The Royal Entomological Society Obligations Book

Rose Pearson
RES Librarian and Archivist

One item in our collections which offers a real sense of the history of the RES as a continually evolving entomological organisation is The Obligations Book, which was first signed by the founders of the Society in 1833 and remains a working document, still signed by Fellows today. If you would like to view the book, or if you are a Fellow who would like to sign the book, contact the Librarian at library@royensoc.co.uk.

The book was crafted to the highest standards of its time, with Morocco gilt binding and a rich blue watered silk lining. As they sign the book, Fellows read the Obligation which gives the book its name, promising to attend meetings regularly, promote the aims of the Society, and abide by its rules.

One of the first pages includes an 1835 painting by John Obidiah Westwood (President, 1852–1853) who also illustrated a number of noteworthy early entomological works. The piece, titled ‘Strength, Beauty and Vitality’ depicts a Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus), two butterflies – the Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus) and the Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) – and a honey bee (Apis mellifera). It also includes the twisted-winged fly Stylops melittae, which was depicted in the RES logo. Above the illustration is a stamped Royal Coat of arms and two signatures: those of Victoria, Duchess of Kent, and her daughter Princess Victoria, who was later to become Queen. Founding President J.R. Children personally assured the royals that “the same generous loyalty to rank and sex which is the grand characteristic of the economy of the hive, will ever be pre-eminent among the members of the Entomological Society”.

Recognisable signatures from the early years include that of Charles Darwin (Vice-President, 1838). Unusually for learned societies at the time, women were eligible to be members on the same basis as men, and this page also includes the signature of our second female member, and the first woman member to sign the book. Mrs F.W. Hope (née Ellen Meredith), together with her husband, the then President, the Rev. F.W. Hope, built up a substantial collection of insects which today forms the basis of the Hope Entomological Collections in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Another notable signature is that of Alfred Russel Wallace (President, 1870–1871).

150 years after the first illustration, the themes of strength, beauty and vitality were echoed in two further illustrations by RES Fellow and illustrator Brian Hargreaves. In addition to a beetle, the Garden Chafer (Phyllopertha horticola), a Dark Green Fritillary butterfly (Speyeria aglaja), a Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and the twisted-wing fly Stylops melittae, the first illustration includes a 2-spot Ladybird (Adalia bipunctata), a Hummingbird Hawk- moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) and a Vapourer Moth caterpillar (Orgyia antiqua) as well as a Great Green Bush-cricket (Tettigonia viridissima); the second, smaller illustration features a Painted Lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui).

That the Bumblebee is a queen is apt, as this page was also signed by Queen Elizabeth II, on Thursday 30th May 1985 at ‘A reception to commemorate the ‘Centenary of the Granting of the Royal Charter’ held at London Zoo.

The book continues to be signed by Fellows to this day, who read a modified form of the Obligation before they sign. Recent signees include current President Jane Stout, who signed the book at Ento 2024 in Liverpool. To help preserve the book and make it more accessible, it was recently digitised by Wiley Digital Archives and is available to view as part of their Environmental Science and History Collection.

Thank you to Richard Harrington, Dave Simcox and Jim Hardie for help with the identification of the insects in the illustrations.