Site: Royal Geographical Society

    The Royal Geographical Society is a private organization devoted to increasing and applying geographical knowledge.  

    The motto of the Royal Geographical Society is "advancing geographical knowledge." This originally meant filling in the blank spaces on the map. The current interpretation is that well-practiced geography means leaving the world in better shape by the end of the century that it was in the beginning. 

    The RGS started in 1830 in the form of a dining club. However, by 1831, the RGS was publishing a journal. They have worked closely with the Discovery Service of the Royal Navy. 

    The RGS has five collections. Two of them, the maps and library, are mentioned in the royal charter. The others are picture or images, artefacts, and the archives. In 2004, the staff for the separate collections merged. The goal of the library staff is to make sure the collection is accessible to researchers today, and will be accessible in 100 years. 

    We heard about many of the expeditions sponsored by the RGS, including the search for the Northwest Passage, the voyage of the Beagle, the search for the source of the Nile, Antarctic expeditions, and Everest expeditions. 

Inuit moccasins (RGS-IBG)

Artisitic Rendering of explorers meeting Indigenous people (RGS-IBG)

Inuit Snow Goggles (RGS-IBG)

Letterhead of List of Supplies for Expedition (RGS-IBG)

Map from Expedition to the Source of the Nile (RGS-IBG)

Hallway at the RGS-IBG