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Historic scapbook for display in city museum
Brian Dooks A SCRAPBOOK compiled by the sister of a scientist who was the first keeper of the Yorkshire Museum in York has been returned to the city.
John Phillips, one of the most remarkable scientists of the Victorian period, was also the first keeper of geology anywhere in the world.
His sister was a keen follower of the events of the day and her scrapbook of newspaper cuttings gives an invaluable insight into the period between 1820 and 1898.
The book, which includes articles on the deaths of both King George III and Queen Charlotte, expeditions abroad and strange red snow from the Arctic, was donated to the museum by Jurgen Phillip, who had it in his possession in Germany.
The Yorkshire Museum's curator of geology, Camilla Nichol, said: "This is a marvellous addition to our collection as it gives us an insight into the times of a man who was one of the world leaders in geology at the time.
"Although the book was not compiled by him, his sister gives us a glimpse of the scientific discoveries of the day as well as everyday life and puts her brother's work in context with what else was happening."
One of the discoveries is the mysterious red snow found in the Arctic during an expedition. The snow's colour, caused by sediment or vegetable matter, baffled scientists at the time.
It was brought to England in melted form for further study.
John Phillips was orphaned at the age of seven and brought up by his uncle, William Smith, known as the father of English geology.
Despite lacking a university education, he rose to hold a number of posts within the British academic and scientific community.
He was secretary of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society and was heavily involved in the foundation in York in 1831 of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.
He became the first assistant secretary in 1832, a post which he held until 1859. In 1834 he accepted the professorship of geology at King's College London, but retained his post at York.
By the time of his death in 1874 he was widely regarded as one of the pioneers and champions of the science of geology.
He was also a prolific author, and The Geology of Yorkshire (1829) is one of his most famous works. The scrapbook is to go on display at the museum.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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