British Pteridological Society
The British Pteridological Society is for fern enthusiasts of the British Isles, and was founded in England in 1891.[1]
The origins and early history of the BPS at the time of "Pteridomania" is described in the book The Victorian Fern Craze.[2] The BPS celebrated its centenary in 1991; amongst other things, it was marked by the publication of the book, A World of Ferns.[3]
The British Pteridological Society is a registered charity: No. 1092399.[4] The BPS has as its Patron the Prince of Wales.[5]
Publications
The British Pteridological Society publishes a number of works, which promote pteridology:
- The Fern Gazette
- The Pteridologist
- The Bulletin
Presidents of the Society
John A. Wilson (1831-1914) was elected Chairman of the Society at the first meeting in 1891; subsequently Dr. F.W. Stansfield was invited to become the first President of the Society. He took office in 1892.[6]
| President | Term |
| Frederick Wilson Stansfield (1854-1937) | 1892-1897, 1902-1904, 1907-1908 |
| Charles Thomas Druery (1843-1917) | 1898-1901 |
| William Henry Phillips (1830-1923) | 1904-1907 |
| James J. Smithies (c.1850-1931) | 1908-1909 |
| Alex Cowan (1863-1943) | 1909-1920 |
| William Bathgate Cranfield (1859-1948) | 1920-1948 |
| Robert Bolton (c.1869-1949) | 1948-1949 |
| Arthur Hugh Garfit Alston (1902-1958) | 1949-1958 |
| Thomas H. Bolton (1899-1972) | 1958-1960 |
| Richard Eric Holttum (1895-1900) | 1960-1963 |
| Reginald Kaye (1902-1992) | 1963-1966 |
| James Davidson (c.1896-1985) | 1966-1969 |
| Irene Manton (1904-1988) | 1969-1972 |
| Henry L. Schollick (1906-1991) | 1972-1975 |
| Stanley Walker (1924-1985) | 1975-1979 |
| James Wood Dyce (1905-1996) | 1979-1982 |
| Anthony Clive Jermy (1932-2014) | 1982-1985 |
| Gwladys Tonge (1920-2017) | 1985-1988 |
| Barry A. Thomas | 1988-1991 |
| Jack Henry Bouckley (1919-2013) | 1991-1994 |
| Trevor George Walker (1927-2006) | 1994-1997 |
| Martin H. Rickard | 1997-2001 |
| Alastair C. Wardlaw | 2001-2004 |
| Adrian F. Dyer | 2004-2007 |
| Robert W. Sykes | 2007-2010 |
| Mary Gibby | 2010-2013 |
| John A. Edgington | 2013-2016 |
| Fred Rumsey | 2016- |
References
- British Pteridological Society. "Introduction to the BPS". British Pteridological Society. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
- Allen, David Elliston (1969). The Victorian Fern Craze. Hutchinson. ISBN 978-0-09-099870-8.
- Camus, Josephine; A. Clive, Jermy; Thomas, Barry A. (1991). A World of Ferns. Natural History Museum Publications. ISBN 0-565-01120-0.
- "Register of Charities". Retrieved 2009-11-03.
- "The Prince of Wales - Patronages". Archived from the original on 2008-10-20. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
- Busby, A.R. (1991). "Gleanings from the Minute Book 1891-1991". In Camus, Josephine (ed.). The History of British Pteridology 1891-1991. The British Pteridological Society. ISBN 0-9509806-3-3.