World War I (or the First World War, often abbreviated as WWI or WW1) was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918.
Category Archives: timeline
1914 Perth Town Council took over museum of Perth Literary and Antiquarian Society
1914 Environmental action – PSNS protests the proposal to take the water of Lochs
9 April 1914 PSNS protests strongly against the proposal to take the water of Lochs Voil and Doine into the Glasgow supply, as this would destroy the beauty of the Braes of Balquhidder, one of the loveliest vales in Scotland. Copies of the resolution forwarded to the MPs for the city and
county of Perth and the Secretary for Scotland. (Proc, vol 6, lv)
1912-13 Scottish National Antarctic Expedition and The Bathymetrical Survey of the Scottish Freshwater Lochs added to PSNS library
Aside
1904 Junior Section formed
(Proc, vol 6, clxvii).
1903 Scottish Photographic Federation formed in PSNS library with Henry Coates, President of PSNS, as first President
1903 Scottish Photographic Federation formed in PSNS library with Henry Coates, President of PSNS, as first President
1902 Perthshire Natural History Museum transferred to Perth Town Council
Perth Town Council accepted PSNS offer of museum and its collections for the community. The Museum was run by a joint committee of Town Council and PSNS
1898 Education – First Children’s Essay Competition
First Children’s Essay Competition
1898 Flora of Perthshire by Francis Buchanan White
The outstanding work of Francis Buchanan White, the founder of the PSNS, was published post humously under the editorship of Professor James W H Traill , Aberdeen, who was an Orcadian born botanist and also edited the Scottish Naturalist Magazine founded by FB White. It includes contributions by other members including the Birnam Postie, Charles Macintosh. Charles was a self-taught amateur naturalist from Inver, near Dunkeld, discovered 13 varieties of fungi, and was friends with Beatrix Potter.
1898 Photographic Section revived with new members
Photographic Section revived with new members
1895 Museum extension opened
On 29 Nov 1895 the Museum extension was opened by 
Sir William Henry Fowler, Director of the British Museum and a comparative anatomist.
It housed the Perthshire Gallery, a collection of local animals, plants and rocks. The ground floor contained the vertebrate animals and in the gallery above were plants, insects, shells, rocks, minerals and fossils. At the time the Museum was declared one of the best in layout and design in Scotland.
1894 Death of founder Dr Francis Buchanan White
A Society for All – PSNS People 1867-1900
From the beginning the Society embraced an enlightened and accessible approach to membership. It was open to active naturalists and to those who could afford to support scientific work. Members ranged from the aristocracy and landed gentry to professionals, clergymen, businessmen, craftsmen, working men and gamekeepers. In 1873 it was agreed to admit women to membership. Eighteen women joined and by the end of the century about a quarter of the members were women.
Interests and Influence
Members enjoyed regular meetings where scientific papers were read and specimens exhibited. At the meeting on 4th April 1867 the programme included papers on the Death’s Head Hawk Moth and on Swallows their migration and supposed hibernation. As well as natural history, subjects covered included agriculture, astronomy, geography, chemistry, meteorology and archaeology – topics that would not be out of place in the current Curious Minds programme. In the summer months members went on field trips to observe, record and collect specimens. In the early days travel for the field trips was by horse drawn transport and train. There were 65 railway stations across the county and the Society was able to arrange for trains to stop between stations to drop off and collect field parties.
PSNS People
Among well-known members were common folk, often self taught, such as Charles McIntosh (the Perthshire Naturalist) and Magnus Jackson (pioneer photographer), who rubbed shoulders with landowners such as The Duke of Atholl and Lord Mansfield and businessmen such as Mr AK Bell and Sir Francis Norie Miller. The Honorary Members included scientists such as the geologist , Prof James Geikie, and Dr James Croll who developed theories on climate change. John Everet Millais, the Victorian pre-Raphaelite artist and his wife Euphemia (Effie Gray of Bowerswell) were members and their son, John Guille Millais was elected a corresponding member in 1917. JG Millais was an accomplished wildlife artist who published several beautifully illustrated books. Corresponding Members included the mathematician and zoologist Professor D’Arcy Thompson and Professor Patrick Geddes, the pioneering town planner who had been a Society member since his teenage years.
1890’s Charles McIntosh, the Perthshire Naturalist, and Beatrix Potter
The Birnam Postie, Charles McIntosh, an associate member of PSNS and a self taught naturalist with a special interest in fungi, was also known as the Perthshire Naturalist. He, along with other members of the Society, contributed records to Francis Buchanan White’s ‘The Flora of Perthshire’ in 1898. Charles discovered 13 previously unknown fungi.
He also befriended the young Beatrix Potter who found Scotland a wonderful source of fossils and fungi for a budding geologist and mycologist. Peter Rabbit and Mr. Jeremy Fisher, were first featured in picture letters written from Dunkeld long before the little books were published. Charles may have been the inspiration for Mr McGregor.
1889 PSNS Photographic Section established
PSNS Photographic Section was established before the Scottish Photographic Federation was formed in 1903.