Architectural bibliography

Cunningham, C and Waterhouse, P. 1992. Alfred Waterhouse, 1830-1905, biography of a Practice. Clarendon. Studies in the History of Art. 319pp. Sets the Museum into the context of Waterhouse’s life and work.

Cunningham, C. 2001. The terracotta designs of Alfred Waterhouse. London: Wiley-Academy. 192pp, ill.

Girouard, M. 1981. Alfred Waterhouse and The Natural History Museum. Natural History Museum Publications. 64pp. Tells the architectural story of the Museum; well illustrated.

Maltby, S and others. [1983] Alfred Waterhouse, 1830-1905. Prudential. Published to accompany an exhibition at the Royal Institute of British Architects. 64pp

Owen, R. 1862. On the Extent and Aims of a National Museum of Natural History. Cassell. 162pp. Sets out Owen’s philosophy for the Museum.

Rupke, N. 1994. Richard Owen, Victorian Naturalist. Yale University Press. 462pp. Draws out the political aspects of Owen’s fight for a new natural history museum in South Kensington.

Sheppard, F H W (ed). 1975. The Survey of London, vol XXXVIII: The Museums Area of South Kensington and Westminster. Greater London Council. 465pp. A meticulously documented account of the planning and building of the Museum.

Stearn, W T. 1981. The Natural History Museum at South Kensington. Heinemann. 414pp. The only comprehensive history of the Museum, including a chapter on the building.

The Waterhouse Drawings. 134 pencil drawings of plants, animals and fossils for the architectural decoration of the Museum, c 1874-1875. Drawn by Waterhouse under the supervision of Sir Richard Owen.

Sources in the Archives

Plans: Owen’s sketch plans of 1859 and Waterhouse plan of 1868, 1872 and 1881 are preserved, together with section and an elevation. There is a large collection of post-1881 plans. Further plans, including some by Waterhouse of the spirit building, 1884, are held in the Gunther Collection (General Library, L MSS Gunther Coll 46-47).

Architectural drawings: the only Waterhouse drawings held relate to the lodge in the western gardens and to showcases and other furniture.

Photographs: there is a large collection of photographs of the Museum galleries dating from 1881 to present day. There are no photographs of the building in course of construction.

Newscuttings: the newscutting collection runs from the 1870s to the present, and include extracts from The Builder and other architectural magazines. There are also cuttings in the Owen Collection (General Library L MSS OC 54.4) and the Gunther Collections (General Library L MSS Gunther Coll 42).

Trustees Minutes: minutes of the Standing Committee of the trustees relating to the structure, furniture and fittings of the new Museum, 1871-1880 (Archives DF902/1).

Central correspondence and papers: papers of the Principle Librarian of the British Museum relating to structure, furniture and administration, 1873-1885 (Archives DF930/1-14); letters and memoranda addressed to sir Richard Owen by the principle Librarian and other, 1856-1883 (Archives DF931/1-5).

Departmental correspondence and papers: papers relating to accommodation for Mineralogy Department, 1838-1879 (Archives DF13/1-4); Geology Department, 1862-1880 (Archives DF107/1); Zoology Department, 1868-1884 (General Library L MSS Gunther Coll 29).

Other sources

The Royal Institute of British Architects (Tel 020 7307 3615) holds a large collection of Waterhouse drawings and plans, including many relating to The Natural History Museum.

The Public Record Office (Tel 020 8876 3444) hold an extensive series of Office of Works files, plans and drawings relating to the construction of the Museum.