Bibliography (published sources)

General sources

  • Burek, C V & B Higgs, “The role of women in the history and development of geology: an introduction”, ‘The Role of Women in the History of Geology’, Geological Society Special Publication 281 (2007), pp1-8.
  • Burek, C V & M Kolbl-Ebert, “The historical problems of travel for women undertaking geological fieldwork’ in Burek, C V and B M Higgs (eds), ‘The Role of Women in the History of Geology’, Geological Society Special Publication 281 (2007), pp115-122.
  • Fenton, C L & M A Fenton, ‘The story of the Great Geologists’, New York: Doubleday, Doran & Co, Inc (1945), pp88-89. 
  • Kölbl-Ebert, M, “British geology in the early nineteenth century: a conglomerate with a female matrix,” Earth Sciences History, vol 21 (2002), pp3-25.
  • Kölbl-Ebert, M, “Sketching rocks and landscape: drawing as a female accomplishment in the service of geology,” Earth Sciences History, Vol. 31 (2012), pp270-286.
  • Panciroli, E & P N Wyse Jackson and P R Crowther, “Scientists, collectors and illustrators: the roles of women in the Palaeontographical Society”, in Burek, C V and B M Higgs (eds), ‘Celebrating 100 Years of Female Fellowship of the Geological Society: Discovering Forgotten Histories’, Geological Society, London, Special Publications, vol 506 (2021), pp97-116.
  • Sowerby, James & James De Carle Sowerby, ‘The mineral conchology of Great Britain; or Coloured figures and descriptions of those remains of testaceous animals or shells, which have been preserved at various times and depths in the earth’, London: printed by Benjamin Meredith (1812-1846).
  • Thackray, J. “Separately-published prints of fossils in nineteenth century Britain”, Archives of Natural History, vol 12 (1985), pp175-199. 
  • Torrens, H. “Mary Anning (1799-1847) of Lyme; ‘the greatest fossilist the world ever knew’”, BJHS, vol 28 (1995), pp257-284.
  • Woodward, H B. ‘The History of the Geological Society of London’, London: Longmans, Green & Co (1908). 

Cecile Agassiz

  • Agassiz, J L R, ‘Recherches sur les poissons fossiles’, Neuchâtel: Aux frais de l'auteur; Imprimerie de Petitpierre (1833-1843). 
  • Agassiz, E C C (ed), ‘Louis Agassiz: his life and correspondence’, London: Macmillan (1885). 
  • Agassiz, A and Agassiz, G R (ed), ‘Letters and recollections of Alexander Agassiz, with a sketch of his life and work’, London: Constable & Co (1913). 
  • Cabot, J E, ‘The life and writings of Agassiz’, Boston (1847).
  • Desor, E, "Excursions et sejour de M. Agassiz sur la Mer de Glace du Lauteraar et du Finsteraar, en societe de plusieurs naturalistes", Archives des Sciences Physiques et Naturelles, NS vol XXXII (1841). (GSL Library collections, E Tract 49). 
  • Marcou, Jules, Life, ‘Letters and works of Louis Agassiz (reprint of 1896 edition)’, New York: Cambridge University Press (2011).

Etheldred Benett

  • Benett, E, ‘A catalogue of the organic remains of the county of Wilts’, Warminster: Printed by J L Vardy (1831). 
  • Jameson, R, “List of Geological and Mineralogical Collections in Great Britain and Ireland”, Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal, vol 7 (1829), pp113-115. 
  • Murchison, R, “Presidential Address, 1832”, Proceedings of the Geological Society, vol 1 (1832), p373.
  • Spamer, E E &A E Bogan and H S Torrens, "Recovery of the Etheldred Benett collection of fossils mostly from Jurassic-Cretaceous strata of Wiltshire, England, Analysis of the taxonomic nomenclature of Benett (1831), and notes and figures of type specimens contained in the collection", Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, vol 141 (1989), pp115-180. 
  • Torrens, H S and E Benamy, E B Daeschler, E E Spamer & A E Bogan, "Etheldred Benett of Wiltshire, England, the first lady geologist - Her fossil collection in the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, and the rediscovery of her 'lost' specimens of Jurassic Trigoniidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia) with their soft anatomy preserved", Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, vol 150 (2000), pp59-123.

