The British Mycological Society is a

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 ...

established in 1896 to promote the study of

fungi A fungus (plural, : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of Eukaryote, eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and Mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified ...

Formation

The British Mycological Society (BMS) was formed by the combined efforts of two local societies: the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club of

Hereford Hereford () is a cathedral city, civil parish and the county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, south-west of Worcester and north-west of Gloucester. With a populatio ...

and the

Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...

. The Curator of the Hereford Club, Dr. H. G. Bull, convinced the members in 1867 to undertake the particular study of mushrooms. While the

mycological Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans, including as a source for tinder, traditional medicine, food, and entheogens, as ...

efforts of the Club diminished somewhat after Dr. Bull's death, the Union of Yorkshire founded its Mycological Committee in 1892. This Committee attracted the involvement of many eminent mycologists including

George Edward Massee George Edward Massee (20 December 1845 – 16 February 1917) was an English mycologist, plant pathologist, and botanist. Background and education George Massee was born in Scampston, East Riding of Yorkshire, the son of a farmer. He was educat ...

(1845–1917), James Needham (1849–1913),

Charles Crossland Charles Crossland (3 September 1844 – 9 December 1916) was an English mycologist. Background and career Charles Crossland was born in Halifax, Yorkshire. His parents ran a general store and Charles left school at 13 to help them run the busi ...

(1844-1916), and

Henry Thomas Soppitt Henry Thomas Soppitt (21 June 1858 in Bradford, Yorkshire – 1 April 1899 in Halifax, Yorkshire) was an English mycologist, plant pathologist, botanist and former greengrocer turned drysalter. He was a close collaborator with Charles Crossland, ...

(1843-1899). Mycologist

Kathleen Sampson Kathleen Sampson (23 November 1892 – 21 February 1980) was an English mycologist and plant pathologist, with a focus in herbage crops and cereal diseases. Early life Sampson was born on 23 November 1892 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. She receiv ...

was a member for sixty years, as well as serving as president in 1938. The need for a national organisation and the need for a journal to publish their observations led Cooke, Rea,

Massee Massee is the surname of the following people: *George Edward Massee (1845–1917), English mycologist, plant pathologist, and botanist * J. C. Massee (1871–1965), American Christian fundamentalist * May Massee (1881–1966), American children's ...

, and other mycologists (including

and James Needham) to found the Society in 1896. The Society's founding officers were Rea (Secretary), Crossland (Treasurer), and

(President). The choice of the latter as President was based on his international reputation (with more than 250 mycological publications) and role as the mycologist at the

Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. An internationally important botanical research and education institution, it employs 1,10 ...

(where he replaced Cooke as mycologist in 1893). In 1897, Rea assumed the additional role of Treasurer, also continuing as Secretary (until 1918), and was also Editor (until 1930). However, Massee and a number of Yorkshire mycologists soon left the BMS, preferring to remain with the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union.

Membership

By 1903, the Society's Members numbered over a hundred, which had increased to over four hundred (by shortly after World War II), and had reached over two thousand by 2006. Before World War II, Honorary Membership was awarded to: * 1905 Émile Boudier (1828–1920) * 1916

Pier Andrea Saccardo Pier Andrea Saccardo (23 April 1845 in Treviso, Treviso – 12 February 1920 in Padua) was an Italian botanist and mycologist. Life Saccardo studied at the Lyceum in Venice, and then at the Technical Institute of the University of Padua ...

(1845–1920) * 1920

Carleton Rea Carleton Rea (7 May 1861 – 26 June 1946) was an English mycologist, botanist, and naturalist. Background and education Carleton Rea was born in Worcester, the son of the City Coroner. He was educated at The King's School and Magdalen ...

(1861–1946) * 1920

Narcisse Théophile Patouillard Narcisse Théophile Patouillard (2 July 1854 – 30 March 1926) was a French pharmacist and mycologist. He was born in Macornay, a town in the department of Jura. He studied in Besançon, then furthered his education at the École Supérieure ...

(1854–1926) * 1924 Gulielma Lister (1860-1949)

Publications

From 1896, the Society began publishing its annual journal, ''Transactions of the British Mycological Society'' (1896–1989), which became ''Mycological Research'' (1989–2010) and was renamed '' Fungal Biology'' (2010). In 1967, the Society began publishing the ''Bulletin of the British Mycological Society'' (1967–87), which was renamed ''The Mycologist'' (1987–2007) and later became ''Fungal Biology Reviews'' (2007). A new journal was also launched entitled ''Fungal Ecology''. In 2000, the Society began publishing the quarterly journal, ''Field Mycology'' (2000) for the study and identification of wild fungi. Periodically, the Society also publishes symposia in the ''British Mycological Society Symposium Series'' on a particular theme. The first was ''Genetics and Physiology of Aspergillus,'' edited by John E. Smith and

John A. Pateman John Pateman FRS (18 May 1926—18 May 2011) was a british microbial geneticist whose contributions included the discovery of intracistronic or interallelic complementation with John Fincham, as well as developing our understanding of gene expre ...

(1977), and there have been twenty-four symposia published as of 2006. The BMS is also responsible for the management of the FRDBI (Fungal Records Database of Britain & Ireland). The FRDBI holds over 1.5m records and is a major resource for conservation and research purposes. The Society also publishes many other items, from fine art prints to illustrated pocket identification guides, as well as a range of curriculum resources for teachers.

Activities

The Society's Mission Statement is to 'promote Fungal Science Internationally' with the objectives to: # Encourage those interested in fungi and related organisms to join the Society and to take part in our events, whether in a professional or amateur capacity. # Promote the recognition of fungal science in the UK and internationally. # Support and grow the key areas of Society activities to promote further understanding of fungal science and to inspire future generations of mycologists. # Support the Society's academic publications and other resources on fungal biology for the international community. # Organise conferences, workshops and other activities supporting mycology. # Promote networking across the fungal science community and maintain strong links with other relevant national and international

learned societies 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 may ...

and organisations. # Ensure the Society's resources are utilised effectively to further fungal science.

Presidents

References

External links

Official webpage of the British Mycological Society

"English names for fungi 2014"
{{authority control Learned societies of the United Kingdom Scientific organisations based in the United Kingdom Mycology organizations

British Mycological Society The British Mycological Society is a learned society established in 1896 to promote the study of fungi. Formation The British Mycological Society (BMS) was formed by the combined efforts of two local societies: the Woolhope Naturalists' Field ...

1896 establishments in the United Kingdom Organisations based in Manchester Scientific organizations established in 1896