| Description | Black and white photographs of commemorative plaques to erected to mark the homes of notable geologists, [1929-1934]:
Charles Lapworth - Birkhill Cottage. Includes group photograph Dr John Pringle, Dr Henry Lapworth, Prof William Whitehead Watts, a Murray McGregor and Prof Raymond (USA), presumably at the plaque's unveiling, 1931.
William Smith - Tucking Mill, re-erection, [1933].
Eduard Suess - 4 Duncan Terrace, Islington, London, unveiled 28 May 1929
William Hyde Wollaston - 14 Buckingham Street, London, [1934]. Note: building no longer extant. |
| Administrative History | In 1927, the Society first approached the London County Council with a view to having memorial plaques to distinguised geologists installed on their former dwellings. The Eduard Suess memorial was paid for by subscription by the Society's Fellows [at a cost of £15] and unveiled on 28 May 1929.
In 1932 a proposal from L F Gilbert was received suggesting a plaque to William Hyde Wollaston at 14 Buckingham Street, Fitzroy Square be erected. After no objection from the other scientific societies which Wollaston was involved with, approval for the plaque's erection costing no more that £5 5s was sanctioned. It was unveiled on 4 July 1934.
The original memorial to William Smith was attached to the house next door to Smith's original dwelling. In 1932 this building was demolished and the owners of the old property, Fullers Earth Union Ltd, returned the plaque to the Society. Council, along with the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution planned to have it re-erected on or near Smith's house. Hence why it is now not on Smith's house but placed in front of another dwelling.
The Lapworth plaque was not paid for or organised by the Society. |
| Publication Note | Published references to three of the plaques can be found in: notice of the removal and reinstatement of the plaque to William Smith, 'Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society' vol 88 (1932) xv & vol 89 (1933) xix; abstract of the account of the unveiling ceremony for the memorial plaque to Eduard Suess, 'Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society' vol 85 (1929) cxxxvi-cxli, list of subscribers 'Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, vol 86 (1930) vi; account of the unveiling ceremony of the memorial plaque to William Hyde Wollaston, 'Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society' vol 90 (1934) ci-cviii. |