NHM Library and Archives

@nhmlibraryarchives

One of the finest collections of natural history literature, art and online resources. Come and research with us Tuesday - Thursday 10.00 - 16.00 (by appointment). linktr.ee/nhmlibraryarchives (Natural History Museum, London and Tring)

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NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· 27d

🦋 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.

A watercolour drawing of two brown Tree kangaroos. They are depicted sitting on branches.

A page of watercolours which is placed on a scanner with a colour collaboration chart next to it. The watercolours are of two butterflies. The top one is drawn side on, with the side of one wing and the body in view. It is shades of orange and brown. The bottom butterfly is viewed flat from above. The left wing is dark brown and the right dark blue.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· 27d

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

Watercolour drawing of the head of a Cassowary bird. It is black, blue and red in colour.

Watercolour of a pheasant bird. The body of the bird is white and the head is blue, green and red.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· 28d

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.

Man in 19th-century formal attire—black suit with a red academic gown—stands with one hand on his hip and the other resting on a large fossilized thigh bone displayed on a draped table.

Coiled bright green pit viper with textured scales and a vertical pupil against a black background, overlaid by large white headline Beauty balance bite and small Natural History Museum branding promoting a Summer 2026 feature about snakes.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· 29d

🔎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.

View of a library reading room with floor to ceiling wooden book shelves. In the centre of the image there a two table displays of artwork, books and manuscripts with people standing around the tables. The image has been taken on long exposure so the people moving across the room are blurred.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· 29d

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

Four smiling people stand in a line behind a table which displays a varied collection of items from a library and archive. There are books lying open in foam supports and mounted artwork standing upright. Each is accompanied with a label. The items contain text and illustrations, all the images relate to animals and plants, including fish and a koala.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· Jul 6

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

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· Jul 2

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

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· Jul 2

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

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· Jun 29

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

Five books displayed on a table. In the background you can library desks, bookshelves and a library ladder.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· Jun 25

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

Original watercolour of two brightly coloured Weedy seadragons. They look very similar and are shades of orange, yellow and pink.

Image: 38 Phyllopteryx taeniolatus (Weedy seadragon) by Ferdinand Bauer (1760-1826). From a collection of forty-nine original watercolour drawings of animals which were collected when accompanying the voyage under Capt. M. Flinders to Australia.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· Jun 24

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

This black and white photograph is one of the first ever taken of Antarctic icebergs. The photo was taken in February 1874, during the voyage of H.M.S. Challenger (1872-1876) funded by the British Government for scientific purposes. The expedition is believed to have been the first to carry an official photographer.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· Jun 23

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

Original watercolour of a crab. The main body is green and the legs and claws are shades of grey, purple and blue.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· Jun 22

Due to the extreme weather alert this week, but have taken the decision to postpone our planned open day. We will let you know when the next open day is, as soon as we can. Stay tuned!

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· Jun 19

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 #Wetlands #Fossils #LandSnails #Butterflies #Moths #BookSky

Six books displayed on a big grey table. In the background are book shelves, a library ladder and library desks.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· Jun 12

If "Mosquito embebbed in paper on page 215" isn't a copy-specific note, we don't know what is. #SpecialCollections #Cataloguing #BlueSkyBooks #Insects

Title page of 1790 book title Delectus Opusculorum Botanicorum.

Close-up photograph of a book page showing a mosquito embedded into paper during paper-making process.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· Jun 2

Diversity: It's in our nature. Happy Pride 2026 from NHM Library and Archives! (All images taken from artwork in our collections.) #Pride #PrideMonth #PrideMonth2026

A rainbow Pride flag. All colours are drawn from natural history artworks.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· May 28

Our Archives show that displayed at ground level was a sperm whale skeleton, the same specimen that currently hangs on display in the Mammals Hall. This specimen is a male, collected from Sandside Bay near Thurso, Scotland in July 1863 and donated by Captain D. Macdonald, Royal Engineers.

