Alick Bartholomew

The Royal Scottish Geographical Society (RSGS), established in 1884 in Scotland, is an educational charity dedicated to furthering the study of geography worldwide. It aims to inspire public interest in the world and provide reliable geographical information. The society achieves these goals through various means, including a quarterly magazine, public talks, a research journal, and an extensive archive dating back to its founding. The RSGS also supports geography education in schools and engages with contemporary issues like climate change.

Founded by John George Bartholomew, who was concerned about the state of map-making and the lack of geographical societies in Britain compared to Europe, the RSGS was initially supported by prominent figures like Mrs. A. L. Bruce, daughter of explorer David Livingstone, and Professor James Geikie. While exploration was a backdrop, the Society's primary focus was on research and education, as stated in its initial publications which emphasized the necessity of geographical knowledge for commercial, scientific, and political advancement. The RSGS has recognized numerous influential individuals with medals, including explorers and scientists, and has hosted notable figures like Sir Ernest Shackleton and Sir David Attenborough.

The Royal Scottish Geographical Society was conceived by John George Bartholomew, who observed a deficiency in British map craftsmanship and a relative scarcity of geographical societies when compared to continental Europe. Motivated by this, he investigated practices in other countries, particularly Germany, to establish a similar institution in Scotland. He was aided by Mrs. A. L. Bruce, an avid geographer with an interest in Africa and the daughter of explorer David Livingstone, and Arthur Silva White, an experienced travel writer who served as the Society's first secretary. Support was also garnered from Professor James Geikie of the University of Edinburgh, who championed geographical research and education. Consequently, the Scottish Geographical Society (S.G.S.) was founded in December 1884, attracting members from Edinburgh's educated elite and academic circles, thereby establishing influential backing. The Society sought to foster a broad intellectual focus, welcoming members from scientific and academic fields alongside the general public interested in new discoveries.

From its inception, the Scottish Geographical Society placed a greater emphasis on research and education than on exploration itself, although exploration and discovery were acknowledged as important. The inaugural issue of the Scottish Geographical Magazine articulated a primary objective: to advance the study of geography in Scotland and to impress upon the public the critical value of comprehensive geographical knowledge for commercial, scientific, and political development. The Society concentrated on educational and research pursuits, while also collecting and disseminating information derived from exploration and discovery. The prevailing scientific atmosphere in Scotland, particularly in Edinburgh, significantly shaped the Society's objectives and activities. With a membership rich in academics, education and research were paramount concerns. Although Edinburgh was the central hub for geography in Scotland, within its first year, the S.G.S. expanded by establishing branches in Dundee, Aberdeen, and Glasgow to accommodate strong local interest and engagement.

Among the early accomplishments of the RSGS were its contributions to the successful Scottish National Antarctic Expedition (1902–04) and the establishment of Scotland's first geography professorship at the University of Edinburgh. The Society maintains extensive collections encompassing historical and contemporary maps, atlases, books, journals, photographs, films, drawings, paintings, scientific instruments, personal papers, and artifacts from around the globe, with a particular focus on Scotland and regions explored by Scots. These collections are considered vital to Scotland's heritage, often preserving unique records of people, places, and events, including early polar exploration imagery and expedition diaries. While many items are housed at the RSGS headquarters in Perth, the majority of books are managed by the University of Strathclyde, and films are held by the Scottish Screen Archive. The collections are curated by volunteers and accessible to members by appointment.

“it is therefore one of the first objectives of the Scottish Geographical Society to advance the study of geography in Scotland: to impress the public with the necessity and inestimable value of a thorough knowledge of geography in a commercial, scientific or political education.”