Mary Buckland

  • Buckland, W, “Notice on the Megalosaurus or great Fossil Lizard of Stonesfield”, Transactions of the Geological Society of London, Series 2, vol 1 (1824), pp390-396.
  • Buckland, W. et al, ‘Geology and mineralogy as exhibiting the power, wisdom, and goodness of God’, 4th edn. London: Bell and Daldy (1870).
  • Cleal, C J and M Lazarus & A Townsend, “Illustrations and illustrators during the ‘Golden Age’ of palaeobotany: 1800–1840”, in Bowden et al (eds), ‘History of Palaeobotany: Selected Essays’, Geological Society, London, Special Publications Vol 241 (2005), pp41-61
  • Conybeare, W D & W Buckland. 'Ten plates comprising a plan, sections, and views, representing the changes produced on the coast of East Devon, between Axmouth and Lyme Regis by the subsidence of the land and elevation of the bottom of the sea, on the 26th December, 1839, and 3rd of February, 1840'. London: John Murray, 1840. 
  • Cuvier, G, Recherches sur les ossemens fossiles, ou l'on rétablit les caractères de plusieurs animaux dont les révolutions du globe ont détruit les espèces. Nouvelle éd. edn. Paris: Chez G. Dufour et E. d'Ocagne (1821-1824).
  • Kölbl-Ebert, M. “Mary Buckland (nee Morland) 1797-1857”, ‘Earth Sciences History’, vol 16(1997), pp34-35. 
  • Kölbl-Ebert, M, “The role of British and German women in early 19th-century geology: a comparative assessment”, in Burek, C V and B Higgs, ‘The Role of Women in the History of Geology’, Geological Society, London, Special Publications, Vol 281 (2007), pp155-163.
  • Gordon, E O, ‘Life and Correspondence of William Buckland, DD, FRS, Sometime Dean of Westminster, Twice President of the Geological Society and First President of the British Association’, John Murray, London (1894). 
  • Haile, N, “William Buckland (1784-1856)”, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 25 September 2014.
  • Newell, S M, “The 1824 Megalosaurus Prints in Context: Mary Morland, William Buckland and early lithography at the Geological Society”, Earth Sciences History, Vol 44 (2025), pp88-122. 
  • Torrens, H S, “Buckland [née Morland], Mary (1797–1857)”, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 3 January 2008.

Priscilla Susan Bury

  • Bury, P S, ‘Figures of remarkable forms of polycystins, or allied organisms, in the Barbados chalk deposit (chiefly from that collected by Dr Davy, and which he had noticed in a lecture delivered to the Agricultural Society of Barbados, in July, 1846)’,  Windermere: Printed by John Garnett (1862).
  • Bury, P S, “A popular description of Polycystins”, Science Gossip, vol 1 (1865), pp101-103. 
  • Dolan, J R, “Pioneers of plankton research: Priscilla Susan Bury (1799–1872)”, Journal of Plankton Research, Volume 46 (2006), pp1-8, https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbad051
  • Mabberley, D J, “Bury [née Falkner], Priscilla Susan (1799–1872)”, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 27 May 2010. 
  • Science Museum, “Bury, Priscilla Susan 1799-1872”, https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/ap27970/bury-priscilla-susan, [Accessed 8 Dec 2025]