A black and photograph showing a large whale skeleton mounted at floor level in a large Victorian stone hall. It is roped off to stop people getting too close and a man wearing what looks like a police uniform, stands next to it.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· May 28

Today, visitors to our central Hintze Hall are greeted by the wonder of a real blue whale skeleton, a female, named Hope. But what would visitors in 1901 have seen in this same location, then called the Central Hall? #NaturalHistoryMuseum #MuseumArchives #ThrowbackThursday #ExploreYourArchives

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· May 18

She published extensively, and was a highly skilled scientific artist, producing detailed illustrations of sea creatures to accompany her papers, field notes, and correspondence #NaturalHistoryMuseum #MuseumArchives #ExploreYourArchives #MarineBiology #WomenInScience #WomenInStem

Isabella Gordon’s notes on the general classification of the Malacostraca with hand coloured illustrations (Museum Archives: DF/ZOO/252/13/3)

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· May 18

Marine biologist, Isabella Gordon was born #OTD in 1901. Appointed Assistant Keeper with a responsibility for Crustacea in 1928, Gordon was one of the first female scientists to work at the Museum.

Staff photograph of Isabella Gordon in 1961 (Museum Archives: DF/PH/2/6/2/7)

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· May 18

If you are visiting the Natural History Museum, here is an extra reason to visit the Treasures Gallery. On display until early June is the latest hand-coloured engraved plate from our copy of John James Audubon's 'The Birds of America' (1827-1838). Plate 192 Great Grey Shrike, or Butcher Bird.

A woman in a floral dress and wearing purple gloves, leans forwards to place a mounted artwork into a glass case.

The artwork depicts small birds on branches, the birds are black, white and grey.

Behind the glass case you can see the room it is in has long, narrow stained glass windows.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· May 14

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 #Mammals #Minerals #Fossils #Palaeontology #BookSky #BlueSkyBooks

Four books displayed on a table. In the background is a library reading room, with high bookshelves, a ladder and large tables.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· May 8

A centenary celebration of Aubrey Williams (1926-1990), whose work was seen as a radical fusion of contemporary British and Guyanese art. The NHM Library holds 11 paintings of birds by Williams which he completed between 1978 and 1980. #AubreyWilliamsCentenary #NatureInArt #100Years

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· May 8

A MASSIVE Happy 100th Birthday to one of our favourite library visitors, Sir David Attenborough. 100 images from our collections for 100 years: You inspire us all. #DavidAttenborough #100Birthday #Attenborough #NatureInArt

A collage of 100 thumbnail images arranged in a 10x10 grid. Each image is related to natural history art, books or people.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· May 7

As we sailed past the bookshelves this morning, we came across this little Orkney gem and thought of our legendary counterparts at @orkneylibrary.bsky.social. #Orkney #LoveLibraries #NaturalHistoryMuseum #BookSky #BlueSkyBooks

A book is held in front of a bookcase, displaying its illustrated front cover and spine. The front cover reads 'The Orkney book' and shows an illustration of a Viking boat.

A book is held open in front of a bookcase. It is open at the title page, which reads 'The Orkney book.' The lefthand page displays the photograph is a church.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· May 5

Hawthorn Blossom, Human Eyeball, Inside Quill-Feathers of the Kittiwake -- What's your Werner White colour today? Follow the link in our bio to see more of Werner's Nomenclature of Colours in our Digitised Special Collections. #NatureInArt

A photograph of a page showing 8 shades of white. The appearance in nature of each shade -- one animal, one vegetable, one mineral -- is listed for each hue.

A photograph of the title page of the book 'Werner's nomenclature of colours' by Patrick Syme.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· Apr 29

Light Brown Spots on Guinea Pig, Dead Leaves of green Panic Grass, Mineral Pitch -- What's your Werner Brown colour today? Follow the link in our bio to see more of Werner's Nomenclature of Colours in our Digitised Special Collections. #NatureInArt

Photograph of a page from Werner's Nomenclature showing shades of brown. An animal, vegetable and a mineral in which this colour appears is listed beside each shade.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· Apr 21

Desmond Morris (1928 – 2026), zoologist and broadcaster. A browse along our zoology shelves to see a selection of his books from across the years. #DesmondMorris

Five books authored by Desmond Morris, displayed on a table.

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· Apr 21

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 #BookSky #NaturalHistory #Science

NHM Library and Archives@nhmlibraryarchives· Apr 18

Mark on Head of Red Grouse, Brown Disk of common Marigold, Precious Garnet -- What's your Werner Red colour today? Follow the link in our bio to see more of Werner's Nomenclature of Colours in our Digitised Special Collections. #NatureInArt