Series
British Museum (Natural History): Department of Zoology: Mammals Section: Correspondence
Catalogue reference: DF 232
What’s it about?
This record is about the British Museum (Natural History): Department of Zoology: Mammals Section: Correspondence dating from 1886-1929.
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 232
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Title (The name of the record)
- British Museum (Natural History): Department of Zoology: Mammals Section: Correspondence
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Date (When the record was created)
- 1886-1929
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Description (What the record is about)
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This series consists of the correspondence of Michael Rogers Oldfield Thomas, Curator of Mammals. Letters deal with the acquisition, loan and exchange of specimens, enquiries from both professional and amateur mammalogists, and letters concerned with Thomas' taxonomic researches. Many of the letters are from explorers and big-game hunters, some of whom were financed out of Thomas' own pocket.
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Arrangement (Information about the filing sequence or logical order of the record)
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Letters are arranged in alphabetical order within each year.
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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)
- 31 files and volumes
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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 1991.
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Unpublished finding aids (A note of unpublished indexes, lists or guides to the record)
- Copies information: There are microfilms of DF 232/1-22.
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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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Michael Rogers Oldfield Thomas was Curator of Mammals from 1879 until his retirement in 1923. Thomas grew up in South Africa, returning to England for schooling at Haileybury. He secured a clerkship in the Secretaries office at the British Museum in 1876, and transferred to the Zoology Department as an Assistant in 1878. After a short period working with the invertebrates, he was given charge of the mammal collection. In 1895 his post became part of the Vertebrate Section of the Department, under R Bowdler Sharpe, and in 1922 the Mammal Section was set up. Thomas continued to work regularly at the Museum until shortly before his death in 1929.
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Record URL
- https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/edff7039-3bd8-4990-934d-93b440547f1b/
Catalogue hierarchy
You are currently looking at the series: DF 232
British Museum (Natural History): Department of Zoology: Mammals Section: Correspondence