The Royal Geographical Society was founded in 1830. Today there are 17,000 members and 2 million items in the societies collection. The map collection alone has 1 million items, most of them of areas where Britain was active. There are sketch maps drawn while in the field from the perspective of team members. The collection contains 4,000 atlases, various globes, half a million pictures, and 250,000 volumes in the book library. Our guide for the day, Librarian Eugene Rae, shared that the aim of the society library is to disseminate information as well as exchange information with other societies. The information is available to academics and researchers.
My visit to the Royal Geographical Society was such an eye opening experience in terms of what the information profession encompasses. It was the first time I saw objects being preserved outside of a traditional museum setting. The work they are doing is something I had never expected to study during my time in an MLIS program. While books and maps are obviously included in the collection, they are by no means the only focus. Some of the most interesting items I was able to view were the physical objects used on expeditions.
The objects collection is the smallest collection containing 1,500 items. These items include scientific instruments such as sextants and compasses, instrument log books, and the personal gear of various explorers. Sadly, many of these objects were recovered after the explorers perished in their pursuit of conquering their chosen quest. One such explorer was John Franklin, sent on an expedition in 1840 to chart the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic. Franklin and his crew were never heard from again and attempts to locate them were unsuccessful in the years following the ships disappearance. When later explorers finally located wreckage they recovered objects from aboard the ship, including food still preserved. I was able to actually see a biscuit and chocolate that traveled across the see in 1840!
Other objects include seal and reindeer Inuit boots, and a wooden sun visor used on an expedition in 1820. When expeditions were unsuccessful and went missing the society would send another team to find out what happened. Part of their work included bringing the bodies of their colleagues back when necessary. In the 1920's such an expedition was undertaken after two climbers went missing while attempting to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. George Mallory's body was found along with his altimeter, pen knife, goggles, monogrammed handkerchief, boot, and a tin of savory energy sweets. I was even able to smell the boot!Which sounds strange, I know. It was actually fascinating because you can still smell the distinct sent of the leather after almost 100 years and it having been frozen while on the mountain. It's just astounding to me to witness these elements of history. The care taken to preserve and then share these objects allow people to study and, I feel, relate more personally to the people who gave their lives in pursuit of knowledge.
The objects collection is the smallest collection containing 1,500 items. These items include scientific instruments such as sextants and compasses, instrument log books, and the personal gear of various explorers. Sadly, many of these objects were recovered after the explorers perished in their pursuit of conquering their chosen quest. One such explorer was John Franklin, sent on an expedition in 1840 to chart the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic. Franklin and his crew were never heard from again and attempts to locate them were unsuccessful in the years following the ships disappearance. When later explorers finally located wreckage they recovered objects from aboard the ship, including food still preserved. I was able to actually see a biscuit and chocolate that traveled across the see in 1840!
Other objects include seal and reindeer Inuit boots, and a wooden sun visor used on an expedition in 1820. When expeditions were unsuccessful and went missing the society would send another team to find out what happened. Part of their work included bringing the bodies of their colleagues back when necessary. In the 1920's such an expedition was undertaken after two climbers went missing while attempting to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. George Mallory's body was found along with his altimeter, pen knife, goggles, monogrammed handkerchief, boot, and a tin of savory energy sweets. I was even able to smell the boot!Which sounds strange, I know. It was actually fascinating because you can still smell the distinct sent of the leather after almost 100 years and it having been frozen while on the mountain. It's just astounding to me to witness these elements of history. The care taken to preserve and then share these objects allow people to study and, I feel, relate more personally to the people who gave their lives in pursuit of knowledge.
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