Glasgow Natural History Society

The Glasgow Natural History Society (GNHS) is a membership-based natural history society based in Glasgow, Scotland. Its origins trace to July 1851, when the Natural History Society of Glasgow was founded by nine gentlemen interested in the pursuit of natural science. Over the decades it absorbed other local societies, notably in 1931 when the Natural History Society of Glasgow, the Andersonian Naturalists' Society and the Microscopical Society of Glasgow merged to form the Glasgow and Andersonian Natural History and Microscopical Society. That name was shortened in stages until the current name, Glasgow Natural History Society, emerged in 1980. The Society is organised by a Council elected by its members and is a registered charity in Scotland (SC012586). It describes itself as enjoying one of the biggest memberships for a natural history society in Scotland. Its monthly meetings and lectures in the West End of Glasgow attract people from all over Scotland, and it also has members living in other parts of the UK. It maintains an excellent natural history library, publishes its own journal and newsletter, and provides grants for the study of natural history. It arranges a full programme of events throughout the year in Glasgow and district, and occasionally further afield, designed to appeal to both amateurs and professionals, experts and beginners. The Society's journal, The Glasgow Naturalist, has carried the City of Glasgow coat of arms on its volumes. From 1990 onwards the Society used a logo designed by Dr Elspeth Lindsay, based on the coat of arms and modified to reflect the Society's diverse interests in plants, animals, fossils and photography. A new logo with a range of variants came into use in Spring 2017. The Society communicates through its website, a Facebook page and Bluesky, and welcomes new members.

The Glasgow Natural History Society traces its origins to July 1851, when the Natural History Society of Glasgow was founded by nine gentlemen interested in the pursuit of natural science. The Society grew rapidly. Although early membership lists include only men, women certainly contributed to the proceedings and probably attended meetings; the first women appeared in membership lists in 1886. Over the years the Society merged with other similar local societies. A notable merger occurred in 1931, when the Natural History Society of Glasgow, the Andersonian Naturalists' Society and the Microscopical Society of Glasgow combined to form the Glasgow and Andersonian Natural History and Microscopical Society. This unwieldy name was subsequently shortened in stages until 1980, when the current name, Glasgow Natural History Society, emerged. In terms of identity, volumes of The Glasgow Naturalist carried the City of Glasgow coat of arms prior to 1990. From 1990 onwards the Society used a logo designed by Dr Elspeth Lindsay, who adapted the coat of arms to reflect the Society's diverse interests in plants, animals, fossils and photography. The Council eventually decided a new logo was needed, partly because details of the original became indistinct when reduced. A new logo with a range of variants came into use in Spring 2017. Today the Society is organised by a Council elected by members and is a registered charity in Scotland (SC012586). It enjoys one of the biggest memberships for a natural history society in Scotland. Its monthly meetings and lectures in the West End of Glasgow attract people from all over Scotland, and it also has members in other parts of the UK. It maintains an excellent natural history library, publishes its own journal and newsletter, provides grants for the study of natural history, and arranges a full programme of events throughout the year in Glasgow and district, and occasionally further afield, designed to appeal to amateurs and professionals, experts and beginners alike.

• 2017

  A new logo with a range of variants comes into use in Spring.

• 1990

  Society begins using a logo designed by Dr Elspeth Lindsay, based on the City of Glasgow coat of arms.

• 1980

  The current name, Glasgow Natural History Society, emerges after stages of shortening.

• 1931

  Natural History Society of Glasgow, Andersonian Naturalists' Society and Microscopical Society of Glasgow merge to form the Glasgow and Andersonian Natural History and Microscopical Society.

• 1886

  First women appear in the Society's membership lists.

• 1851

  Natural History Society of Glasgow founded in July by nine gentlemen interested in natural science.

A membership-based learned society and registered charity for amateur and professional natural historians in Scotland.

• The Glasgow Naturalist (journal)

• Newsletter

• Monthly meetings and lectures

• Natural history library

• Grants for the study of natural history

• Events programme

1. 1Glasgow Natural History Society: Homeglasgownaturalhistory.org.uk
2. 2Glasgow Natural History Society: Historyglasgownaturalhistory.org.uk
3. 3Glasgow Natural History Societywikidata.org