Papers and Manuscripts of Hugh E. Strickland

The collection of manuscripts left by Strickland on his premature death cover the entire range of his interests, i.e. geology, ornithology, zoological nomenclature, zoological references, growth of seeds and the Ray Society. The contents of the volumes are briefly listed as follows:

• Volume with Manuscripts of Talks, Papers and Extracts. This includes a 'Plan of rendering the nomenclature of zoology uniform and permanent'. There are also copies of private letters to his parents written from Asia Minor in 1835.
• Volume with various manuscripts, including 'A week in Ireland', 'On the Geology of the Country between Worcester and London' and 'On altering names in nomenclature.'
• Two further volumes with about 50 manuscripts of talks and papers.
• Volume with title 'Travelling Collector and Ornithological Memoranda.' This has about 50 separate documents.
• Volume on 'Ornithological Nomenclature', with a Draft of the rules of nomenclature.
• Manuscript for the 'Biblioteca Zoologica'
• Volume with different catalogues of birds.
• Volume with a large variety of manuscripts.
• Volume on 'Experiments on the Growth and Vitality of Seeds' 1841-1853
• Volume with documents and letters relating to the Ray Society founded in 1844.
• Slip Catalogue with notes on birds.
• Volumes with correspondence and manuscripts relating to birds and nomenclature.

Hugh Edwin Strickland (1811-1853) was born on 2 March 1811 at Righton, Yorkshire. He was educated by Dr Thomas Arnold, from 1828-1829 at Rugby. He went to Oriel College, Oxford in February 1829, where he attended geology lectures given by William Buckland (1784-1856). He graduated in 1831 and went to stay with his father at Apperley near Tewkesbury. In 1835-1836, he joined William John Hamilton (1805-1867) on a tour to Asia Minor, where he studied shells and geological structures. In 1840 Strickland was involved in methods of zoological nomenclature for the British Association for the Advancement of Science, leading to the formulation of Strickland's 'laws'. Strickland married Catherine, daughter of Sir William Jardine, in 1845, who encouraged him to study ornithology. He was one of the founders of the Ray Society in 1844, devoted to the publication of works on British flora and fauna. In 1840 Strickland was involved in methods of zoological nomenclature for the British Association for the Advancement of Science, leading to the formulation of Strickland's 'laws'. Strickland married Catherine, daughter of Sir William Jardine, in 1845, who encouraged him to study ornithology. He was one of the founders of the Ray Society in 1844, devoted to the publication of works on British flora and fauna. In 1847, Strickland was appointed Deputy Reader of Geology at the University of Oxford. Here he worked also on ornithological names and synonyms, and published a book on the Dodo and allied species. In 1850, he became Reader of Geology in Oxford. In 1853, looking for geological phenomena, he was knocked down and killed instantly by an oncoming express train while examining a new railway cutting of the Sheffield, Manchester and Lincolnshire Railway. In 1847, Strickland was appointed Deputy Reader of Geology at the University of Oxford. Here he worked also on ornithological names and synonyms, and published a book on the Dodo and allied species. In 1850, he became Reader of Geology in Oxford. In 1853, looking for geological phenomena, he was knocked down and killed instantly by an oncoming express train while examining a new railway cutting of the Sheffield, Manchester and Lincolnshire Railway.

Manuscripts can be consulted on appointment only. The Museum of Zoology is open Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 17:00 pm. Access and reproduction is at the discretion of the Archivist.

Strickland's collection of birds and his manuscripts were donated to the Museum of Zoology in Cambridge by Mrs. Catherine Strickland in March 1867.

Description compiled by Kees Rookmaaker, Archives Hub project archivist. Reference was made to the Memoirs of Hugh Edwin Strickland, by Sir William Jardine (London, 1858).

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