Mrs Cazalet of Torquay

  • Blewitt, O, ‘The panorama of Torquay, a descriptive and historical sketch of the district comprised between the Dart and Teign’, London, Simpkin and Marshall; Torquay, Cockrem (1832). 
  • Buckland, W, ‘Reliquiae diluvianae; or, Observations on the organic remains contained in caves, fissures, and diluvial gravel, and on other geological phenomena, attesting the action of an universal deluge’, 2nd edn, London: John Murray (1824).
  • Kennard, A S, "The Early digs in Kent's Hole, Torquay, and Mrs Cazalet", Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, vol 56 (1945), pp 156-192.
  • MacEnery, J and Vivian, E (ed.), ‘Cavern researches, or, Discoveries of organic remains, and of British and Roman reliques, in the caves of Kent's Hole, Anstis Cove, Chudleigh, and Berry Head’, London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co.; E. Cockrem (1859)
  • Maton, W G, ‘Observations relative chiefly to the natural history, picturesque scenery, and antiquities, of the western counties of England, made in the years 1794 and 1796’, Salisbury: Printed and sold by J. Easton (1797).
  • Walker, E A, “Discoveries in Devon: the works of Father John MacEnery and William Pengelly”, in Hosfield, R & F Wenban-Smith and M Pope (eds) ‘Great Prehistorians: 150 Years of Palaeolithic Research, 1859–2009’ (Special Volume 30 of Lithics: The Journal of the Lithic Studies Society), Lithic Studies Society, London (2009), pp25-33.
  • White, M J & P B Pettitt, "The demonstration of human antiquity: three rediscovered illustrations from the 1825 and 1846 excavations in Kent’s Cavern (Torquay, England)", 'Antiquity', vol 83 (2009), pp758-768.

Lady Eliza Gordon Cumming

  • Agassiz, J L R, ‘Monographie des poissons fossiles du vieux grès rouge ou système Dévonien (Old Red Sandstone) des Îles Britanniques et de Russie’, Neuchâtel: Aux frais de l'auteur; Soleure, chez Jent et Gassmann (1844-1845).
  • Andrews, S M, ‘The discovery of fossil fishes in Scotland up to 1845: with checklists of Agassiz's figured specimens’. Edinburgh: Royal Scottish Museum (1982).
  • Andrews, S M, “Altyre and Lethen Bar, two Middle Old Red Sandstone fish localities?”, Scottish Journal of Geology, vol 19 (1983), pp243-264.
  • Davidson, R G & N H Trewin, J Armstrong and S R Waters, “Dr John Grant Malcolmson and a reconciliation of the Middle Devonian Lethen Bar and Lethen House fish-bearing nodule localities, with notes on the Middle Devonian nodule beds of the Moray Firth area”, Scottish Journal of Geology, Vol 60 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1144/sjg2023-011
  • Duff, Patrick, ‘Sketch of the geology of Moray’. Elgin: Forsyth & Young (1842).
  • Gordon Cumming, C F, ‘Memories’, Edinburgh: Blackwood (1904). 
  • Miller, H, ‘Scenes and legends of the north of Scotland, or The traditional history of Cromarty’, Edinburgh: A and C Black; London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green and Longman (1835).
  • Orr, M, “Collecting women in geology: opening the international case of a Scottish ‘cabinétière’,  Eliza Gordon Cumming (c. 1798–1842)”, in Burek, C V and B M Higgs, (eds), ‘Celebrating 100 Years of Female Fellowship of the Geological Society: Discovering Forgotten Histories’, Geological Society, London, Special Publications, vol 506 (2021), pp63-73. 

Maria Emma Gray

  • Boulger, G S revised by P E Kell, “Gray [née Smith], Maria Emma (1787–1876)”, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 23 Sep 2004.
  • Cleevely, R J, “Gray, John Edward (1800-1875)”, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 4 October 2008.
  • Gray, J E, ‘Synopsis reptilium; or short descriptions of the species of reptiles’ (1831). Tract M9 f5.
  • Gray, J E, ‘Catalogue of the Specimens of Lizards in the Collection of the British Museum’,  London: Trustees of the British Museum (1845).
  • Gray, J E,  "Description of Scapha maria-emma, a New Species of Volute", Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, vol 27 (1859), pp230-231.
  • Gray, M E, ‘Figures of molluscous animals, selected from various authors. Etched for the use of students’, London: Longman & Co (1842-1850).
  • Shteir, A B, “Griffiths [née Rogers], Amelia Warren (1768–1858)”, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 23 September 2004.
  • Thiselton-Dyer, W T, “Type-specimens of Mrs. Griffiths”, Annals of Botany, vol 5 (1890-1891), pp 228-229.

