The Palaeontographical Society is a learned society, established in 1847, and is the oldest extant society devoted to the advancement of palaeontological knowledge. The society publishes monographs that further its primary purpose, which is to promote the description and illustration of fossil floras and faunas from Great Britain and Ireland. It also awards medals, prizes, and financial support for research dedicated to the taxonomy and systematic palaeontology of British and Irish fossils.
Contents
History
The precursor of the Paleontographical Society was the London Clay Club, which was founded in 1836 by James Scott Bowerbank and six other naturalists; the club was superseded in 1847 by the Palaeontographical Society. The first council of the Society was presided over by Sir Henry Thomas de la Beche. Initial membership included: Prof. Thomas Bell, Frederick E. Edwards, Sir Philip de Malpas Grey Egerton, Hugh Falconer, William H. Fitton, J.W. Flower, Prof. Edward Forbes, Levett Landon Boscawen Ibbetson, Charles Lyell, John Morris, Prof. John Phillips, Joseph Prestwich, Daniel Sharpe, James Smith, Nathaniel T. Wetherell and Alfred White; the Treasurer was Searles Wood, and Honorary Secretary was J.S. Bowerbank. Thirty-seven local secretaries were also appointed. Notable members of the Society included Robert Heddle, William King, Charles Maclaren, Gideon Mantell, Sir Roderick Murchison and Reverend Adam Sedgwick. The membership totalled almost 600 individuals and institutions. In the following years, eminent scientists such as Richard Owen, Charles Darwin, Robert Chambers and Laurent-Guillaume de Koninck joined the ranks of the Society.
Logo
The Palaeontographical Society's logo features a specimen of Eteoderoceras obesum (Spath, 1925), from the Black Ven Marls, Raricostatum Zone, Densinodulum Subzone, Sinemurian, Lower Jurassic of Stonebarrow, Charmouth, Dorset. The specimen was collected by James Frederick Jackson (1894-1966), of Charmouth – it was featured on Plate 10, fig. 2a of a recent monograph, and is held in Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales.
Monographs of the Palaeontographical Society
Since starting publishing in March 1848 (Part 1 of Searles Valentine Wood's A Monograph of the Crag Mollusca), the society has published over 600 monographs. Many famous names have published monographs through the Palaeontographical Society. Charles Darwin published his monograph on fossil barnacles, and Richard Owen set out his early descriptions of dinosaurs, as well as his monograph on Mesozoic fossil mammals. Historically, the Palaeontographical Society published and distributed these monographs on its own. However, the society has recently established a partnership with Taylor & Francis who now take care of their publication, distribution, and online hosting. Taylor & Francis are also working to digitise all back issues of the series so that they are available to active members.
examples
1851, Darwin's Fossil Lepadidae
1855, Darwin's Fossil Balanidae and Verrucidae
1861–1881, Owen's Fossil Reptilia of the Liassic
1871, Owen's Fossil Mammals of the Liassic Formations
1901–1918, Elles & Wood's British Graptolites
2010, Hooker, J.J., The mammal fauna of the early Eocene Blackheath formation of Abbey Wood, London. Monographs of the Palaeontographical Society, 1–153 (Publ 671 part of Volume 164).
2013, Mohibullah, M., Williams, M. & Zalasiewicz, J.A. Late Ordovician ostracods of the Girvan District, south-west Scotland. Monograph of the Palaeontographical Society London: pp. 1–40, pls 1–6 (Publ 640, part of Volume 167).
2013, Copestake, P. & Johnson, B. Lower Jurassic foraminifera from the Llanbedr (Mochras Farm) borehole, north Wales, UK. Monograph of the Palaeontographical Society London: pp. 1–403, pls 1–21 (Publ 641, part of Volume 167).
2014, Smith, A.S. & Benson, R.B.J. Osteology of Rhomaleosaurus thorntoni (Sauropterygia: Rhomaleosauridae) from the Lower Jurassic (Toarcian) of Northamptonshire, England. Monograph of the Palaeontographical Society London: pp. 1–40, pls 1–35 (Publ 642, part of Volume 168).
2014, Donovan, S.K. & Fearnhead, F.E. The British Devonian Crinoidea. Part 1 – Introduction and Camerata. Monograph of the Palaeontographical Society London: pp. 1–55, pls 1–15 (Publ 643, part of Volume 168).
2015, Smith, A.B. British Jurassic regular echinoids. Part 1 (Introduction, Cidaroida, Echinothurioida, Aspidodiadematoida and Pedinoida). Monograph of the Palaeontographical Society London: pp. 1–67, pls 1–41 (Publ 644, part of Volume 169).
Grants and awards
The Palaeontographical Society has five grants and awards to celebrate and provide support for research dedicated to the taxonomy and systematic palaeontology of British and Irish fossils.
The Edward Forbes Prize
The Edward Forbes Prize is awarded for publication excellence by early career researchers in the field of taxonomic and systematic palaeontology.
The Richard Owen Research Fund
The Richard Owen Research Fund serves to support palaeontological research (travel and accommodation for collections visits and/or fieldwork, analytical work, etc.) for describing the fossil fauna and flora of the UK and Ireland.
The Marsh Palaeoart Award
This award recognises talent in the depiction of fossil fauna and flora of the UK and Ireland.
The Bulman Fund
The Bulman Fund exists to help in the preparation of illustrations for monographs of the Society that have been accepted, and especially those that are in an advanced stage of preparation.
Palaeontographical Society Medal
The Palaeontographical Society Medal is awarded biennially in recognition of a sustained and important series of contributions to the taxonomic and systematic palaeontology of Great Britain and Ireland, especially those which address problems of palaeogeography, palaeoecology and phylogeny. Recipients are not limited to palaeontologists based in the UK and Ireland.
Past recipients:
2014: Professor William James Kennedy (first recipient)
2016: Dr Adrian W.A. Rushton
2018: Dr Robert Owens
2020: Professor Jenny Clack
2022: Professor Susan E Evans
2024: Dr Paul Taylor
2026: Dr Jerry J. Hooker
Presidents of the society
Past presidents have included several Fellows of the Royal Society such as Sir Richard Owen and Richard Fortey.
1847–?: Henry de la Beche (died 1855)
c.1869 James Scott Bowerbank (died 1877)
?–1892: Sir Richard Owen
1892–1895: Thomas Henry Huxley
1895–1921: Henry Woodward
1921–1928: Edwin Tulley Newton
1928–:
1934–1942: Sir Arthur Smith Woodward
1942–:
1971–1974: Oliver Meredith Boone Bulman
1974–:
1989–1994: Michael Robert House
1994–1998: Robin Cocks
1998–: Chris Paul
2007–2009: Richard Fortey
2009– 2012: Andrew B Smith
2013–2018: Paul M. Barrett
2019–2021: Stephen K. Donovan
2021–2026: Caroline Buttler
2026-present: Yves Candela