The Founders’ Medal

The design is based on a woodcut from the great medieval encyclopaedia of natural history Ortus sanitas (1491)
published in Mainz by Jacob Meydenbach
(see Newsletter no 26: 10 (1985)).

The Founder’s Medal 2005: Dr L..C. (Kees) Rookmaaker

The Founders’ Medal is awarded for “eminence in the fields of the history and/or bibliography of natural history” on the nomination of Council. In this case Council’s nomination was unanimously and enthusiastic.

A letter of support for this nomination included the following excerpted comments:

Dr L. C. (Kees) Rookmaaker is one of the Society’s most diligent members. He enjoys a genuinely international reputation as the pre-eminent historian of the study of the rhinoceros, but he has written on other aspects of the history of African and Asian natural history as well. His most recent book (as one of four co-authors) is the beautiful volume, Francois Levaillant and the birds of Africa (2004), whilst his beautifully illustrated PhD thesis was published by Balkema in 1989 as The zoological exploration of southern Africa, 1650–1790.

Dr Rookmaaker is archivist at the Whipple Museum of the History of Science (Cambridge). Since 2000, he has been chief editor of the Rhino Resource Centre. From 1997 until 2000, Dr Rookmaaker was curator of the Rhinoceros Museum of the Rhino and Elephant Foundation in South Africa. From 1983 until 1996, he was field director of a Dutch charity to aid the underprivileged in Africa and Asia.

The Founders’ Medal: Past winners

2003       Dr Janet Browne

2001       Dr Gordon C. Sauer

2000       Professor Gordon L. Herries Davies

1998       Dr David E. Allen

1997       Dr Frederick Burkhardt

              Ms Nina J. Root

1996       Mrs Christine E. Jackson

1995       Professor Arthur J. Cain

1994       Mr Ray G. C. Desmond

1993       Mr Adrian J. Desmond

1992       Mr Gavin D. R. Bridson

1991       Professor William A. S. Sarjeant

1990       Dr Richard S. Cowan

1989       Mr Harold B. Carter

1988       Professor Martin J. S. Rudwick

1986        Professor Joseph Ewan

               Mrs Joan M. Eyles

               Mr Richard B. Freeman

               Mr Francis J. Griffin

               Professor John L. Heller

               Dr Lipke B. Holthuis

               Professor Frans A. Stafleu

               Professor William T. Steam

               Mr Alwyne Wheeler

              Sir Eric Smith