Anna Gurney

  • Brookman, H, “Anna Gurney (1795-1857)”, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 6 Oct 2016.
  • Falconer, H, “On the Species of Mastodon and Elephant occurring in the fossil State in Great Britain. Part II. Elephant”, Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, vol 21 (1865), pp81-84.
  • Falconer, H and Murchison, C (ed), ‘Palaeontological memoirs and notes of the late Hugh Falconer, ... for many years Superintendent of the H E I Company's Botanical Gardens at Suharunpoor and Calcutta. With a biographical sketch of the author', London: Robert Hardwicke (1868), p143.
  • Gunn, J & Woodward, H B (ed) and Newton, E T (ed.) 'Memorials of John Gunn: being some account of the Cromer Forest Bed and its fossil Mammalia, and of the associated strata in the cliffs of Norfolk and Suffolk, from the ms. notes of the late John Gunn: with a memoir of the author', Norwich: W A Nudd (1891).
  • Leith Adams, A, 'Monograph on Fossil Elephants’ [Palaeontographical Society monograph], (1877-1881), p214.
  • Owen, R, “Report on the British Fossil Mammalia”, Report of the British Association (1843), pp. 208-241.
  • Owen, R, 'A history of British fossil mammals, and birds', London: John van Voorst (1846), p251.
  • Prestwich, J, “On the Structure of the Crag-beds of Suffolk and Norfolk, with some Observations on their Organic Remains”, Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, vol 27 (1871), pp115-146.

Gulielma Holmes and Mary Holmes

  • Cooper, J A , “The Life and Work of George Bax Holmes (1803-1887) of Horsham, Sussex: a Quaker vertebrate fossil collector”, Archives of Natural History 19 (1992), pp379-400.
  • Hulke, J W, “Description of some Iguanodon-remains indicating a new Species, I. Seelyi”, Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, vol 38 (1882), pp135-144.
  • Panciroli, E & P N Wyse Jackson and P R Crowther, “Scientists, collectors and illustrators: the roles of women in the Palaeontographical Society”, in Burek, C V and B M Higgs, ‘Celebrating 100 Years of Female Fellowship of the Geological Society: Discovering Forgotten Histories’,  Geological Society, London, Special Publications, vol 506 (2021), pp97-116.
  • Owen, R, "Report on British Fossil Reptiles. Part I", Reports of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, 1839 (published 1840), pp43-126.
  • Owen, R, "Report on British Fossil Reptiles. Part II", Reports of the British Association for the Advancement of Science 1841 (published 1842), pp60-204.
  • Owen, Richard, ‘[Monograph on the fossil Reptilia of the Wealden and Purbeck formations’,  London: Monograph of the Palaeontographical Society, (1853-1889).

Susanna Lister and Anne Lister

  • Chapman, K, ‘Lister's Historiae Conchyliorum: a seventeenth-century shell book’, 8 March 2018, National Museum of Wales, https://museum.wales/blog/1916/Listers-Historiae-Conchyliorum-a-seventeenth-century-shell-book/ [accessed 24 Nov 2025]
  • Dillwyn, L W and Lister, M, ‘Martini Lister Historia sive synopsis methodica conchyliorum. Editio tertia. Recensuit et indice locupletissimo instruxit’, Oxonii: E Typographeo Clarendoniano (1823).
  • “Lister, Martin 1639 – 1712”, Science Museum,  https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/ap26525/lister-martin [accessed 24 Nov 2025].
  • Lister, M et al, ‘Martini Lister, M.D. Historiae sive synopsis methodicae Conchyliorum et tabularum anatomicarum’, 2nd edn. Oxonii: E Typographeo Clarendoniano (1770).
  • Woodley, J D, “Anne Lister, illustrator of Martin Lister's Historiae conchyliorum, 1685-1692”, Archives of Natural History, 21 (1994), pp225-229.
  • Woodley, J D, “Lister [married name Knowler], Susanna (bap. 1670, d. 1738)”, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 03 January 2008.

