History
The society had it beginnings on 17 May 1858 when a group of young men decided to set up an organisation specifically for the study of geology. From the 1840s there had been an increase in desire for scientific knowledge amongst working people who were not necessarily attending Anderson's University (1828 – 1877) or the Mechanics' Institute. These amateur enthusiasts formed part of the fast growing population of Glasgow (from 77,000 in 1801 to 329,000 by 1850).
Membership of the society also grew very quickly. Attractions included lectures from famous geologists on recent research, then published as papers, and the opportunity of collecting fossils and rocks on organised field trips. So nothing has changed! The first field trip in June 1858 was to Campsie Glen which is still a great place to see some of the source material for the industrial development of the Glasgow region. A leaflet on this is available at the Clachan of Campsie café. You can see some of the fossils collected from those early excursions in Kelvingrove Museum. And of course visit the Fossil Grove to see the Carboniferous trees uncovered in 1887.
The society's early contribution to research includes, in addition to fossils, an understanding of Scotland's glacial history, geological time and the relationship between climate change and the Earth's rotation. Famous 19th and early 20th Century Presidents include Lord Kelvin (for 21 years), Sir Archibald Geikie, Charles Lapworth, Ben Peach and Walter Gregory. Although the society had a close relationship with the Anderson's University, general interest and awareness in geology was much encouraged by the publishing of field guides, for example to the Island of Arran.
These activities of both professional geologists and amateurs continued to give inspiration throughout the 20th Century. These years have produced internationally important research into the igneous rocks of Scotland, mineralogy (many minerals named after their type locality around Glasgow) palaeontology and continental plate movement, from geologists like T.N. George, Ethel Currie, E.B. Bailey, G.W. Tyrell, A.E. Trueman and M. MacGregor. The agreement to publish the Scottish Journal of Geology with the Edinburgh Society has ensured a wide circulation among the scientific community. The society continues to attract to its lectures speakers who are at the cutting edge of the science, to publish field guides and to encourage everyone to take advantage of the great geology in the Glasgow region, some of the most varied of any city in the UK. Getting involved is very easy.