Medals, Honours & Awards

The Founders' Medal

The John Thackray Medal

The design is based on a photograph of John Thackray
(Archives of natural history 27: [iv] frontispiece);
the medal was made by Thomas Fattorini, Birmingham, and is cased in solid hallmarked silver
(Newsletter no. 67: 11. 2000).

The Founders Medal

One of the means by which the Society seeks to promote the objectives for which it was founded is by making awards for excellence in areas of its fields of activity. Awarded to persons who have made a substantial contribution to the study of the history or bibliography of natural history. More than one medal can be awarded in any given year. 

The John Thackray Medal

Instituted in 2000 to commemorate the life and work of John Thackray, the Society’s late President, this medal is awarded annually to an outstanding contribution to the history of natural history realised in the preceding three years. Recipients may be individuals, teams or institutions. To nominate someone for the 2007 medal, please click here.

Alwyne Wheeler Bursary

An Award to facilitate an original contribution to the study of the history of natural history by a person under the age of 30.

Honorary Members

Persons who have performed signal services to the Society may be elected as Honorary Members, and shall not be required to pay an annual subscription. The number of Honorary Members is limited to ten.

The Ramsbottom Lecture

Dr John Ramsbottom OBE (1885-1974) was Keeper of Botany at the British Museum (Natural History), founder member of the Society for the Bibliography of Natural History in 1936 and President from 1942 to 1972. He was made an Honorary Member in 1972. Dr Ramsbottom made a bequest to the SHNH in his will and it was decided to utilise this to establish The Ramsbottom Lecture, to be given at the Society’s International Meetings, the first being delivered in April 1976.

The William T. Stearn Student Essay Prize

Instituted in 2007 to commemorate the work of William T. Stearn (1911-2001), a scholar whose work contributed much to the field and to this Society, the prize will be awarded to the best original, unpublished essay in the history of natural history. The competition is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students in full- or part-time education. The winner will receive £300 and the winning essay will normally be published in the Society’s journal.