Fonds YPS - Yorkshire Philosophical Society Collections

Identity area

Reference code

YPS

Title

Yorkshire Philosophical Society Collections

Date(s)

  • 13th Century- 20th Century (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

7 boxes; 0.133 cubic metres

Context area

Name of creator

(1822-present)

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.

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.

Until 1752, Great Britain used the Julian calendar, with the first day of the new year falling on March 25th. Dates in this catalogue have all been expressed as 'new style' dates, in line with the Gregorian calendar, unless otherwise stated.

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

    Generated finding aid

    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.

    Related descriptions

    Notes area

    Alternative identifier(s)

    legacy

    ACC 104

    Access points

    Place access points

    Name access points

    Genre access points

    Description control area

    Accession area