NHM Library and Archives

German mycologist, Julius Schäffer (1882-1944), is said to be the only modern mycologist to die from consuming poisonous mushrooms. You can view his collection of 82 coloured drawings of Russula, which we have digitised. ⬆️ Use our bio link to the 'Digitised Collections' to view this & many others.

In 1726, Thomas Malie (1700-1789), surgeon to the King's Dragoon Guards, began these striking monochrome drawings of plants and animals in Cuba, the West Indies, Central America and South America. ⬆️ Explore our Digitial Special Collections further using the link in our bio!

Okay, we’ve highlighted the work of Grace Edwards (1874-1965) before, but we noticed the date on this photograph so… #OTD #WomenArtists #WomenInScience #Archives #SciArt #NatureInArt

Beyond the Galleries Tour After a guided walk looking at the architecture of the Museum, relax in our Reading Room, and join one of our archivists for a show-and-tell display from the Museum Archives. For more information see the link in our bio. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Archives

View original plans and drawings of our historic building by the architect Alfred Waterhouse (1830-1905), atmospheric Victorian photographs and reward posters, all telling the story of the Museum and the people who have shaped it, over nearly 150 years at South Kensington. #ExploreYourArchives

We're not trying to lure you down a #FridayFeeling dino-shaped rabbit hole (okay, maybe we are), but have you seen the reel of our Gallery Albums, zooming in on Museum visitors past? See every page here: buff.ly/rbGgrFP #MuseumArchives #DigitisedCollections #FridayFaces #HistoryOfFashion

Recent new additions to our library book collections 📚️ Visitors to our reading room can access our physical and online collections. ⬆️Use the link in our bio to learn more about our collections and how to make an appointment. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Whale #Moths #Snakes #Botany

16 October 2026, 11.00 - 15.00. Location: Lasting Impressions Gallery. (Free, drop in.) Visitors to the Museum will have the opportunity to enter this collection space, speak with the Library and Archives team, and view a selection of material from across the collections. #NaturalHistoryMuseum

🔎Discovering the Okapi: Stories about the naming of a sensational new species. 🔎The Museum, creating advocates for the planet: The history of our exhibitions & galleries. 🔎Ordering & Naming Nature: Changing approaches to naming & classifying nature. 🔎Wild Walls: Exploring our terracotta building.

Never judge a book by its cover or size... Deutschlands Giftpflanzen : zum Gebrauch für Schulen auf einer Tafel abgebildet und fasslich beschrieben, edited by Karl Gottlieb Plato (1829-1840). Germany's poisonous plants : depicted on a chart and described in accessible terms for use in schools.

When the NHM opened in 1881, visitors with cameras had to buy a permit and send two copies of each print to the Museum’s collections. You can scroll through a few highlights from each album by swiping left in this post. See every page here: buff.ly/31893CL #MuseumArchives #DigitisedCollections

Recent new additions to our library botanical journal collections 📚️ Visitors to our reading room can access our physical and online collections. ⬆️Use the link in our bio to learn more about our collections and how to make an appointment. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Botany

Thomas Pennant's (1726-1798) body of work spanned natural history, antiquities and travel. To celebrate his tercentenary, we've added his correspondence and catalogues to our Digital Special Collections: buff.ly/ZFULOe0. #Manuscripts #18thCentury #HistoryOfScience #HistoryOfNaturalHistory

21 Sept

Every celebration deserves cake! In 1950, Museum botanist John Ramsbottom's retirement was marked with this fungi-bedecked baking showstopper! We wonder who got the Stinkhorn slice... #NaturalHistoryMuseum ##GBBO #Bakeoff #ExploreYourArchive

Do you remember visiting the Geological Museum when the galleries looked like this? For many, it is a complete surprise to see this image from our archives. The Geological Museum was founded in 1835 by Sir Henry de la Beche; the first institution of its kind in the world. #NaturalHistoryMuseum

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The collections were divided: the BGS taking some to facilitate their continuing research, while the remainder – including 30,000 minerals, were transferred and incorporated into our Museum collections. During the mid-1990s, the building was redeveloped.

