Manuscripts, maps and photographs
Delineation of Strata of England and Wales (1815) by William Smith.
The Library holds maps, photographs, notes and letters from many key figures in the field of natural science.
Maps
The Library holds a collection of topographical and geological maps with worldwide coverage. These range from the nineteenth century (including a number of William Smith maps) to the twenty-first century.
Manuscripts
The manuscript collection contains a wealth of unique material, including notes and letters from:
- Mary Anning (1799-1847)
- Dorothea Bate (1878-1951)
- Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
- Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913)
- Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820)
Photographs
Photographic material includes a collection of images from the Challenger Expedition (1872-1876).
Museum Archives
Learn about the official records and historical collection of the Natural History Museum.