The Yorkshire Philosophical Society (YPS) is a
charitable learned society
A learned society (; also learned academy, scholarly society, or academic association) is an organization that exists to promote an academic discipline, profession, or a group of related disciplines such as the arts and science. Membership ...
(charity reg. 529709) which aims to promote the public understanding of the
natural sciences
Natural science is one of the branches of science concerned with the description, understanding and prediction of natural phenomena, based on empirical evidence from observation and experimentation. Mechanisms such as peer review and repeat ...
, the
social science
Social science is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within those societies. The term was formerly used to refer to the field of sociology, the original "science of s ...
s, and the
archaeology
Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landsc ...
and history of
York
York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...
and
Yorkshire
Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a Historic counties of England, historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other Eng ...
.
History
The Society was formed in York in December 1822 by
James Atkinson, William Salmond, Anthony Thorpe and
William Vernon
William Vernon (January 17, 1719 – December 22, 1806), of Newport, Rhode Island, was a merchant in the Atlantic slave trade who played a leading role in the Continental Congress' maritime activities during the American Revolution. In 1774, Ver ...
.
The Society's aim was to gain and spread knowledge related to science and history and they built a large collection for this purpose. The geologist
John Phillips was employed as the Society's first keeper of its museum. In 1828 the Society was given, by royal grant, some of the grounds of
St Mary's Abbey including the ruins of the abbey. On this land the Society constructed a number of buildings including the
Yorkshire Museum
The Yorkshire Museum is a museum in York, England. It was opened in 1830, and has five permanent collections, covering biology, geology, archaeology, numismatics and astronomy.
History
The museum was founded by the Yorkshire Philosophical Soc ...
built to house the Society's geological and archaeological collections and opened in 1830.
Landscape architect
A landscape architect is a person who is educated in the field of landscape architecture. The practice of landscape architecture includes: site analysis, site inventory, site planning, land planning, planting design, grading, storm water manage ...
Sir John Murray Naysmith was commissioned by the Society to create a
botanical gardens around the museum during the 1830s.
Organisation
The Yorkshire Philosophical Society is a
registered charity
A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good).
The legal definition of a ch ...
,
and has an open subscription-based membership. The offices and reading room of the YPS are located in
Museum Gardens
The York Museum Gardens are botanic gardens in the centre of York, England, beside the River Ouse. They cover an area of of the former grounds of St Mary's Abbey, and were created in the 1830s by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society along wi ...
Lodge in
York
York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...
.
Honorary members
In 1933
Frank Elgee resigned as Curator of the
Dorman Museum due to ill health and his wife Harriett Wragg Elgee, was appointed Curator holding that position until 1938. In 1933 his work was recognised and he was awarded an Honorary Degree of 'Doctor of Philosophy' by Leeds University. He was elected an Honorary Member of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society in 1936.
Notable members
*
Tempest Anderson (d. 1913), photographer and vulcanologist.
*
James Atkinson (d. 1839), surgeon and bibliographer.
[Pyrah, B. J. 1988. ''The History of the Yorkshire Museum and its geological collections''. York: William Sessions. pp14-30]
*
Edward Charlesworth
Edward Charlesworth (5 September 1813 – 28 July 1893) was an English geologist and palaeontologist.
Edward Charlesworth was the eldest son of the Rev John Charlesworth. He studied medicine but abandoned a career in this discipline in 1836 to wo ...
(d. 1893), Keeper of the
Yorkshire Museum
The Yorkshire Museum is a museum in York, England. It was opened in 1830, and has five permanent collections, covering biology, geology, archaeology, numismatics and astronomy.
History
The museum was founded by the Yorkshire Philosophical Soc ...
and paleontologist.
*
Mary Kitson Clark
Anna Mary Hawthorn Kitson Clark, (14 May 1905 – 1 February 2005), married name Mary Chitty, was an English archaeologist, curator, and independent scholar. She specialised in the archaeology of Romano-British Northern England but was also inv ...
(1905–2005), Curator of Roman Antiquities at the Yorkshire Museum, archaeologist, and independent scholar.
*
John Phillips (d.1874), geologist.
*
Walter Harvey Brook (d. 1943), Honorary Curator of the
Yorkshire Museum
The Yorkshire Museum is a museum in York, England. It was opened in 1830, and has five permanent collections, covering biology, geology, archaeology, numismatics and astronomy.
History
The museum was founded by the Yorkshire Philosophical Soc ...
and medieval archaeologist.
*
E. Ridsdale Tate
Edwin Ridsdale Tate L.R.I.B.A (1862–1922) was a British antiquary, artist and architect based in York.
Life
Tate was born in York, where his birth was registered in the Bootham sub-district. For a time, he worked for local architectural firm ...
(d. 1922), artist and architect.
*
William Vernon Harcourt (d.1871), one of the founders of
British Association for the Advancement of Science
The British Science Association (BSA) is a charity and learned society founded in 1831 to aid in the promotion and development of science. Until 2009 it was known as the British Association for the Advancement of Science (BA). The current Chi ...
.
Current activities
The Society holds a series of free public lectures every year covering subjects including science, technology, history, archaeology and geography. Research grants are given by the Society in connection with its area of interest and awards are available for archaeology students.
References
Further reading
* ''Philosophers and Provincials; The Yorkshire Philosophical Society from 1822 to 1844'' by A. D. Orange.
* ''York Observatory''. Leaflet about the Observatory in the Museum Gardens, York.
* ''Mystery at the Rectory: Some Light on
John Michell
John Michell (; 25 December 1724 – 21 April 1793) was an English natural philosopher and clergyman who provided pioneering insights into a wide range of scientific fields including astronomy, geology, optics, and gravitation. Considered ...
''
* ''The Nature of the World: The Yorkshire Philosophical Society 1822–2000'' by David Rubinstein
External links
Yorkshire Philosophical Society website*
{{authority control
1822 establishments in England
Scientific societies based in the United Kingdom
Charities based in North Yorkshire
Organizations established in 1822
Organisations based in York
19th century in Yorkshire