The new Earth Galleries, with the now very familiar escalator and globe, opened on a staggered basis between 1996-1998. It wasn’t until 1998 that a proper corridor between the two buildings was opened, creating the feel of one museum. ‘Sophie’ the Stegosaurus skeleton went on display in 2014.

In the 1930s, the Museum moved to South Kensington from its home in Jermyn Street, London. One of the architects of the new building was Sir Richard Allinson, who had also designed the Science Museum. The Museum was re-opened in its new Exhibition Road location on 3 July 1935. #ExploreYourArchives

In 1965, it was merged with the British Geological Survey (BGS) @bgs.ac.uk. The BGS moved out of London to Keyworth, Nottinghamshire in 1980 and five years later, the Geological Museum, which had remained, was merged with the Natural History Museum.

15 Sept

A peek at what is on the returns shelf at our Ornithology Library @NHM_Tring. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Booksky #ModernCollections #Birds #Nightjar #Penguin

7 Sept

7 Sept

5 Sept

Dig Deeper: The Traveller with Andrea Wulf Tuesday 8 September 18:30–20:00 Join us for a special evening as acclaimed author Andrea Wulf explores the remarkable life and legacy of eighteenth-century naturalist George Forster. £25 (Members £15) Book tickets: buff.ly/3UGnwhq

20 Aug

Beyond the Galleries Tour After a guided walk looking at the architecture of the Museum, cool down in our Reading Room, and join one of our archivists for a show-and-tell display from the Museum Archives. For more information see the link in our bio. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #Archives

20 Aug

17 Aug

The school holidays are here 🥳 We always find it inspiring to come across visitors drawing away, especially during the school holidays. You will find many opportunities to engage with Library and Archive collections in the public galleries. The perfect excuse to get your sketchbook out.

17 Aug

Our suggestions for places to head for: ✔️ Images of Nature Gallery ✔️ Bird Gallery ✔️ Hintze Hall (1st and 2nd floors) ✔️ Treasures Gallery #NaturalHistoryMuseum #SpecialCollections#MuseumArchives #SciArt #NatureInArt #ZoologicalArt #Audubon #Terracotta #Art #Drawings #Artist #Sketching #Observation

14 Aug

Recent new additions to our library book collections 📚️ ⬆️Learn more about our collections and how to visit us via the link in our bio. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #ModernCollections #NaturalHistory #Science #Birds #Moths #Diptera #Minerals #Palaeontology #Algae #Flora #Botany #BookSky #Insects

30 July

Founded by John Frost in 1821, the Medico-Botanical Society of London existed until 1849. This signature book, contains twenty-six pages of signatures. Among them are dignitaries such as Queen Victoria, King William IV, and European royalty. It also features two watercolours by an unknown artist.

30 July

⬆️ Use the link in our bio to the 'Digitised Collections' to view this collection and many others. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #DigitisedCollections #SpecialCollections

27 July

27 July

Our suggestions for places to head to: ✔️ Images of Nature Gallery ✔️ Bird Gallery ✔️ Hintze Hall (1st and 2nd floors) ✔️ Treasures Gallery #NaturalHistoryMuseum #SpecialCollections#MuseumArchives #SciArt #NatureInArt #ZoologicalArt #Audubon #Terracotta #Art #Drawings #Artist #Sketching #Observation

23 July

Recent new additions to our library book collections 📚️ ⬆️Learn more about our collections and how to visit us via the link in our bio. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #ModernCollections #NaturalHistory #Science #Diptera #Minerals #Flora #Botany #Butterflies #BookSky #Insects #Thailand #Palaeontology

20 July

In 1665 Robert Hooke (1635 – 1703), scientist, biologist, astronomer and architect, published 'Micrographia', containing illustrations of specimens studied under a microscope. At the time a ground breaking way to study and view the natural world. #Entomology #SciArt #SpecialCollections

