Papers of Richard Owen
TitlePapers of Richard Owen
ReferenceMS0025
Level of descriptionfonds
Date1780-1893
Admin./ biographical historySir Richard Owen was a Comparative Anatomist, Palaeontologist, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (1843). He was one of the original 300 Fellows. In March 1827 he was appointed as Assistant of the Hunterian Museum under the then conservator, William Clift. Owen was appointed as Assistant Conservator in 1832, and then Conservator in 1836 until 1856. In April 1836 he was appointed as Hunterian Professor of Comparative Anatomy at the College, until 1855. He delivered the twenty-four lectures illustrating the Hunterian Collection. During Owen's appointment at the museum, he continued his private medical practice on Chancery Lane, London. Owen wrote many papers on the specimens in the Hunterian Museum.
For more information on Owen's life and career, please visit his profile on Plarr's Lives of the Fellows: https://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk/client/en_GB/lives/search/results?qu=richard+owen&te=ASSET.
For more information on Owen's life and career, please visit his profile on Plarr's Lives of the Fellows: https://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk/client/en_GB/lives/search/results?qu=richard+owen&te=ASSET.
Scope and ContentThe manuscript collection of Sir Richard Owen contains material relating to his work as Conservator of the Hunterian Museum, other material collected by or about Richard Owen, and transcripts or copies of Richard Owen material held at other repositories.
The largest group of records is the material relating to Owen's work as Conservator of the Hunterian Museum. This group of manuscripts includes Owen's work in cataloguing the museum collections, expanding the collections, giving lectures, carrying out general administrative tasks, corresponding with colleagues and contemporaries, and carrying out research for the museum and for publications.
The collection also contains some material that was collected by Richard Owen, or material that concerns him and was added to the collection by the museum or library after his death.
The third group of records are transcripts or copies of material created by Richard Owen that is held in other repositories.
The largest group of records is the material relating to Owen's work as Conservator of the Hunterian Museum. This group of manuscripts includes Owen's work in cataloguing the museum collections, expanding the collections, giving lectures, carrying out general administrative tasks, corresponding with colleagues and contemporaries, and carrying out research for the museum and for publications.
The collection also contains some material that was collected by Richard Owen, or material that concerns him and was added to the collection by the museum or library after his death.
The third group of records are transcripts or copies of material created by Richard Owen that is held in other repositories.
Extent19 boxes
LanguageEnglish
System of arrangementThe collection is divided into three main subfonds: 1) Papers relating to work as Conservator of the Hunterian Museum, 2) Miscellaneous material collected by or about Richard Owen, 3) Transcripts and Copies of Richard Owen material held in other repositories.
Conditions governing accessThis collection is available to everyone for research. It can be consulted in our Research Room at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 38-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PE. It is essential to book in advance so we can ensure material is available. Please email archives@rcseng.ac.uk to book a Research Room appointment.
Conditions governing reproductionCopies of material in the archives can be supplied for private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents. Some items within this collection may remain within copyright under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; it is the responsibility of users to obtain the copyright holder's permission for reproduction of copyright material for purposes other than research or private study. Permission to publish material, in print or online, must be sought in advance from the Royal College of Surgeons of England and, where appropriate, the copyright holder. Please email archives@rcseng.ac.uk in the first instance.
Related objectsMS0007/1/3
Lecture of Sir Charles Bell written by Richard Owen
MS0233
Memoir of William Clift by Richard Owen
MS0245
Notes of Richard Owen's lectures 1838-1839
MS0246
1834
MS0247
1857
MS0248/2
Letters from Richard Owen to Thomas Wormald 1856-1859
MS0249
1837-1863
MS0248
Queckett papers - Histology of Animals plates with manuscript notes by Richard Owen.
Lecture of Sir Charles Bell written by Richard Owen
MS0233
Memoir of William Clift by Richard Owen
MS0245
Notes of Richard Owen's lectures 1838-1839
MS0246
1834
MS0247
1857
MS0248/2
Letters from Richard Owen to Thomas Wormald 1856-1859
MS0249
1837-1863
MS0248
Queckett papers - Histology of Animals plates with manuscript notes by Richard Owen.
NotesThe following manuscripts are noted as missing from the original Owen collection, or have been destroyed:
Cabinet II (10) – Composition of Vertebral segments. Skull Mammalia.
275.h.3 (5) – Books referred to for Natural History. Folio Manuscript in great part by Richard Owen. Not dated.
275.h.7 (1) – Catalogue of Hunterian Osteological Specimens, preserved in boxes in the basement. Birds. Ms by RO. This item was destroyed by Sir Arthur Keith in 1909. The 275.h.7 box list says “Discarded 6.09. AK.”
275.h.7 (2) – Observations on the Museum in the Jardin du Roi. Ms by RO. This item was destroyed by Sir Arthur Keith in 1909. The 275.h.7 box list says “Discarded 6.09. AK."
Cabinet II (10) – Composition of Vertebral segments. Skull Mammalia.
275.h.3 (5) – Books referred to for Natural History. Folio Manuscript in great part by Richard Owen. Not dated.
275.h.7 (1) – Catalogue of Hunterian Osteological Specimens, preserved in boxes in the basement. Birds. Ms by RO. This item was destroyed by Sir Arthur Keith in 1909. The 275.h.7 box list says “Discarded 6.09. AK.”
275.h.7 (2) – Observations on the Museum in the Jardin du Roi. Ms by RO. This item was destroyed by Sir Arthur Keith in 1909. The 275.h.7 box list says “Discarded 6.09. AK."
Hierarchy browser
