to participate in international organisations, and it was through them that much of the British effort in meteorological science was channelled. An important part in developing the study of the weather was also played by George Symons' British Rainfall Organisation which he founded as a voluntary body in 1858, some of whose records are in the Society's collection.
The records in the following list were examined by the Commission's staff on 26 January 1994 at the request of the Society. The Commission is grateful to the librarian of the National Meteorological Library, Mr Maurice Crewe, and to Mr Michael Wood, of the National Meteorological Archive, for their assistance.
All enquiries about access to the records described in this report should be directed to
the National Meteorological Library and Archive.
Council, committee and meetings' records
Ordinary meetings minute book 1858-73 [A3f/5]
General minute books (3) 1873-1920 [A3f/5]
Council minute book 1935-38 [A3f/5]
Council meeting agenda book 1938-46 [A3f/5]
House and General Purposes Committee minute book 1874-85 [A3f/5]
General Purposes Committee minute books (5) 1885-1925 [A3f/5]
Library Committee minute book 1872-74 [A3f15]
Committee minute books (3) 1873-1920 [A3f/5]
Committee agenda book 1933-39 [A3f/3]
Water Power Committee correspondence (1 envelope) 1918-21 [A3e/ 1]
Miscellaneous Development Committee papers (1 file) 1948-57 [A3f/1]
Finance Committee working papers (1 file) 1950s [A3f/3]
Scottish Meteorological Society minute book 1913-20 [A3f/5]
Secretarial and general correspondence and papers
Meteorological Society of London: incoming correspondence and related papers, essays
and contributions to proceedings (8 volumes) 1823-c1842 [A4a/4]
Secretary's index book to correspondence 1837-46 [A3f/5]
Correspondence (14 boxes) c1791-early 1900s [A4a/4-6]
William Marriott, assistant secretary: letter books (55) 1874-1915
Secretary's confidential letter books (2) 1905-18 [A4a/2]
Assistant secretary's correspondence (4 files, 3 bundles) c1920-61 [A3e/2, A3e/5, A3f3]
Assistant Secretary's miscellaneous papers 1920s-1940s, nd [A3e/2, A3f/3]
Sir Philip Sidney Stott, 1st Bt: letter book March 1935-Sept 1936 [A4a/2]
Correspondence rel to Camden Square observatory (2 files, etc) 1943-57 [A3f/3]
Miscellaneous correspondence and papers (1 box, 32 files) 19th-20th century (mainly 1950s-1960s) [A3e/4, A3e/5, A3f/3]
General enquiries (1 file) 1960s [A3e/5]
Financial and stock records
Balance sheets 1946-53 [A3f/6]
Journal order book 1920-c1948 [A3f/6]
Day book 1930s-1940s [A3f/5]
Account books and cash books 1839-51, 1911-61 [A3f/4, A3f/5, A3f/6, A4a/6]
Voucher book 1832-47 [A3f/5]
Receipt book 1950-51 [A3f/3]
Petty expenses book nd [A3f/5]
Cheque counterfoil book 1936-38 [A3f/5]
Staff pensions and other funds account book 1947-52 [A3f/5]
Treasurer's index book nd [A3f/5]
Symons Memorial Fund cash book 1900-16 [A3f/5]
Membership records
British (later Royal) Meteorological Society signed nomination papers (16 volumes) 18521945 [A4a/1]
Admission book 1850-69 [A3f/5]
Acknowledgements of election (2 volumes) 1866-81 [A3f/6]
Declaration papers (8 volumes) 1882-1930 [A3f/6]
List of fellows, including subscription accounts 1850-CI870 [A3f/5]
Membership and subscription records (c100 files, 3 parcels) 1940s-1960s [A3e/2, A3e/3, A3e/5]
Subscription account book 1950-51 [A3f/5]
Memorandum book, including special subscriptions, 1950s [A3e/1]
Unused subscription receipt book nd [A3e/1]
British Rainfall Organisation
Correspondence and papers 20th century (1 box, 1 file and loose items) [A3e/1, A3e/2, A3f/3]
Fee book of HR Mill, director, 1909-19 [A3f/5]
BRO Fund ledger 1936-45 [A3f/4]
Rainfall data returns and related correspondence sent to GJ Symons (9 boxes, 9 cartons, etc) c1860-1900 [A3e/1, A3e/3, A3e/4, A3f/1]
Printed papers early 20th century [A3e/2]
Other meteorological records
Weather observations and related correspondence 1840s [A3f/5]
Sir G Wallace's observations (1 file) [A3f/3]
Papers on weather of British Isles (1 file) marked 'Levick' 1953-54 [A3e/5]
Plan of ozone box on cloth nd [A3e/4]
Typescript bibliographies on the gauging of streams (1 bundle) 20th century [A3e/2]
Photographs of ice (3 items) 1887, 1891, 1895 [A3e/6]
Loose meteorological charts and papers 20th century [A3e/2]
Miscellaneous meteorological papers and monthly weather reports 1950s-1960s [A3e/1]
Records relating to publications
List of papers received for publication 1915-53 [A3f/5]
Correspondence relating to publications and conferences (11 files) 1950s- 1960s [A3e/5, A3f/4]
Quarterly Journal correspondence and papers (31 files and envelopes) [A3e/5, A3f/2]
Quarterly Journal stock books (2) c 1911-23 [A3f/4, A3f/5]
Weather editorial correspondence (1 file) 1950s [A3e/6]
Weather cash books (2) 1947-54 [A3f/4, A3f16]
Weather invoices (3 bundles) nd [A3e/6]
Ledger (sale of publications) 1940s [A3f/5]
Miscellaneous
Charter and by-laws of RMS (printed) 1951 [A3e/2]
Competition essays on weather and climate by elementary teachers: list of entrants 1908 and 1928 [A4a/6]
Printed meteorological papers, including copies of W Symons' Meteorological Magazine (1 bundle) [A4a/6]
Miscellaneous printed bibliographies, reprints from journals and other papers, mainly 20th century [A3e/1, A3e/2].