Sidney Harmer collection

The collection comprises of correspondence regarding the British Antarctic Expedition, 1910-1913 and the British Museum (Natural History)

Sidney Frederic Harmer was born in Norwich on 9 March 1862. He studied natural science at University College, London, and King's College, Cambridge, where in 1885 he was appointed lecturer in zoology and, in 1892, superintendent of the University Museum of Zoology. In 1908, he was appointed keeper of zoology in the Natural History department of the British Museum, succeeding as director of the department from 1919 until his retirement in 1927. Harmer returned to the study of cetacea at the British Museum, publishing a series of reports on cetacea stranded on the British coasts.

In 1920, Harmer wrote an article on the position of the southern whaling industry for a report of the Interdepartmental Committee on Research and Development in the Dependencies of the Falkland Islands, established in 1918 to consider what scientific investigations were needed to preserve the Antarctic whaling industry. Four years later, Harmer was appointed vice-chairman of the Discovery Committee, a scientific group set up to develop the Hydrographic and oceanographic research programme recommended in the report of the Interdepartmental Committee.

He was knighted in 1920 and was awarded the gold medal of the Linnean Society in 1934. He died in Cambridge on 22 October 1950.

The collection is arranged chronologically.

By appointment.

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Anyone wishing to consult material should ensure they note the entire MS reference and the name of the originator.

The term holograph is used when the item is wholly in the handwriting of the author. The term autograph is used when the author has signed the item.

Descriptions compiled by N. Boneham, Assistant Archivist with assistance from R. Stancombe and reference to 'Sidney Frederic Harmer 1862-1950' by W.T. Calman in Obituary Notices of Fellows of the Royal Society (7 November 1951) volume 7 SPRI Library Shelf Pam 92[Harmer, S.F.] and Who was who 1941-1950 (1952), volume IV, A. & C. Black London and Robert Keith Headland Antarctic Chronology, unpublished corrected revision of Chronological list of Antarctic expeditions and related historical events,(1 December 2001) Cambridge University Press (1989) ISBN 0521309034

Clive Holland Manuscripts in the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, England - a catalogue. Garland Publishing New York and London (1982) ISBN 0824093941.

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