Historical Collections at the John Innes Centre
History of JIC
Through the JI100 web pages you are able to explore our history in depth and find out how some of the great scientific minds of the past and present work, add your contribution to the memory bank, find out how to order 'John Innes', a very special centenary rose, register to attend the centenary events happening across the UK and find out about Centenary events happening in other countries as and when they are announced, and much more!
Archives
The John Innes Centre archives are an important resource for scholars in the
history of genetics. They include:
- The John Innes collection of Batesoniana,
which is the largest in the world, comprises some 10,000 items. This collection is now searchable via the web
- The John Innes collection of Bateson photographs is also now available to view online
- Other early John Innes Archives include:
- material concerning the Innes Family; a series
of schemes relating to the foundation of the John Innes;
- 630 scientific notebooks, dating from Bateson's years in Cambridge
until the 1960's;
- selections from the work of the Institute's second director, Sir Daniel Hall, mostly
relating to his research on tulips,
- the fruit-breeding work of M.B.Crane,
who developed many successful new varieties.
- The work of Gavin Brown, mostly
on tree fruits, but also on ornamental plants
- The papers of the third director,
the cytologist C.D.Darlington, including manuscripts of several of his books.
- Professor Roy Markham's Virus Research Unit Archives and a large collection
of his own correspondence and other papers.
- Professor Harold Woolhouse
papers covering the years 1974-1989.
- The archives of the Plant Breeding Institute.
- The papers of Dr.G.D.H.Bell including correspondence, lecture
notes, addresses, material on the history of PBI and photographs and slides.
- A large collection of photograph albums depicting people, laboratories,
buildings, experimental plots and events at the Plant Breeding Institute,
Cambridge.
- The archives of the Nitrogen Fixation Labaratory.
- The archives of the Genetical Society. These provide a fascinating insight
into the progress of genetics in Britain.
- The John Innes Reprint Collection
consists of over 40,000 reprints on biological subjects.
- A large reprint
collection comprehending all aspects of genetics and cytology from 1900 to
the 1980's. This collection covers plants, animals and micro-organisms and
includes some material from the collections of R.A.Fisher and Julian Huxley.
- The History of Genetics Library comprising some 4,000 books on genetics,
evolution, anthropology, geology, palæontology, science and religion, population,
and many other subjects. All these works appear in the main library catalogue
and almost all are available for loan.
- The private library of William
Bateson, the Institute's first director. This comprises 300 books, many annotated,
on science, history, travel and topography, language, literature, sociology
and religion.
- The working library of C.D.Darlington, including many heavily-annotated
books and papers.
The John Innes collection of Batesoniana
William Bateson was the Director of the John Innes Horticultural Institute from 1910-1926. He was a pioneer of the new science of genetics and coined the term Genetics in a letter to Prof. Adam Sedgwick in 1905. Bateson was very much involved in the experimental work and controversy that had followed the rediscovery in 1900 of Mendel’s papers on plant hybridization.
The John Innes collection of Batesonia comprises some 10,000 items of correspondence, notebooks, diaries, articles and specimens.
Researchers wishing to explore the collection can search the database for relevant material, and then contact the Librarian, Kate West (kate.west@jic.ac.uk), to either arrange a visit or request further information.
Rare Books
The John Innes Foundation Collection of Rare Botanical Books at the John Innes
Centre in Norwich ranks highly among collections of a similar nature. Most
of the items were acquired by William Bateson (1861-1926), pioneer geneticist
and first Director of the John Innes Institute. Today the Collection is
housed in a purpose built room within the John Innes Centre Library which
was specially designed to provide the optimum conditions for the proper care,
preservation and protection of these fascinating books. The Rare Book Collection
is regarded as particularly outstanding, not only because it embraces more
than four centuries of botanical literature, but also because it houses many
works that are landmarks in the history of plant science.
Catalogues
Contact
Mike Ambrose mike.ambrose@jic.ac.uk +44(0)1603
450630
