Royal Institution of Cornwall
Encyclopedia
The Royal Institution of Cornwall (RIC) was founded in Truro
, Cornwall
, United Kingdom
, in 1818 as the Cornwall Literary and Philosophical Institution. The Institution was one of the earliest of seven similar societies established in England
and Wales
. The RIC moved to its present site in River Street in 1919 to the building that was originally Truro Savings Bank. It took its current name (Royal Institution of Cornwall) in 1821 after receiving Royal patronage
.
The Royal Institution of Cornwall owns and manages the Royal Cornwall Museum
, which has a permanent display on the history of Cornwall from prehistoric times to the present day, as well as the natural history of Cornwall, a world famous collection of minerals and a pre-eminent collection of ceramics and fine art.
Above the museum is the Courtney Library, which currently holds c. 40,000 printed volumes, 35,000 manuscript
s and documents, newspapers from 1737, printed map
s, periodicals, engraving
s. and ephemera
s. It specialises in family history
and local history
. There is a staffed photocopying service with a maximum order of 10 sheets, members pay a reduced charge for print-outs from microfiche and photocopying.
The Library is open Monday-Friday 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm, on Saturdays 10am-1pm and is closed on Sundays and Statutory Bank Holidays. The Archives are not available on Thursdays
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, in 1818 as the Cornwall Literary and Philosophical Institution. The Institution was one of the earliest of seven similar societies established in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The RIC moved to its present site in River Street in 1919 to the building that was originally Truro Savings Bank. It took its current name (Royal Institution of Cornwall) in 1821 after receiving Royal patronage
Royal patronage
Royal patronage may refer to*Royal patronage in arts, commerce, etc.*Patronato real*Padroado...
.
The Royal Institution of Cornwall owns and manages the Royal Cornwall Museum
Royal Cornwall Museum
The Royal Cornwall Museum is a museum in the city of Truro, Cornwall, England. It is the oldest museum in Cornwall and the leading museum of Cornish culture. Its exhibits include minerals, an unwrapped mummy and objects relating to Cornwall’s unique culture...
, which has a permanent display on the history of Cornwall from prehistoric times to the present day, as well as the natural history of Cornwall, a world famous collection of minerals and a pre-eminent collection of ceramics and fine art.
Above the museum is the Courtney Library, which currently holds c. 40,000 printed volumes, 35,000 manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
s and documents, newspapers from 1737, printed map
Map
A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
s, periodicals, engraving
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
s. and ephemera
Ephemera
Ephemera are transitory written and printed matter not intended to be retained or preserved. The word derives from the Greek, meaning things lasting no more than a day. Some collectible ephemera are advertising trade cards, airsickness bags, bookmarks, catalogues, greeting cards, letters,...
s. It specialises in family history
Family history
Family history is the systematic narrative and research of past events relating to a specific family, or specific families.- Introduction :...
and local history
English local history
Local history is the study of the history of a relatively small geographic area; typically a specific settlement, parish or county. English local history came to the fore with the antiquarians of the 19th century and was particularly emphasised by the creation of the Victoria County History series...
. There is a staffed photocopying service with a maximum order of 10 sheets, members pay a reduced charge for print-outs from microfiche and photocopying.
The Library is open Monday-Friday 10am-1pm & 2pm-5pm, on Saturdays 10am-1pm and is closed on Sundays and Statutory Bank Holidays. The Archives are not available on Thursdays