Charlotte Murchison

  • Buckland, A, ‘Women Geologists 1780–1840: Re-reading Charlotte Murchison’ in E  Aronova et al. (eds.), Handbook of the Historiography of the Earth and Environmental Sciences, Historiographies of Science, Springer (2024).
  • Kölbl-Ebert, M. “Charlotte Murchison (nee Hugonin) 1788-1869”, ‘Earth Sciences History’, vol 16 (1997), pp39-43.
  • Kölbl-Ebert, M. “The geological travels of Charles Lyell, Charlotte Murchison and Roderick Impey Murchison in France and northern Italy (1828)”, from: Wyse Jackson, P N (ed) ‘Four Centuries of Geological Travel: The Search for Knowledge on Foot, Bicycle, Sledge and Camel’, Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 287, pp109-117.
  • Murchison, R, ‘The Silurian system, founded on geological researches in the counties of Salop, Hereford, Radnor, Montgomery, Caermarthen, Brecon, Pembroke, Monmouth, Gloucester, Worcester and Stafford; with descriptions of the coal-fields and overlying formations’, London: John Murray (1839).
  • Sedgwick, A and R Murchison, “A Sketch of the Structure of the Eastern Alps; with Sections through the Newer Formations on the Northern Flanks of the Chain, and through the Tertiary Deposits of Styria, &c. &c.”, Transactions of the Geological Society of London, Series 2, vol 3 (1832), pp301-420.

Silurian System Illustrators

  • Campbell Smith, W, "Early Mineralogy in Great Britain and Ireland", Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), vol 6 (1978), pp49-74.
  • Murchison, R. 'Silurian System', London: John Murray (1839).
  • Murchison, R. 'Siluria', London: John Murray (1854). 
  • Thomas D L, revised by Brynley F Roberts, “John Montgomery Traherne (1788–1860)” Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 4 October 2007.

Mary Hone Smith

  • Bowerbank, J S, “Microscopical Observations on the Structure of the Bones of Pterodactylus Giganteus and other Fossil Animals”, Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, Vol 4 (1848), pp2-10. 
  • Cleevely, R J, ‘World palaeontological collections’, London: British Museum (Natural History); Mansell Publishing (1983).
  • Curwen, E C (ed), ‘The journal of Gideon Mantell, surgeon and geologist: covering the years 1818-1852’, London: Oxford University Press (1940). 
  • Dixon, F & R Owen (ed), ‘The geology and fossils of the Tertiary and Cretaceous formations of Sussex. London: Printed for the author by Richard and John Edward Taylor (1850). 
  • Mantell, G A, “Description of some Fossil Fruits from the Chalk Formation of the South-east of England”, Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, vol 2 (1846), pp51-55. 
  • Owen, R, ‘A monograph of the fossil Reptilia of the Cretaceous formations’, London: Palaeontographical Society. (Monograph of the Palaeontographical Society) (1866).
  • Thomson, J R and Topley, W, ‘Pelton's illustrated guide to Tunbridge Wells and the neighbouring seats, towns, and villages’, Tunbridge Wells: Richard Pelton (1875).
  • Turner, S & C V Burek and R T J Moody, “Forgotten women in an extinct saurian (man's) world”, in Moody, R T J & E Buffetaut, D Naish and D M Martill (eds) Dinosaurs and Other Extinct Saurians: A Historical Perspective Geological Society, London, Special Publications, vol 343 (2010), pp111-153.   
  • Woodward, H, “Contributions to British Fossil Crustacea”, Geological Magazine, Decade 1 vol 7 (1870), pp493-497. 

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