British Museum (Natural History): Department of Botany: Departmental Correspondence

The series consists of unbound letters, with the exception of one press-copy book (DF 400/8). The earliest letters in this series date from the time when Botany was a branch of the Department of Natural History. Eight keepers and their staff are represented so far, though there are only a few letters from the days of Robert Brown (1773-1858) and John Joseph Bennett (1801-1876). The correspondence deals largely with the acquisition, exchange and loan of specimens and collections, and with general departmental administration. Robert Brown's correspondence is held in the Botany Library.

DF 400/1-25 consist of incoming letters only; from DF 400/26 both incoming and outgoing letters are included, as well as occasional internal memoranda and other papers.

DF 400/7-25 have lists of contents in each folder. The 1972-1978 correspondence was incomplete when transferred.

Series held at The Natural History Museum are catalogued more fully in its online catalogue (reference DF BOT/400). Online descriptions of some individual records can also be viewed on Discovery, see DF 400.

The series appears to be in its original order. Letters are arranged alphabetically by institution, town of origin or writer within each year or group of years. Correspondence of the 1970s (DF 400/134-140) is inconsistently arranged by country, state, city, institution or private individual. From 1931 to 1936, particularly important letters are segregated as 'official' correspondence.

Related papers are to be found in other collections of staff correspondence in the Botany archive and in the Keepers' correspondence and papers in DF 404

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