UCL Bloomsbury Project

UCL BLOOMSBURY PROJECT

>

UCL BLOOMSBURY PROJECT
Bloomsbury Project	Bloomsbury Institutions	Educational
Cavendish Society No other names, although it was said to have become more of a ‘Gmelin Society’ as it focused more on the publication of its translations of Gmelin
History It was founded in 1846 in order to “promote chemistry, and the kindred sciences, by printing and diffusing works of merit” (The British Metropolis in 1851: A Classified Guide to London, 1851) It was named in honour of Henry Cavendish Although the Society was based in London, it attracted subscriptions from industrial chemists across the country, particularly Manchester, possibly because the intended publications were seen as mainly practical rather than academic (W. H. Brock, ‘The Society for the Perpetuation of Gmelin: The Cavendish Society, 1846–1872’, Annals of Science, vol. 35, 1978) “The Society’s book production was limited, being principally devoted to a translation of L. Gmelin, Handbook of chemistry” (W. H. Brock, ‘The Society for the Perpetuation of Gmelin: The Cavendish Society, 1846–1872’, Annals of Science, vol. 35, 1978) It ceased to exist in 1872	What was reforming about it? Subscription printing clubs were common, and there was already a Chemical Society, but it has been argued that “the Society’s interest in the translation of foreign works provided employment for needy men of science” (W. H. Brock, ‘The Society for the Perpetuation of Gmelin: The Cavendish Society, 1846–1872’, Annals of Science, vol. 35, 1978) Where in Bloomsbury According to The British Metropolis in 1851: A Classified Guide to London (1851) it was at 10 Montague Street, but this may have been a misprint for no. 19, as it was certainly at 19 Montague Street in 1846 Website of current institution It no longer exists	Books about it The main source is the article by W. H. Brock, ‘The Society for the Perpetuation of Gmelin: The Cavendish Society, 1846–1872’, Annals of Science, vol. 35 (1978) Archives Copies of its printed reports were generally bound in as part of the books subsequently published by the Society, although Brock reported that the eighth report remained elusive (W. H. Brock, ‘The Society for the Perpetuation of Gmelin: The Cavendish Society, 1846–1872’, Annals of Science, vol. 35, 1978); copies of these books are held in various libraries, including UCL

This page last modified 13 April, 2011 by Deborah Colville

Bloomsbury Project - University College London - Gower Street - London - WC1E 6BT - +44 (0)20 7679 3134 - Copyright © 1999-2005 UCL