New Archive Catalogues for May – Part II
This post looks at two of the new archive catalogues available in May, for details of the other collections released in May see this earlier post. Full catalogues of all the completed archive collections can be found on the archive webpage, as well as on the online catalogue. The new collections for May will be available on the online catalogue shortly, but are already available on the archive webpage. The final two collections released in May are of two Dublin based scientific clubs.
 |
| VM/1/2/S/19 - Dr Charles Smith |
The Medico-Philosophical Society was established in 1756 by Dr John Rutty, Charles Smith and others, as a private society which meet once a month is discuss scientific papers, followed by a dinner. Under the rules of the Society the papers presented could cover natural history, natural philosophy or medicine, as well as politics and ethical subjects. There was an especial focus on bringing papers on a 'new discovery or observation made by the writer, or by some other person whose works may have fallen in his way, & not generally be know by other members.' The collection contains the memoirs of the society from its foundation up until 1784. These memoirs record the meeting of the society, who attended and what was discussed, often with beautiful illustrations, they also contain a history of why the society was established.
 |
| MPS/1 - Page from the first volume of the Medico-Philosophical Society's Memoirs |
The society seems to have continued in some form until 1831, although the memoirs stop in 1784. In 1856, attempts were made to reform the Medico-Philosophical Society on the centenary of its original foundation. The second incarnation of the society ran from 1856 to at least 1939. Unlike the first society the minutes show less of a focus on the sharing of new ideas and research and more on the social aspects. One of the chief concerns of the early years was the collection of photographs of all the members! For this second incarnation the archive holds the minute book and the members photograph album.
 |
| DBC/4 - Members Roll |
The Dublin Biological Club was founded in January 1872 at a meeting called to 'consider the expediency of forming a scientific club'. Membership of the club was by election, a subscription was to be paid by all members, who could present papers, specimens and cases on 'the morbid and healthy conditions of animals and vegetable life'. Members were also allowed to bring visitors to the meetings, who could also present papers. The club originally met in rooms in Trinity College Dublin, before hiring a room of Great Brunswick Street (1874-1881) and finally moving to the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. The club met weekly for the presentation of papers between October and June, although over the years the frequency of the meeting was reduced as attendance fell off. From the beginnings the press were excluded from the meetings, which meant that doctors were able to talk about unsuccessful testaments, as well as those cases that had succeeded. The collection contains a full set of minute books from 1872 to 1974, as well as a small number of other documents including a roll of members, a collection of glass slides of early members and some documents on the history and finances of the club.
Glass lantern slides from the Dublin Biological Club's collection (DBC/9/2 and DBC/9/32) showing Sir Charles Ball (1851-1916) with a freshly caught Jewfish on Catalina Island, California and John Alfred Scott (1856-1926) with a monkey.