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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.
The Rock collection consists of correspondence, photographs, diaries and unpublished manuscripts.
Rock, Joseph Francis CharlesThis collection consists of material created and gathered from the expeditions of F. Ludlow and G. Sherriff, thought their expeditions of Bhutan and Tibet during 1933-1949.
The collection consists of 5 sub-series: plant documents, expedition documents, diaries, correspondence and visual material.
[1] 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.
[2] This series consists of a variety of expedition documents ranging from itineraries and maps to administration lists and passports.
[3] This series consists of originals and photocopies of the diaries of Sherriff and Ludlow during their expeditions.
[4] This series consists of a variety of correspondence from and to Sherriff and Ludlow over the course of their expeditions.
[5] 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.
Ludlow, Frank7 letters from Thomas McNab to his family, including his father, William McNab plus 2 photocopies of Jane McNab Petry, Thomas's daughter, and family gravestone.
McNab, ThomasGeorge Don's day book records the orders for plants coming into his Botanic garden and Nursery at Doo Hillock / Dove Hillock in Forfar.
Balfour, Sir Isaac Bayley•Box containing filed notes and lists
•Box containing photographs from China and Tibet (1911)
•Box of correspondence and lists (1919-1925)
•Box of correspondence (1926-1930)
•Box of correspondence, list and expedition information (1930-1956)