| Description | The accounts, menus, correspondence and minutes of the Royal Society Club, from 1743 to the present, and its associated organization the Philosophical Club (founded in 1847). The Dining Club is an independent body, membership of which is limited to Fellows of the Royal Society. The modern Club traces its lineage to the mid-18th century, although such institutions are at least as old as the Royal Society itself. Meetings are social rather than scientific, but inevitably matters of scientific interest have continued to form the main topics for discussion. Early records of the Club are limited to administrative matters, notably membership, attendance of Fellows and guests, menus and accounts. Summary descriptions of speeches and discussions at weekly meetings are not available until 1847, and then only in the rival Philosophical Club volumes. The eventual merger of the two bodies in 1900 resulted in this practice being retained to date. |