20 July

We hold a copy in our Library collections, but our fabulous counterparts at @mobotgarden.bsky.social have digitised their copy and it is freely available via @biodivlibrary.bsky.social. ⬆️Use our bio link to explore this item on the Biodiversity Heritage Library. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #NatureInArt

18 July

Today is the 206th birthday of naturalist Gilbert White (1720-1793). But who was he and why is he important? For more in-depth knowledge than we can fit here, see buff.ly/ykmOf4V or visit buff.ly/O0qUNt7. Happy birthday, Gilbert! #otd

19 July

The keen eyed will have noticed that of course we meant it was his 306th birthday!! 🥳🎁

16 July

Born on this day in 1861, Frederick William Frohawk (1861-1946) was an English zoological artist, author and naturalist. Our Library Special Collections hold a significant number of his original artwork and publications. We have digitised three collections of his watercolours. #NaturalHistoryMuseum

16 July

🦋 The Varieties of British butterflies 🪶 Cassowaries prepared for possible publication in Walter Rothschild's Monograph of the genus Casuarius. 🦘 Tree-kangaroos of the genus Dendrolagus ⬆️ Use the link in our bio to the 'Digitised Collections' to view these collections and to explore many others.

15 July

Out now! The Summer 2026 issue of the Museum's Magazine, free to Museum members & subscribers of Apple News+ & Readly. Featuring articles on the creation of the #NaturalHistoryMuseum, by Karolyn Shindler, & tales of the Abominable snowman from the #Archives, by Assistant Archivist, Rebecca Keddie.

14 July

Friday 17 July 2026, 11.00 - 15.00. Location: Lasting Impressions Gallery. (Free, drop in.) Visitors will have the opportunity to enter this collection space, speak with the Library & Archives team, & view a selection of material from across the collections. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #SciArt

14 July

🔎Writing from the Field: Diaries, letters & other ways scientists and explorers have recorded their experiences. 🔎Whales, Science & Conservation: Whales & the change in behaviour around their study & conservation. 🔎Ordering & Naming Nature: Changing approaches to naming & classifying nature.

6 July

We're hiring! Come work with us as a Project Library and Archives Assistant. See more at buff.ly/CkgpFwK, or check the Current Vacancies section of the NHM website. #Hiring #Jobs #GLAMJobs #LibraryJobs

2 July

Our very own Andrea Hart @drewy_hart (Head of Special Collections) presenting her poster at the Society for the History of Natural History conference. ‘From carcass to knowledge: dissecting the zoo with Richard Owen (1804 - 1892).’ @natural_history_museum @officialzsl

2 July

She is in great company with the fascinating variety of research being presented over the three days at @officialzsl #LondonZoo #SHNH #RichardOwen #Science #NaturalHistory

29 June

Recent new additions to our library book collections 📚️ ⬆️Learn more about our collections and how to visit us via the link in our bio. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #ModernCollections #NaturalHistory #Science #Fossils #Palaeontology #Iceland #Linnaeus #Moths #BookSky

25 June

POV: Hearing the ice-cream van on your lunch break. From a collection of forty-nine original watercolour drawings by Ferdinand Bauer (1760-1826). ⬆️ See link in our bio to the 'Digitised Collections' to view this collection and to explore many others. #NaturalHistoryMuseum #UKHeatWave #HeatWaveUK

24 June

POV: You have the iceberg, but no piña colada big enough to get you through the UK heatwave. #UKHeatWave #HeatWaveUK #Iceberg #KeepingItCool #IceIceBaby #NaturalHistoryMuseum

23 June

Feeling crabby in this week's hot weather? Distract yourself with a lovely picture of a purple-legged crustacean. Pl. 39 Portunus pelagicus by Ferdinand Bauer (1760-1826). ⬆️ See link in our bio to the 'Digitised Collections' to view this collection and explore many others. #NaturalHistoryMuseum