MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION


MS 060 – ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANBERRA

The Royal Society of Canberra was formed in 1930 and received the title Royal Society of Australia in 1931. In the early days it aimed to be a high level scientific body similar to the Royal Society of London. Most of the State Royal Societies and the Australian National Research Council opposed it and by 1935 it became obvious that the attempt to fund an Australia-wide Royal Society was not going to be successful. Interstate subscriptions were refunded and the Society undertook the functions of a State Royal Society. Eventually in 1955 the name was changed to the Royal Society of Canberra.

60/1

  1. Council minute book 11 July 1930 - 5 June 1940

  2. Historical notes

  3. Correspondence and documents relating to change of name to Royal Society of Canberra 1955 and re foundation of Australian Academy of Science

60/2
  1. Minute book of ordinary meetings, 25 July 1930 - 14 February 1951

  2. Canberra Inter-Association Committee on Australian Agricultural Aid. Secretary's file 1967

60/3
  1. Bound members register 1930-1959

60/4
  1. Royal Society of Australia. Section A - Biological Sciences. Minutes of committee meetings 1st meeting, 12 September 1934 - 26th meeting, 11 April 1947 and 11 annual reports, with 11th one recommending that the Section go into recess

  2. Royal Society of Australia. Section A - Biological Sciences. Minutes of general meetings, 1st meeting, 6 September 1934 - 31st meeting, 12 May 1943

60/5
  1. Proposed foundation lists, etc. Undated, ca 1930

  2. Formation of Society. Correspondence and lists 1930

  3. Correspondence: Proposed foundation members 1931

  4. Correspondence: replies from proposed foundation members

  5. Act of Incorporation. Carbon copy, annotated, undated

  6. Miscellaneous documents for 1930

  7. Correspondence 1930-31. Local activities of the Society 1930-31; work with other local societies including University Association of Canberra

  8. Application for title "Royal" 1930

  9. Correspondence: President 1930-34

  10. Correspondence: council members 1930s

  11. Correspondence: Australian National Research Council 1931-35

60/6
  1. Correspondence 1934-36 re National University, introduction of English thrush, national fauna reserve

  2. Correspondence 1937

  3. Correspondence 1938

  4. Correspondence 1939

  5. Loose correspondence 1947, 1951, 1953 (ca 5 sheets)

  6. Correspondence 1959

  7. General correspondence 1950s and 1960s

  8. Miscellaneous correspondence 1961-62

60/7
  1. Council and Office Bearers 1955-66

  2. Lectures to secondary school teachers by Royal Society of Canberra in association with Canberra University College 1955-61

  3. Miscellaneous papers 1930-52

  4. Miscellaneous papers, including lectures and rules 1930, 1950, 1956-60

  5. Proposal to develop the Upper Tidbinbilla Valley as a national native fauna reserve. Submission from the Royal Society of Canberra to the Minister for the Interior, December 1959

  6. Proposal to develop the Upper Tidbinbilla Valley as a national native fauna reserve. Submission from the Royal Society of Canberra to the Minister for the Interior, December 1959. Includes subsequent correspondence 1961-62

  7. Proposed natural history museum 1955-59

  8. Symposium on Scientific Collections in Canberra 20 May 1959

60/8
  1. Annual reports 1940s

  2. Annual reports 1950s, 1960s

  3. Presidential address 16 March 1932

  4. Presidential addresses 1933 & 1934

  5. Presidential addresses 1937, 1938, 1939

  6. Summary of presidential address by Sir George Currie, 27 May 1964

60/9
  1. Ledger book 1930-46, 1953?-65

  2. Statement of accounts for year ended 31 December 1946

      3-4. Membership nomination forms. Most are undated but they appear to cover the years 1931-63.

71 cm