Papers and correspondence of the Society of Antiquaries
Item
Country
GB
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
eng
Contact information: postal address
Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BE
Contact information: phone number
0044 020 7479 7084
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
archives@sal.org.uk
Reference number
SAL/01/01
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (official language of the state)
Papers and correspondence of the Society of Antiquaries
Language of title
eng
Creator / accumulator
Society of Antiquaries of London
Date(s)
1707/1800
Language(s)
eng
Extent
821 shelfmarks
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
This sub-series of the Papers and correspondence of the Society of Antiquaries collection records from the beginning of the Society to 1800. The Sephardic naturalist Emanuel Mendes da Costa (1717-91) was admitted as a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries on January 16, 1752. Thus, this collection includes some materials concerning Costa, such as the following:
SAL/01/01/0208: Paper read before the Society on May 20, 1756.
SAL/01/01/0215: Costa's particulars relating to a copy of the Domesday Book in the Arundelian library. May 12, 1757.
SAL/01/01/0216: Costa's remarks on the public library of the city of London at Guildhall. May 26, 1757.
SAL/01/01/0235: Paper on the "Dea Hamoa Sabia". March 16, 1758.
SAL/01/01/0301: Letter from E. Randall for Emmanuel Mendes Da Costa enclosing plates for John Horsley's Romanis Brittania and requesting that they be shown to the Society. November 22, 1763.
SAL/01/01/0208: Paper read before the Society on May 20, 1756.
SAL/01/01/0215: Costa's particulars relating to a copy of the Domesday Book in the Arundelian library. May 12, 1757.
SAL/01/01/0216: Costa's remarks on the public library of the city of London at Guildhall. May 26, 1757.
SAL/01/01/0235: Paper on the "Dea Hamoa Sabia". March 16, 1758.
SAL/01/01/0301: Letter from E. Randall for Emmanuel Mendes Da Costa enclosing plates for John Horsley's Romanis Brittania and requesting that they be shown to the Society. November 22, 1763.
Administrative / Biographical history
The origins of the Society of Antiquaries dates back to the foundation of the College of Antiquaries in 1586. This earlier Society seems to have dealt with "antiquity" rather than "antiquities" and to have been more in the nature of a debating society. There are some indications of an informal society existing in the 17th century but it was not until the early 18th century that the Society of Antiquaries was founded.
The first minutes of the Society record that, on December 5, 1707, a meeting was held at the Bear Tavern in the Strand. The first President was Peter Le Neve (1661-1729), Norroy King of Arms, and it was agreed that the business of the Society should be the subject of antiquities, particularly as they related to the history of Great Britain.
The Society encountered a few problems before it became firmly established. However, from 1717, the Society was established in the Mitre Tavern, Fleet Street, and there is a continuous series of minutes from then until the present day.
In 1751, the Society was granted a Royal Charter and took on its present form. The basic structure of the governance of the Society, with the annual election of Officers and Council on St George’s Day (23 April) was also put in place at this time.
The Society left the Mitre Tavern in 1753 and moved into the former Robin’s Coffee House in Chancery Lane. In 1780, the Society again moved to new premises in Somerset House granted by George III, where it remained until 1874. Although the Society was reluctant to move, it was offered a suite of purpose-built apartments in Burlington House, Piccadilly.
At present, the Society has about 3,000 fellows, including distinguished archaeologists and art and architectural historians, holding positions of responsibility across the cultural heritage.
The first minutes of the Society record that, on December 5, 1707, a meeting was held at the Bear Tavern in the Strand. The first President was Peter Le Neve (1661-1729), Norroy King of Arms, and it was agreed that the business of the Society should be the subject of antiquities, particularly as they related to the history of Great Britain.
The Society encountered a few problems before it became firmly established. However, from 1717, the Society was established in the Mitre Tavern, Fleet Street, and there is a continuous series of minutes from then until the present day.
In 1751, the Society was granted a Royal Charter and took on its present form. The basic structure of the governance of the Society, with the annual election of Officers and Council on St George’s Day (23 April) was also put in place at this time.
The Society left the Mitre Tavern in 1753 and moved into the former Robin’s Coffee House in Chancery Lane. In 1780, the Society again moved to new premises in Somerset House granted by George III, where it remained until 1874. Although the Society was reluctant to move, it was offered a suite of purpose-built apartments in Burlington House, Piccadilly.
At present, the Society has about 3,000 fellows, including distinguished archaeologists and art and architectural historians, holding positions of responsibility across the cultural heritage.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
Records are arranged chronologically.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2023
Bibliography
Linked resources
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