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Topic(s)
Palaeontology, geology.
Extent
Over 2500 volumes.
Scope and content
Sir Arthur Smith Woodward (1864-1944) was Keeper of the Geological Department of the British Museum from 1901-1924. He was also a central figure in the study of paleontology in his time, serving as Secretary to the Palaeontological Society from 1900-1934, President of the Geological Association from 1904-1906, and President of the Geological Society from 1914-1916. The collection comprises over 2500 volumes, the most recent of which was published in 1968 and the earliest in 1739. Most date from the late 19th or early 20th centuries, and they are mostly in English. Palaeontology and geology are the main subjects represented but works on anthropology, evolution, the origin of man, classification of species, zoology, palaeobotany and natural history also feature. Many of these works contain letters and some are inscribed to Smith Woodward by famous palaeontologists of the day including Florentino Ameghino, C.E. Barrois, G.H.C.L. Baur, and Bashford Deanan.
History
UCL purchased Smith Woodward’s library in 1945, the year after his death, with the assistance of Dr. Marie Stopes and it has since been added to by contributions from Lady Woodward among others.
Access
The collection is fully catalogued. To browse the records, conduct a shelfmark search for SMITH WOODWARD on Explore.
