The Royal Society

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Collections

Information for visitors

The Library is situated at the Royal Society's offices in London are open to a limited number of pre-booked readers.

Research

Learn more about how we support research in the history of science.

Search the catalogues

Use our catalogues to search our collections for printed or archival material and browse through our database of past Fellows.

Print shop

Buy prints, canvases and cards of your favourite images from the Royal Society's library and archives.

History of science blog

The Royal Society’s history of science blogposts feature updates and insights from the collections team and guests.

Digital resources

Google Arts & Culture

Discover our digital exhibits on Google Arts & Culture.

Turning the pages

Leaf through the digital replicas of some of our treasures.

Picture library

Explore over 10,000 high resolution images hand-picked from our historic collections.

Science in the making

Browse the archival material connected with the journals published by the Royal Society.

The Wolfson Foundation archive

Read a selection of stories and documents from the Wolfson Foundation’s archive.

The Philosophical Transactions

Search through over 350 years of the scientific journal of the Royal Society.

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Latest blog posts

History of science

The sound of science

Isabel Lauterjung

20 September 2022

5 min read

History of science

Haunting the shelves

Louisiane Ferlier

06 September 2022

4 min read

History of science

Trivial pursuits

Keith Moore

31 August 2022

3 min read

Objectivity videos

We look at an incredible selection of paper instruments at the Royal Society.

Autopsy on Adam & Eve - Objectivity 256

26 April 2022

Brady Haran

Hubert Airy's study of a visual disturbance led to correspondence with one of the most famous astronomers of the 19th Century.

Scintillating Scotoma - Objectivity 255

05 April 2022

Brady Haran

William Shanks deluged the Royal Society with precise calculations.

The Mathematical Spammer (feat. Matt Parker) - Objectivity 254

14 March 2022

Brady Haran

We look at some weird and wonderful musical instruments at St Cecilia's Hall.

Peculiar Musical Instruments - Objectivity 253

06 February 2022

Brady Haran

See all videos