Ethnological Society of London
Encyclopedia
The Ethnological Society of London was founded in 1843 by a breakaway faction of the Aborigines' Protection Society
(APS). It quickly became one of England
's leading scientific societies, and a meeting-place not only for students of ethnology
but also for archaeologists interested in prehistoric societies. The society's meetings and journal served as a forum for sharing new ideas, and as a clearinghouse for ethnological data. The society's original members were primarily military officers, civil servants, and members of the clergy, but by the early 1860s career scientists in their 20s and 30s had supplanted them. Thomas Henry Huxley, Augustus Pitt Rivers
, Edward Tylor, Henry Christy
, John Lubbock
, and Augustus Wollaston Franks
all figured prominently in the society's affairs after 1860.
The APS was founded by Quakers in order to promote a specific social and political agenda. The Ethnological Society, though primarily a scientific organization, retained some of its predecessor's liberal outlook and activist bent. The "Ethnologicals" generally supported Charles Darwin
against his critics, championed efforts to abolish slavery, and rejected the more extreme forms of scientific racism.
The Anthropological Society of London
was founded in 1863 as an institutional home for those who disagreed with the Ethnological Society's politics. The two societies co-existed warily for several years, but merged in 1871 into the Royal Anthropological Institute
.
The Journal of the Ethnological Society of London was published in the years 1848-1856. It then was published under the title, Transactions of the Ethnological Society of London from 1861-1869; it was re-named and published, from 1869-1870, to Journal of the Ethnological Society of London (http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/su/anthro/antelect.html).
Aborigines' Protection Society
The Aborigines' Protection Society was an international human rights organisation, founded in 1837, to protect the health and well-being and the sovereign, legal and religious rights of the indigenous peoples subjected by colonial powers. The Society published tracts, pamphlets, Annual Reports and...
(APS). It quickly became one of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
's leading scientific societies, and a meeting-place not only for students of ethnology
Ethnology
Ethnology is the branch of anthropology that compares and analyzes the origins, distribution, technology, religion, language, and social structure of the ethnic, racial, and/or national divisions of humanity.-Scientific discipline:Compared to ethnography, the study of single groups through direct...
but also for archaeologists interested in prehistoric societies. The society's meetings and journal served as a forum for sharing new ideas, and as a clearinghouse for ethnological data. The society's original members were primarily military officers, civil servants, and members of the clergy, but by the early 1860s career scientists in their 20s and 30s had supplanted them. Thomas Henry Huxley, Augustus Pitt Rivers
Augustus Pitt Rivers
Lieutenant-General Augustus Henry Lane-Fox Pitt Rivers was an English army officer, ethnologist, and archaeologist. He was noted for his innovations in archaeological methods, and in the museum display of archaeological and ethnological collections.-Life and career:Born Augustus Henry Lane-Fox at...
, Edward Tylor, Henry Christy
Henry Christy
Henry Christy was an English banker and collector who left his substantial collections to the British Museum.-Early life:...
, John Lubbock
John Lubbock, 1st Baron Avebury
John Lubbock, 1st Baron Avebury PC , FRS , known as Sir John Lubbock, 4th Baronet from 1865 until 1900, was a polymath and Liberal Member of Parliament....
, and Augustus Wollaston Franks
Augustus Wollaston Franks
Sir Augustus Wollaston Franks KCB was an English antiquary and museum administrator. Franks was described by Marjorie Caygill, historian of the British Museum, as "arguably the most important collector in the history of the British Museum, and one of the greatest collectors of his age".-Early...
all figured prominently in the society's affairs after 1860.
The APS was founded by Quakers in order to promote a specific social and political agenda. The Ethnological Society, though primarily a scientific organization, retained some of its predecessor's liberal outlook and activist bent. The "Ethnologicals" generally supported Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
against his critics, championed efforts to abolish slavery, and rejected the more extreme forms of scientific racism.
The Anthropological Society of London
Anthropological Society of London
The Anthropological Society of London was founded in 1863 by Richard Francis Burton and Dr. James Hunt. It broke away from the existing Ethnological Society of London, founded in 1843, and defined itself in opposition to the older society...
was founded in 1863 as an institutional home for those who disagreed with the Ethnological Society's politics. The two societies co-existed warily for several years, but merged in 1871 into the Royal Anthropological Institute
Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
The Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland is the world's longest established anthropological organization, with a global membership. Since 1843, it has been at the forefront of new developments in anthropology and new means of communicating them to a broad audience...
.
The Journal of the Ethnological Society of London was published in the years 1848-1856. It then was published under the title, Transactions of the Ethnological Society of London from 1861-1869; it was re-named and published, from 1869-1870, to Journal of the Ethnological Society of London (http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/su/anthro/antelect.html).