Archives

The Archives has over 7 million sheets, in 4,600 collections; these are mostly Public Records, and the Library is the approved place of deposit for them under Public Records legislation: they contain unpublished information on the exploration, discovery and investigation of the world's plants and fungi, particularly in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

During the nineteenth century the first Directors, Sir William and Sir Joseph Hooker, did most of the work themselves and their correspondence forms the basis of the Archives today. Until the establishment of a modern Registry in 1928 the Director's Correspondence series of bound volumes are the archives of Kew. From 1928 a registered file system has been in use and after current use files are reviewed for retention and made available for consultation by researchers 30 years after creation.

There are many collections of private papers of botanists including material from former Directors not forming part of their working documentation plus amongst many famous scientists: John Ray (1627-1705), Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820), Charles Darwin (1809-1882), Richard Spruce (1817-1893), Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913), Henry Nicholas Ridley (1855-1956), Isaac Henry Burkill (1870-1965), and Richard Eric Holttum (1895-1990).

Contact details

Space in the Archives is very limited - it is essential to make an appointment well in advance.

The Library & Archives
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Richmond
Surrey TW9 3AE
UK

Tel: +44 (0)20 8332 5417
Fax: +44 (0)20 8332 5430
Email: archives@rbgkew.org.uk

Other contacts

You may find that the Archives at Kew do not hold the materials you need, and the following site might be useful:

• Public Record Office