RBGE acknowledges that our collections contain historic materials which may contain, either in their content or catalogue descriptions, terminology which is inappropriate, outdated, offensive or distressing. Such information does not reflect the current views and values of RBGE.
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1: a treatise on some aspect of nature
2: the natural development of something (such as an organism or disease) over a period of time
3: the study of natural objects especially in the field from an amateur or popular point of view
“Natural history.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/natural%20history. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.
Papers correspondence re: Dutch Elm Disease, filed in Box “Dutch Elm Disease” – “Papers 1893 – 1953”.
Imperial Forestry Institute•Papers correspondence re: Dutch Elm Disease, filed in Box “Dutch Elm Disease” – “Papers 1893 – 1953”.
Imperial Bureau of MycologyGutta Percha latex block originally from the Tjipetir Plantation, Java (c. 1900) in Indonesia but washed up on the beach of Cornwall. Found by Tracey Williams and donated to Peter Wilkie (RBGE). https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30043875
Tjipetir PlantationThis collection consists of material created and gathered from the expeditions of George Sherriff in Bhutan and Tibet during 1933-1949.
The collection consists of 5 sub-series: diaries, correspondence, expedition material, visual material, and plant collection documentation.
[1] Diaries: This series consists of the original diaries of George Sherriff during his expeditions.
[2] Correspondence: This series consists of a variety of correspondence from and to George Sherriff.
[3] Expedition Material: This series consists of a variety of expedition documents ranging from itineraries and maps to administration lists and passports.
[4] Visual Material: This series consists of a variety of material including: photographic material, films and videos. Photographic material ranges from prints and negatives taken by Sherriff and Ludlow to prints of digital images taken as exhibition documentation in 2014. The films are..... There have been dvd surrogates made of the films to ensure continued accessibility.
[5] Plant Collection Documentation: This series consists of a variety of material which includes plant and seed lists from their expedition with a large focus on Primula, Meconopsis and Rhododendrons, as well as publications gathered by Ludlow and Sherriff which cover their shared interest in the Himalayan region and it's flora and fauna. There is also a garden register donated by the Knox Finlay family detailing the progress of plants/seeds in their gardens acquired from various expeditions including Ludlow and Sherriff's between 1951-52.
Sherriff, George
FRG/1 Correspondence
• 1: Box of Forrest correspondence, 1903-08 (to and from Clementina, I.B. Balfour, Bulley, Family), Forrest related correspondence, copies of his birth and marriage certificates, transcripts of his diary 1904-05, ‘Account of a Journey on the Upper Salwin, October to December 1905’, copy of the article ‘Land of the Crossbow, March 9th 1906’ from the National Geographic Magazine, (carbon copy, original version is in the red notebook under letter 3, filed in
the same box)
• 2: Box of Forrest correspondence, 1909-1911 – correspondence regarding his Yunnan expedition in 1910, and with I.B. Balfour and correspondence relating to Forrest.
• 3a: Box of Forrest correspondence with J.C. Williams 1911-1912, regarding his third expedition (February 1912-March 1915)
• 3b: Box of Forrest correspondence with J.C. Williams and I.B. Balfour, 1913-14 regarding his third expedition (February 1912- March 1915)
• 3c: Box of Forrest correspondence from 1915 regarding his third expedition (February 1912- March 1915)
• 4a: Box of Forrest correspondence from 1917-1920 regarding his fourth expedition (February 1917-March 1920)
• 4b: Box of Forrest correspondence, including I.B. Balfour and William Wright Smith, 1916-1920, regarding his fourth expedition (February 1917-March 1920)
• 5: Box of Forrest correspondence from June 1920-April 1923 regarding his fifth expedition (January 1921-March 1923)
• 6: Box of Forrest correspondence from 1922-28
• 7: Box of Forrest correspondence from 1929-1932, plus obituaries, etc.
FRG/2 Photographs
FRG/2/1 Prints:
• File of photographs marked ‘Forrest, Collectors, Human, etc.’
• File of photographs marked ‘Buildings, Temple, Graves, Towns, etc.’
• File of photographs marked ‘Mountain, Water, Bridge’
• File of photographs marked ‘Plants A-L’
• File of photographs marked ‘Plants M-Prim-’
• File of photographs marked ‘Plants Py-Z and misc.’
FRG/2/2 Glass Plate Negative Collection
FRG/3 Published work
• copy of the article ‘Land of the Crossbow’, from the National Geographic Magazine
FRG/4 Field Books
FRG/4/1 Unpublished Field Books:
• George Forrest’s field books – 27 original field books dating from 1904 to 1932
FRG/4/2 Published Field Books:
FRG/5 RBGE’s Notes relating to Forrest’s plants
• 16 folders in 15 boxes of RBGE’s plant collection notes arranged alphabetically by genus
• Three boxes of Rhododendron notes written and sent by Isaac Bayley Balfour and William Wright Smith c.1919,1921 and 1922 and Primula lists c.1914,1921 and 1922
FRG/6 Forrest’s lecture notes
• Box of lecture notes and lists of slides
• Box containing photo related lists, 1913-24 and lecture notes
FRG/7 Forrest’s collection of papers (unsorted at present)
FRG/8 maps
• Various maps of Forrest’s Botanical expeditions
• File containing maps from 1918-1922, some annotated and some hand drawn
FRG/9 - collection of work about Forrest by others, includes
• Box containing Cowan’s research from 1934 and information regarding Forrest Centenary in 1973
• Various articles referring to Forrest
• Various newspaper articles which mention George Forrest
FRG/10 RBGE Forrest ephemera – collection of objects used by / related to George Forrest
• Camera similar to one used by Forrest
Forman, Adam (1916 corres.)
•Papers and Correspondence re: Sphagnum Moss – Use as medical dressings (1st World War & 2nd World War references) - inc. W Wright Smith’s report to R.A.M.C. (War Dept.) dated 1916 are filed under “Sphagnum Moss as medical dressings” – index “S”
Forestry Commission:
Papers /correspondence re: Dutch Elm Disease, filed in Box “Dutch Elm Disease”, - “Papers 1893 – 1953”
Letter from I.B.Balfour, dated 19 Nov. 1903, to N. Smith; Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters, regarding 'Forestry'.
Imperial Foretry Institute, Oxford -Papers /correspondence re: Dutch Elm Disease, filed in Box “Dutch Elm Disease" “Papers 1893 – 1953”
black notebook labelled "University Lectures, Techniques and Demonstrations (Edinburgh). Notebook outlines how the RBGE library and herbarium works, the slide library, information on coursework, including writing theses; and lecture outlines for the Medical Botany Class given (by herself?) in 1932. There are 4 inserts including 2 exam papers (Plant Physiology, Practical and Practical Elementary Botany in 1932, an outline of J.R. Matthews's Botany lectures for first years, and a library loan slip.
Murray, Flora Buchan1 black and white photograph mounted on thick black paper. NOTE: rough dates derived from subject descriptions in Hicks' 'Index of negatives' found in his itinerary (GB235 HJH/4/1)
Photograph of Major George Sherriff demonstrating to locals how to press a plant specimen
Writing on the back.
[TRANSCRIPTION]
Hicks, John HerbertFirst lesson in pressing a specimen