Series
British Museum (Natural History): Department of Zoology: Keeper's John Murray Expedition...
Catalogue reference: DF 215
What’s it about?
This record is about the British Museum (Natural History): Department of Zoology: Keeper's John Murray Expedition... dating from 1932-1967.
Is it available online?
Maybe, but not on The National Archives website. This record is held at Natural History Museum Library and Archives. How to view it.
Can I see it in person?
Not at The National Archives, but you may be able to view it in person at Natural History Museum Library and Archives. How to view it.
Full description and record details
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Reference (The unique identifier to the record described, used to order and refer to it)
- DF 215
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Title (The name of the record)
- British Museum (Natural History): Department of Zoology: Keeper's John Murray Expedition Files
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Date (When the record was created)
- 1932-1967
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Description (What the record is about)
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William Thomas Calman's committee papers and expedition correspondence are held in DF 215/1-4; remaining pieces relate to the publication of the reports on the John Murray Expedition.
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Related material (A cross-reference to other related records)
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Separated material: R B Seymour Sewell's manuscript journal, together with logbooks and station records are held in the Zoology Library.
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Held by (Who holds the record)
- Natural History Museum Library and Archives
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Legal status (A note as to whether the record being described is a Public Record or not)
- Public Record(s)
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Language (The language of the record)
- English
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Physical description (The amount and form of the record)
- 41 file(s)
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Access conditions (Information on conditions that restrict or affect access to the record)
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Access conditions: Subject to 30 year closure unless otherwise stated
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Immediate source of acquisition (When and where the record was acquired from)
- The records were transferred to the archives in 1982.
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Unpublished finding aids (A note of unpublished indexes, lists or guides to the record)
- ‘The John Murray Expedition Scientific Reports’, (British Museum (Natural History), 1935-1967), 11 Volumes. ‘Deep-sea challenge, the John Murray / Mabahiss Expedition to the Indian Ocean 1933-34’, A L Rice (Ed), (Unesco 1986).
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Administrative / biographical background (Historical or biographical information about the creator of the record and the context of its creation)
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Sir John Murray (1841-1914), the oceanographer, left shares in his will to finance 'scientific research or investigations, or explorations'. By 1930 the sum available had reached £20,000, and members of his family approached the Keeper of Zoology, William Thomas Calman, among others, for advice as to how best to spend it. It was decided to sponsor an oceanographic expedition in the Indian Ocean. A committee was formed with Sir John's son, J C Murray, as President and Treasurer and Professor J Stanley Gardiner as Secretary. R B Seymour Sewell (1880-1964) was appointed Leader, and the Egyptian Government lent the ship Mabahiss for the voyage. Mabahiss, with a scientific party of seven, left Alexandria in September 1933 and sailed through the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, across the northwestern Indian Ocean and through the Gulf of Oman. She returned to Alexandria in May 1934, having worked 209 scientific stations and collected a vast store of data and specimens. The British Museum (Natural History) became the home for the principal collections, and took responsibility for editing and publishing the scientific reports.
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Record URL
- https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/ba97851a-38b8-4729-aaf0-0e8eebc363de/
Catalogue hierarchy
You are currently looking at the series: DF 215
British Museum (Natural History): Department of Zoology: Keeper's John Murray Expedition Files