Archives

Archives Closure

The Archives will be closed during the month of April 2013 - this is to allow for essential maintenance and strategic planning.  If your visit absolutely cannot be postponed until May, please contact us to let us know.  We apologise for any inconvenience this will cause.

The Archives will also be closed for staff training on the 17th May 2013, and for the public holidays on the 6th, 24th and 27th May 2013.

Tree lifting Quercus on trolley with staff

Tree lifting Quercus on trolley with staff

The Archives hold papers and images relating to the history of the Garden and its plant collectors

Among them are the correspondences of Regius Keepers and plant collectors including George Forrest, Joseph Rock and Reginald Farrer.

The Archives also include a rich collection of maps, drawings and images, including glass-plate negatives by George Forrest; and prints by many other photographers such as Robert Moyes Adam.

George Forrest

George Forrest

Collections include:

  • History of RBGE and its three Regional Gardens, including drawings and maps
  • Regius Keepers' papers
  • Plant collectors' letters and diaries 
  • Glass plate negatives
  • Early 20th century prints of RBGE
  • Botanical Society of Scotland Archives

To go to our Collections List page which will allow you to conduct limited searches of our archives holdings, please click here.

19th century map of Inverleith site

19th century map of Inverleith site 

These collections are used extensively for historical research on botany, horticulture, plant collecting, biographical and related studies.

The Archives are open to researchers on an appointment basis only. To make an appointment, please contact the Library using the enquiry form.

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The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a charity (registration number SC007983)