Photos from the Archives… The Geologists' Association 'Carreck Archive'

Field trips have always been an essential and fun part of geology, but what were field trips like 100 years ago? Now we know! A recent deposit to the BGS archives is the Geologists' Association (GA) 'Carreck Archive' ‒ an amazing collection of field trip photographs dating back to the 1890s. Named after Marjorie Carreck, a long time contributor of photographs and custodian of the collection, the collection consists of a series of photograph albums, loose photos and ephemera relating to the GA and their field trips. Scanning the photographs has just begun and the captions are being keyed by a small team of volunteers. All images will eventually be delivered through the BGS image service 'GeoScenic'. None are available just yet but we'll be updating you with the progress through this blog so stay tuned.

The GA were very active. Their short trips were focused around London and its environs, while the longer trips go to all parts of the UK as well as overseas.



Motor excursion in Surrey, June 6th 1914. Newlands Corner



Descending a Denehole at Hangman's Wood. 1908



The Geologists' Association were clearly adventurous, with photographs in one volume from Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Montenegro, Germany, Egypt, Canada, and the Atlantic Islands (Canary Isles, Madeira and Trinidad).

Josterdals Snowfield, Norway. H.W.M

New lava flow from Vesuvius. 1906.

Houses destroyed by volcanic dust, Vesuvius eruption. 1906

Here we are in November, at the close of the field season, so, let us reflect on the trips undertaken throughout the year… but 100 years ago! For 1912, the GA held a total of twenty-nine excursions. Twelve half-day, seven whole day, four long excursions and six museum visits. Photographs have been found for the following trips and we are sure more will be found as we go through the collection:

Excursion to Erith, March 30th 1912.

Excursion to Greenhithe, April 20th 1912.

Excursion to Clandon, May 11th 1912.

Excursion to Princes Risborough, May 18th 1912.

[Excursion to the North East of England, May 25-29th 1912].

Excursion to Claygate, June 15th 1912.

Excursion to Borstal, June 22nd 1912.

Excursion to Ewell, July 6th 1912.

Excursion to Henley, July 13th 1912.

Excursion to Reculvers, Herne Bay, July 20th 1912.

Excursion to Aylesbury, Hartwell and Stone, July 27th 1912.

Excursion to Mount Sorrel, August 29th 1912.

2865-2 Section in the Reading Beds – Nonsuch Pottery Clay Pit Excursion to Ewell, July 6th 1912. Note, no hard hats, only straw boaters

To finish here is a magnificent panorama of the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx taken in 1913.

Gizeh Pyramids

 From Robert McIntosh, BGS Information Manager

(If you wish to contact the GA Archivist please email Jonathan Larwood )