Minutes of the Cambridge Natural History Society

The first volume in the series has the earliest minutes of the Society from 15 May 1857 to 1866. There is a break in the records, because the next volume starts with a meeting in March 1883. From then on, minutes were kept by consecutive secretaries in their own handwriting until 1965. The minutes give details of the discussions at the meetings, including summaries of the talks presented.

The Cambridge Natural History Society was earlier known under different names. It was founded on 15 May 1857 by Charles Cardale Babington, F. Barlow, Joseph William Dunning, Thomas Brown and Alfred Forbes Sealy. Initially it was known as the Cambridge Entomological Society. At least as early as March 1883, the name was changed to Cambridge Entomological Society and Field Naturalists Club, followed in 1892 by Cambridge Entomological and Natural History Society. Certainly in the nineteenth century the emphasis lay on entomological subjects. The Cambridge Natural History Society is still active and organises local field trips and scientific meetings, as it has done for almost a century and a half.

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 Director.

Description compiled by Kees Rookmaaker, Archives Hub project archivist.

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