Natural History Society of Northumbria

Coordinates: 54°58′48.9″N 1°36′46.9″W / 54.980250°N 1.613028°W / 54.980250; -1.613028

Natural History Society of Northumbria

Hancock Museum (wherein are its offices)
Founded August 9, 1829 (1829-08-09)
Type Registered charity
Location
Area served
North East of England
Mission To study and conserve wildlife

The Natural History Society of Northumbria is a voluntary organization to promote the study of natural history and protect the wildlife of the North East of England.

Its offices and library are in the Great North Museum: Hancock, whose building, land and collections it owns. It leases them to Newcastle University, on whose behalf they are administered by Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums. It possesses a substantial natural history library and archive, and maintains the Gosforth Park Nature Reserve. It also carries out research and provides lectures, field outings and educational courses, as well as publishing scientific papers. It has over 950 members.[1]

History

The key events in the history of the NHSN are as follows.[2]

Notable members

John Hancock (1808–1890) was an ornithologist, producing his Catalogue of the Birds of Northumberland and Durham in 1874. His greatest talent, however, was as a taxidermist, and his collection of mounted British birds can still be seen today in the Bird Gallery of the Great North Museum: Hancock.

Albany Hancock (1806–1873), brother of John Hancock, specialised in the anatomy of sea creatures, especially sea slugs or nudibranchs, and depicted them in minute detail. His watercolour drawings are held in the Society's archives.

Joshua Alder (1792–1867) was a zoologist, specialising in tunicates and gastropods.

William Chapman Hewitson (1806–1878) was a wealthy collector, particularly of beetles, lepidopterans, bird's nests and eggs. He built up an extensive collection of butterflies of the world, and was an accomplished illustrator.

References

  1. "About > What we do". Natural History Society of Northumbria. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  2. "About > Our History". Natural History Society of Northumbria. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
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