Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 13th Century- 20th Century (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
7 boxes; 0.133 cubic metres
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Yorkshire Philosophical Society (YPS) was founded in 1822. In 1828 part of the grounds of St Mary's Abbey was given to the Society by royal grant and on this site the Yorkshire Museum was built in 1829. The museum was built to house the members collections and also created a botanic garden. In 1961 the Museum and its gardens were handed over to the City of York in trust. In 2009 the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens Charity (YMAG) was established by the YMAG Trust, the City of York Council and the YPS.
In the course of their work, the YPS collected original archive material, some of which has been deposited in the city archive in York.
Repository
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Various documents collected by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society relating to the history of York, York property and land, and prominent York individuals. The collection includes historical notes and accounts, and original documents collected by the society in the course of their antiquarian research. These original documents include estate correspondence and papers, land and property deeds, civic and official documents, guild records, personal and business papers, papers of Eustace Strickland, papers of the Whitehead family, and papers from the Yorkshire Musical Festival.
Notably, the collection includes YPS/5/1 [c. 1525-1550]: The guild's own manuscript copy of The Scrivener' Play, originally performed as part of the cycle of York Mystery Plays, also know as 'The Sykes Manuscript. This is the only known surviving guild copy of a York Mystery Play.
Accruals
System of arrangement
This collection has principally been retained in its original order, as organised by the Society, and has been arranged according to the original references ascribed. Some additional series and sub-series have been created to highlight particular sets of records where appropriate.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open
Material is available subject to the usual terms and conditions of access to Archives and Local History collections.
Conditions governing reproduction
Images are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
The administrative records of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society are held by the Borthwick Institute for Archives, with the reference YPS.