British Mycological Society
Encyclopedia
The British Mycological Society is a learned society
established in 1896 to promote the study of fungi
.
of Hereford
and the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union. The curator of the Hereford club, Dr. H.G. Bull, convinced the members in 1867 to undertake the particular study of mushrooms. While the mycological
efforts of the club diminished somewhat upon the death of Dr. Bull, the Union of Yorkshire took the lead and founded its mycological committee in 1892. This committee attracted many eminent mycologists including
Mordecai Cubitt Cooke
(1825-1914), Carleton Rea
(1861-1946), George Edward Massee
(1850-1917), Charles Bagge Plowright (1849-1910) and others.
The need for a national organization and the need for a journal to publish their observations led M.C. Cooke, C. Rea, G.E. Massee, Charles Crossland
(1844-1916) and other mycologists to found the Society in 1896. Elected as the first officers were G.E. Massee as president, C. Crossland as treasurer, and C. Rea as secretary. The choice of G.E. Massee for president was based on his international reputation (he had more than 250 mycological publications) and his role as the mycologist at the Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew
(where he had replaced M.C. Cooke as mycologist in 1893). In 1897, C. Rea assumed the function of treasurer, remained secretary until 1918 and was editor until 1930.
which in turn was renamed Fungal Biology in 2010. In 1967 the Society began publishing the Bulletin of the British Mycological Society. In 1987 the Bulletin was renamed The Mycologist which in turn was renamed Fungal Biology Reviews in 2007. In 2000, the Society began publishing the quarterly journal Field Mycology for the study and identification of wild fungi. It has not yet been renamed. Periodically, the Society publishes symposia in the British Mycological Society symposium series on a particular theme. The first one, Genetics and physiology of Aspergillus edited by John E. Smith and John A. Pateman, was published in 1977. There have been twenty-four symposia published as of 2006.
The Society also publishes many other items, from fine art prints to illustrated pocket identification guides, as well as a range of curriculum resources for teachers.
In 1971 under the leadership of then president Terence Ingold, the Society organized and hosted the first international congress of mycologists at Exeter
. Eight mycological societies were represented.
Learned society
A learned society is an organization that exists to promote an academic discipline/profession, as well a group of disciplines. Membership may be open to all, may require possession of some qualification, or may be an honor conferred by election, as is the case with the oldest learned societies,...
established in 1896 to promote the study of fungi
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
.
Formation
The Society was formed based on the efforts of two local societies, the Woolhope Naturalists' Field ClubWoolhope Naturalists' Field Club
The Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club is a local society devoted to the natural history, geology, archaeology, and history of Herefordshire, England...
of Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
and the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union. The curator of the Hereford club, Dr. H.G. Bull, convinced the members in 1867 to undertake the particular study of mushrooms. While the mycological
Mycology
Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy and their use to humans as a source for tinder, medicinals , food and entheogens, as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or...
efforts of the club diminished somewhat upon the death of Dr. Bull, the Union of Yorkshire took the lead and founded its mycological committee in 1892. This committee attracted many eminent mycologists including
Mordecai Cubitt Cooke
Mordecai Cubitt Cooke
Mordecai Cubitt Cooke was an English botanist and mycologist.Cooke came from a mercantile family in Horning, Norfolk, and worked as an apprentice to a fabric merchant before becoming a clerk in a law firm, but his chief interest was in botany. He founded the Society of Amateur Botanists in 1862...
(1825-1914), Carleton Rea
Carleton Rea
Carleton Rea was an English mycologist, botanist, and naturalist.-Background and education:Carleton Rea was born in Worcester, the son of the City Coroner. He was educated at The King's School and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied law...
(1861-1946), George Edward Massee
George Edward Massee
George Edward Massee was an English mycologist, plant pathologist, and botanist.-Background and education:George Massee was born in Scampston, East Yorkshire, the son of a farmer...
(1850-1917), Charles Bagge Plowright (1849-1910) and others.
The need for a national organization and the need for a journal to publish their observations led M.C. Cooke, C. Rea, G.E. Massee, Charles Crossland
Charles Crossland
-Background and career:Charles Crossland was born in Halifax, Yorkshire. His parents ran a general store and Charles left school at 13 to help them run the business. He trained as a butcher and opened a shop in Wyke in 1864, the same year he married Mary Ann Cragg. The couple had four children, two...
