History of science resources
Discover our collection catalogues, digital resources as well as blog posts, videos and images. Our print store is also available here.
The Royal Society supports activities in the history of science and related disciplines by making available resources and funding, by celebrating history through awards, and in hosting public events. On this page you will find a wide range of online resources related to the history of science, to aid remote research, to explain, and to inspire. Find information catalogues, full text manuscripts and books, and interpretative material here.
Explore our resources
Search the archives
Search our extensive records documenting the activities of the Society and its Fellows since the…
Search printed works
Explore the library collection of printed books and periodicals.
Search past Fellows
Find information on all past Fellows, over 7,000 eminent scientists and natural philosophers from…
Science in the making
Access high-resolution digital images of Royal Society manuscripts.
Picture library
Explore over 10,000 high resolution images hand-picked from our historic collections.
Google Arts & Culture
Discover our digital exhibits on Google Arts & Culture.
Turning the pages
Leaf through digital replicas of some of our treasures.
Print Store
We offer thousands of images from the Royal Society's archive as prints, canvases and cards.
Objectivity YouTube channel
A series of videos about science treasures. In each video we uncover amazing objects and…
The Philosophical Transactions
Search through over 350 years of the scientific journal of the Royal Society.
The Wolfson Foundation archive
Read a collection of stories and documents from the Wolfson Foundation's archive.
People of Science
Brian Cox interviews David Attenborough, Venki Ramakrishnan, and other leading scientists.
Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal and Lecture
This prize lecture is given on a subject relating to the history of science, philosophy of science…
The Lisa Jardine Grant Scheme
Travel grants to support archival research and career development in interdisciplinary studies.
Notes & Records
The Royal Society journal of the history of science.
Biographical memoirs
A unique compilation of memoirs celebrating the lives and scientific achievements of Fellows of…
History of scientific journals
360 years of scientific publishing.
History of science blog posts
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Rupert Baker
In History of science
2 min read
Fully booked
An invitation to join the Royal Society's 'Libraries of Science' conference online on Friday 14…
Jon Bushell
In History of science
5 min read
Glacial progress
Jon Bushell reports on the papers of the physicist and glaciologist John Nye FRS, recently…
Ainsley Vinall
In History of science
5 min read
The nearly man
Ainsley Vinall tells the story of the astronomer Alexander Aubert FRS, the subject of an oil…
Kathryn Maxson Jones
In History of science
6 min read
Squid game 2: neuroscience in wartime context
In the second half of a two-part article, Kathryn Maxson Jones highlights further resources on the…
Kathryn Maxson Jones
In History of science
6 min read
Squid game 1: excitation in the archive
In the first half of a two-part article, Royal Society Lisa Jardine Grant recipient Kathryn Maxson…