Royal Commission on the British Museum

The Royal Commission on the British Museum (RCBM) was set up to review the activities of the British Museum particularly in relation to its Library.

The Commission was set up following an approach made by a number of eminent scientists to Lord John Russell, the Prime Minister sent on 10 March 1847.^[1] On June 1847 the original Commission was set up with eleven members and a quorum of five. Having met three times by the end of the year, it was found that the revolutionary events on the continent of Europe provided a distraction, and the commission failed to meet its quorum on occasions. On 5 May 1848 the commission was re-established with fourteen members and a quorum of three.^[2]

Composition

The Commission was headed by Lord Ellesmere. Other active members included Lord Seymour, Lord Canning, Roderick Murchison, Lord Rutherfurd. John Payne Collier acted as secretary (which was before his activities as forger had come to light).^[2]

British Museum Library Catalogue

A major part of the RCBM was concerned with the British Museum Library Catalogue.

References

The British Museum Building Great Court King's Library Round Reading Room Departments and objects Africa, Oceania & Americas Akan Drum Aubin Codex Benin Bronzes Briggs Enigma Double-headed serpent Hoa Hakananai'a Throne of Weapons Kayung totem pole Yaxchilan Lintel 24 Ancient Egypt and Sudan Colossal head of Amenhotep III Gebelein predynastic mummies Hunters Palette Rhind Mathematical Papyrus Rosetta Stone Sphinx of Taharqo Younger Memnon Asia Admonitions Scroll Bimaran casket Kanishka casket Mathura lion capital Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art Seated Buddha from Gandhara Statue of Tara The Great Wave off Kanagawa Greece and Rome Bassae Frieze Elgin Marbles Esquiline Treasure Farnese Diadumenos Harpy Tomb Jennings Dog Lion of Knidos Minoan Bull-leaper Nereid Monument Portland Vase Warren Cup Middle East Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III Burney Relief Cylinder of Nabonidus Cyrus Cylinder Flood tablet (Gilgamesh) Library of Ashurbanipal Oxus Treasure Taylor Prism Lachish relief Babylonian Chronicles Kurkh Monoliths Prehistory and Europe Franks Casket Holy Thorn Reliquary Hoxne Hoard Lewis chessmen Lindow Man Mildenhall Treasure Ringlemere Cup Royal Gold Cup Sutton Hoo Swimming Reindeer Vindolanda Tablets Prints and Drawings Dürer's Rhinoceros Epifania I Modi Isabella Brant The Ancient of Days The Disasters of War The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies Triumphal Arch Other Coins and Medals Conservation, Documentation and Science Libraries and Archives Portable Antiquities and Treasure A History of the World in 100 Objects Other British Museum Act 1902 British Museum Act 1963 Directors Films shot at the British Museum Friends Royal Commission on the British Museum Trustees Secretum Category Commons