(1844-1916) and other mycologists to found the Society in 1896. Elected as the first officers were G.E. Massee as president, C. Crossland as treasurer, and C. Rea as secretary. The choice of G.E. Massee for president was based on his international reputation (he had more than 250 mycological publications) and his role as the mycologist at the Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
(where he had replaced M.C. Cooke as mycologist in 1893). In 1897, C. Rea assumed the function of treasurer, remained secretary until 1918 and was editor until 1930.
Membership
By 1903 the Society had over a hundred members, by shortly after World War II it had over four hundred members, and by 2006 membership reached over two thousand.Honorary members
Before World War II the award of honorary membership was seldom given:- 1905 - Émile Boudier (1828-1920)
- 1916 - Pier Andrea SaccardoPier Andrea SaccardoPier Andrea Saccardo was an Italian botanist and mycologist.- Life :...
(1845-1920) - 1920 - Carleton ReaCarleton ReaCarleton Rea was an English mycologist, botanist, and naturalist.-Background and education:Carleton Rea was born in Worcester, the son of the City Coroner. He was educated at The King's School and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied law...
(1861-1946) - 1920 - Narcisse Théophile PatouillardNarcisse Théophile PatouillardNarcisse Théophile Patouillard was a French pharmacist and mycologist.He was born in Macornay, a town in the department of Jura...
(1854-1926)
Publications
Starting in 1896 the Society began publishing the Transactions of the British Mycological Society. In 1989 the Transactions were renamed Mycological ResearchMycological Research
Fungal Biology is a scientific journal that publishes peer-reviewed papers on all aspects of basic and applied research of the fungi, including lichens, yeasts, oomycetes, and slime moulds.- History :...
which in turn was renamed Fungal Biology in 2010. In 1967 the Society began publishing the Bulletin of the British Mycological Society. In 1987 the Bulletin was renamed The Mycologist which in turn was renamed Fungal Biology Reviews in 2007. In 2000, the Society began publishing the quarterly journal Field Mycology for the study and identification of wild fungi. It has not yet been renamed. Periodically, the Society publishes symposia in the British Mycological Society symposium series on a particular theme. The first one, Genetics and physiology of Aspergillus edited by John E. Smith and John A. Pateman, was published in 1977. There have been twenty-four symposia published as of 2006.
The Society also publishes many other items, from fine art prints to illustrated pocket identification guides, as well as a range of curriculum resources for teachers.
Activities
In addition to meetings and publications, the Society is involved in the teaching of mycology. It organizes regular field-trips, both in the United Kingdom and abroad, often in formal association with the mycological society in the host country, as for example, the 1952 series of field-trips in France in concert with the Société mycologique de France.In 1971 under the leadership of then president Terence Ingold, the Society organized and hosted the first international congress of mycologists at Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
. Eight mycological societies were represented.
Presidents of the Society 1896-1935
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Harold Wager Harold William Taylor Wager FRS was a British botanist and mycologist. He was the uncle of the geologist Lawrence Rickard Wager. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1904... (1876-1951). Carleton Rea Carleton Rea was an English mycologist, botanist, and naturalist.-Background and education:Carleton Rea was born in Worcester, the son of the City Coroner. He was educated at The King's School and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he studied law... (1861-1946). John Ramsbottom (mycologist) John Ramsbottom was a British mycologist.He was Keeper of Botany at the British Museum . He served as general secretary and twice as president of the British Mycological Society, and was long editor of its Transactions. He was president of the Linnean Society from 1937 to 1940 and was awarded... (1885-1974). Edwin John Butler Sir Edwin John Butler FRS was a British mycologist and plant pathologist. He became the Imperial Mycologist in India and later the first director of the Imperial Bureau of Mycology in England. He was knighted in 1939.... (1874-1943). Helen Gwynne-Vaughan Dame Helen Charlotte Isabella Gwynne-Vaughan, GBE , née Fraser, was a prominent British botanist and mycologist.... Elsie Maud Wakefield Elsie Maud Wakefield was an English mycologist and plant pathologist.-Background and education:Miss Wakefield was born in Birmingham, the daughter of a science teacher... (1886-1972). Rowland Biffen Sir Rowland Harry Biffen FRS was a British botanist, mycologist, and geneticist.He graduated from Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1898 and initially became a university demonstrator, researching fungi under Harry Marshall Ward... A.A. Pearson Arthur Anselm Pearson was an English mycologist.- Background and career :Arthur Anselm Pearson was born in London, but educated in Belgium. After leaving school he worked as a seaman before joining the firm of British Belting & Asbestos Ltd in Yorkshire, where he spent the rest of his working... (1874-1954). |