Historical Group Archive

A digital archive of the RSC Historical Group Newsletter and Occasional Papers

Historical Group Publications

The Historical Group has published a twice-yearly newsletter since 1981 that includes short articles on the history of chemistry, book reviews and reports of its meetings, in addition to news items and information on future events. The Group also publish Occasional Papers, edited texts of lectures on the history of chemistry. Many of these have been taken from the Wheeler Lectures, a series of lectures funded by a bequest from Edgar Philip Wheeler to recognise the outstanding contributions of an individual to the history of chemistry.

In 2018 the Group collated a list of the published histories of British and Irish Chemistry Departments.

Historical Group Newsletters

Below are electronic copies of the Newsletter issues published from 2010 to 2025. The most recent issues can also be found on the Historical Group webpage. Physical copies of the Newsletter from 1981 to 2025 are available to view in the RSC Library or can be requested from the British Library.

If you would like to make a submission to the newsletter, please contact the editor Dr Anna Simmons. Further information, including her contact details, can be found in the submission guidelines.

2025 - Present
2020 - 2024
2015 - 2019
2010 - 2014

 

Older issues of the Newsletter will be added as electronic copies become available.

Occasional Papers

Below are electronic copies of some of the Occasional Papers, edited texts of lectures on the history of chemistry. The papers cover topics including the organic chemist and Nobel prize winner, Robert Burns Woodward (1917-1979); Thomas Beddoes (1760-1808) and the Medical Pneumatic Institution in Bristol; and Nitrogen Chemistry in Germany, 1900-1918. Physical copies of the Occasional Papers are available to view in the RSC Library or can be requested from the British Library

Occasional Papers

Occasional Paper No. 10 - Woodward's Unpublished Letters: revealing, commanding and elegant (Part 2)
A paper by Jeffrey I. Seeman based on the Ninth Wheeler Lecture, presented at Burlington House on 10 May 2017.

Occasional Paper No. 9 - Robert Burns Woodward in his Own Words
A paper written in April 2017 by Dr Peter J.T. Morris, based on the Sixth Wheeler Lecture presented at the Royal Institution on 17 May 2013.

Occasional Paper No. 8 - Thomas Beddoes and the Medical Pneumatic Institution in Bristol, 1794 to 1799
A paper on ‘the first example ... of an extensive scheme of pure scientific medical investigation’, written by Frank A.J.L. James in November 2016 and based on the Eighth Wheeler Lecture, presented at the Royal Institution on 12 October 2015.

Occasional Paper No. 7 - Nitrogen, Novel High-Pressure Chemistry, and the German War Effort (1900-1918)
A paper written by Anthony S. Travis in April 2015 based on the Seventh Wheeler Lecture, Burlington House, 22 October 2014.

Occasional Paper No. 6 - Frankland — the First Organometallic Chemist
A paper by Colin A. Russell based on the Fourth Wheeler Lecture, Burlington House, 20 March 2009.

Occasional Paper No. 5 - Radient Spectroscopy. The Rare Earth Crusade
A paper by W.H. Brock based on the Third Wheeler Lecture, Burlington House, 22 March, 2007.

Occasional Paper No. 4 - Davy and the placing of potassium among the element
A paper by David Knight based on the Second Wheeler Lecture, Burlington House, 22 March, 2007.

Occasional Paper No. 3 - Long Delayed Dream: Frederick Abel and Smokeless Powder
A paper by Seymour H. Mauskopf based on the First Wheeler Lecture Waltham Abbey, November 8, 2002)

Occasional Paper No. 2 - Chemie to Chemistry at Edinburgh
A paper by R.G.W. Anderson.

Occasional Paper No. 1 - An Interview with Prof. Harry Julius Emeléus (1903-1993)