Linnean Society of New South Wales further records, 1816-1988

MLMSS 9877

fonds

1816-1988

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Clippings

1001669

0.16 metres of textual and pictorial material (1 box)

The Linnean Society of New South Wales was founded in 1874 to stimulate interest in all branches of the science of natural history. Its first president and benefactor was Sir William John Macleay. His cousin, entomologist William Sharp Macleay, had bequeath his collection to William John on his death in 1865. Joseph James Fletcher was director and librarian of the Society from 1885.

Following the dispersal of the library of the Linnean Society of NSW, some of the collection was transferred to Fisher Library (University of Sydney) in the 1970s. Much of this was relocated to the University of New South Wales Library in the mid-1980s.

The collection documents some of the activities of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. It includes correspondence between individual society members and with other organisations, and natural history drawings and notes.

Folder 1
Folder of letters to W.S. Macleay and other papers, arranged by correspondent in individual sleeves. Correspondents include: W.B. Clarke, November 1847; Thomas Livingstone Mitchell, July 1845; William John Macleay; James Robert Macleay, 1846; Henry Benson; Nicholas Maclay; E. Bowman, 1842; Ronald Campbell Gunn, 1841; Ferdinand von Mueller, 1886, 1887; F.W. Hope, 1842. A number of empty sleeves are missing the original letters. Includes manuscript original and 2 typescript transcriptions of reminiscences of George Masters, first curator of the Macleay Museum, written by John Brazier, no date. Also includes a photograph of Conrad Marten’s drawing of Elizabeth Bay House
Further letter to W.S. Macleay from W.B. Clarke, October 1847

Folder 2
Correspondence and other papers relating to Joseph James Fletcher. Includes letters from: G.A. Boulenger of the British Museum (Natural History) mainly relating to frog specimens sent by Fletcher, 1887-1893; William Woolls, 1893, enclosing a specimen of a ‘curious variety of Actinotus helianthi’; Charles Musson, teacher at Hawkesbury Agricultural College, 1897; J.H. Maiden, director of the Botanic Gardens, Sydney, 1905, 1920, including a cheque for 1 guinea made out to Linnean Society of NSW. Also includes: four photographs of frogs; notebook with loose notes and clippings relating to the will of Sir William Macleay, 1895; loose notes; photocopied biographical information on Macleay family

Folder 3
Macleay Museum correspondence relating to exhibitions, 1988
List supplied by the Mitchell Library of material acquired from the Linnean Society of NSW since 1948, 1974
Photocopy of biographical and bibliographical information about the Macleay family and Joseph James Fletcher

Folder 4
Pencil, ink and printed natural history drawings and descriptions

Folder 5
Sketchbook containing fish and entomological drawings by William Sharp Macleay, many being specimens found around Elizabeth Bay. Includes many additional drawings on loose sheets. Also includes signed carte de visite of Charles Darwin

Folder 6
‘Syllabus: Lectures in mineralogy’ by Edward Daniel Clarke, inscribed ‘W.S. Macleay 1816’, with pages and added tipped-in pages extensively covered with notes made by Macleay during his years at Trinity College, Cambridge.

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners
Approval for publication required: from copyright holder
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales