Led by our Collections team, we offer a number of opportunities to learn more about and see highlights of the Society’s unique Collections.
Coming up:
Workshops and showcases
"Thrilled to experience the most professional and in-depth presentation."
"Lovely to handle the original documents. Opens up a whole new dimension... a chance to interact and learn from documents and primary sources."
When: All events begin at 2.30pm. Meet at the Exhibition Road reception. Booking essential, as places are limited. Book early to avoid disappointment. Refreshments provided.
Tickets: Free to members and educational users, non-members £5 payable in advance.
To book a place:
Telephone +44 (0)20 7591 3044 or 
email showcase@rgs.org
Antarctic exploration
- Monday 5 March 2012
- Monday 12 March 2012
A return of this popular showcase covering the planning, execution and aftermath of the early 20th century Antarctic expeditions of Scott, Shackleton and Amundsen. Contents will include the South PolarTimes, the ‘inhouse magazine’produced by Scott and hismen during his first expedition.
By camel and car – desert exploration
- Monday 2 April 2012
- Monday 16 April 2012
By camel and by car, this showcase looks at European exploration of three of the world’s great deserts – the Taklamakan Desert of Central Asia, the Arabian Desert and theWestern or Libyan Desert of North Africa. The period covered in the showcase is roughly 1870 to 1950.
Arabia through a lens
- Monday 30 April 2012
- Monday 14 May 2012
From the architectural record and romance of Gertrude Bell to ground-breaking documentary images by Captain William Shakespear and Harry St. John Philby, this showcase provides an introduction to the work of early British photographers in the Middle East; documenting people and places which have since undergone significant change.
How to use the Foyle Reading Room workshop
An excellent hands-on introduction to the Foyle Reading Room, showing users how to get the best out of the Society's Collections.
Lecture-related Collections displays in the Foyle Reading Room
Pre- or post-Monday night lecture why not visit the Foyle Reading Room to see lecture-themed Collections displays on the following dates, pre-lecture from 5.30pm to 6.30pm and post-lecture from 7.30pm to 8.30pm.
- Madagascar's spiny forest (Map and Atlas representations of Madagascar) - 26 March 2012
- Where hornbills fly (Early maps, photographs and archival material relating to Borneo) - 30 April 2012
- Discovering Britain (Historical mapping of the British Isles) - 28 May 2012
Be Inspired
A series of afternoon talks based on the Society’s Collections, from 2.30pm to approximately 4pm.
This series of Collections-specific, regular afternoon talks is given by speakers who have used the Collections to inspire their writing, travel or personal researches. It is intended to inspire members and non-members alike to use our rich resources for their own projects.
Tickets: free to RGS-IBG members and educational users. Non-members: £5, payable in advance.
Venue: Education Centre, Lowther Lodge. Pre-booking required.
To book a place:
Telephone +44 (0)20 7591 3044 or email showcase@rgs.org
Stevenson in Samoa
Alexander Maitland
- Monday 18 June 2012 at 2.30pm
Robert Louis Stevenson lived at Vailima in Western Samoa from 1890-1894. This vivid portrayal of the famous writer’s last years is illustrated with previously unpublished photographs and extracts from his stories, poems and influential South Seas novels and other writing.
The Great White Silence
Jan Faull, British Film Institute (BFI)
- Monday 26 March 2012 at 2.30pm
The images that Herbert Ponting captured as photographer and cinematographer on the Terra Nova expedition have fired imaginations.The BFI has restored his remarkable filmto show the world of the expedition in brilliant detail.Venue: Ondaatje Theatre.
From Cairo to Baghdad
James Canton
- Monday 23 April 2012 at 2.30pm
The footsteps of British travellers into Arabia spread rapidly from1882when Britain took control of Egypt. This talk will trace through words and images the pathways of various British journeys into Arab lands from that time until the return of British troops to Iraq in 2003.
Travels in tandemn
Susanna Hoe
- Monday 21 May 2012 at 2.30pm
The concept of ‘Spirit of Place’ is turned on its head in this study of the writing of women and men who travelled together.Women, it suggests through the use of extensive comparative extracts, are inspired more by people than by place.
Collections On View events
Linked to selected exhibitions at the Society, these browsing displays (2.30pm to 4pm) include rare books, maps, photographs, images, artefacts and archival material relating to the subject of an exhibition. Located in the Society's Foyle Reading Room, many items on display are unique to the Society's Collections.
Free to RGS-IBG members, non-members £5. To book, telephone 020 7591 3044 or email showcase@rgs.org