The Manchester and Royal Scottish Geographical Societies

Abstract

Both societies were founded in 1884 with initial addresses given by H. M. Stanley: both have successful lecture meetings. The Royal Scottish Society has its headquarters in Edinburgh with branches in Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen, with Dunfermline from 1964. In 1899 Sir Clements Markham invited both societies, together with those of Tyneside, Liverpool and Southampton, to meet representatives of the RGS, but this enterprise, of which one main aim was educational advance especially in universities, failed in 1901. The Royal Scottish Society had helpful association with map firms, publishing houses, the Challenger marine laboratory and the universities and its substantial journal showed concern for exploration, especially of Africa, education and Scottish geography. Under Dr Marion Newbigin, editor from 1902 to 1934, its journal became internationally respected and after the First World War, several excellent methodological papers were published, some of which were presidential addresses to Section E of the British Association. The Manchester Society published papers of comparable scope but also many travelogues and only a few on its fascinating home region, north-west England. Regrettably, from 1929 to 1934 publication ceased, but the journal was revived in 1935 and published at intervals until 1954, with one further issue in 1962 to celebrate a British Association visit to Manchester. Happily a new modernized journal, the Manchester Geographer, aided by funds from the sale of the Society's premises and library, has appeared since 1980 with several papers on the north-west. The Scottish Society, now having almost 3000 members, has expanded its journal after inevitable shrinkage during the Second World War and is making a valuable contribution to the geography of Scotland drawn from continuing research.

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