Will Beharrell
@willbeharrell.bsky.social
📚 Librarian at the Linnean Society, the world’s oldest learned society devoted to natural history.
🌿 Secretary of the Society for the History of Natural History (SHNH).
🏳️🌈 Secretary and proud Trustee of Newbury Pride.
🌿 Secretary of the Society for the History of Natural History (SHNH).
🏳️🌈 Secretary and proud Trustee of Newbury Pride.
Reposted by Will Beharrell
“It tires me a great deal to sit to anyone, but I should be the most ungrateful and ungracious dog not to agree”
September's Treasure of the Month is our most famous portrait of Charles Darwin, which is now part of UNESCO's Memory of the World.
buff.ly/hQkkwPX
September's Treasure of the Month is our most famous portrait of Charles Darwin, which is now part of UNESCO's Memory of the World.
buff.ly/hQkkwPX
September 29, 2025 at 10:05 AM
“It tires me a great deal to sit to anyone, but I should be the most ungrateful and ungracious dog not to agree”
September's Treasure of the Month is our most famous portrait of Charles Darwin, which is now part of UNESCO's Memory of the World.
buff.ly/hQkkwPX
September's Treasure of the Month is our most famous portrait of Charles Darwin, which is now part of UNESCO's Memory of the World.
buff.ly/hQkkwPX
Reposted by Will Beharrell
We had a BALL celebrating with our friends at @readingprideuk.bsky.social yesterday! The Reading team did an incredible job, and we had an amazing time! Thanks to everyone who came by to say hello ❤️
August 31, 2025 at 2:50 PM
We had a BALL celebrating with our friends at @readingprideuk.bsky.social yesterday! The Reading team did an incredible job, and we had an amazing time! Thanks to everyone who came by to say hello ❤️
Look at this beauty, freshly returned from conservation! “Fleurs, fruits et feuillages choisis de la flore et de la pomone de l'Ile de Java” (1863) by Berthe van Nooten is one of my favourite items in the @linneansociety.bsky.social library, with firework fruits and flowers on every page.
August 29, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Look at this beauty, freshly returned from conservation! “Fleurs, fruits et feuillages choisis de la flore et de la pomone de l'Ile de Java” (1863) by Berthe van Nooten is one of my favourite items in the @linneansociety.bsky.social library, with firework fruits and flowers on every page.
Natural history friends! Join SHNH (@sochistnathist.bsky.social) for our annual prize-giving this Wednesday. We’ll zip through the AGM business in the first half, and then have brief talks from our medalists in the second. We would love for you to join us 😊
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shnh-annua...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shnh-annua...
SHNH Annual General Meeting and Prizegiving 2025
Please join us for the Society for the History of Natural History's AGM, followed by a presentation of the Society's awards and prizes.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
July 14, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Natural history friends! Join SHNH (@sochistnathist.bsky.social) for our annual prize-giving this Wednesday. We’ll zip through the AGM business in the first half, and then have brief talks from our medalists in the second. We would love for you to join us 😊
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shnh-annua...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shnh-annua...
Reposted by Will Beharrell
In 1986 my father found out I was gay when he discovered me in bed with my boyfriend.
I was 19, still two years shy of the age of consent for gay men in the UK at the time.
He told me he loved me but just felt sad.
All he knew of gay men then told him that we led short, unhappy lives.
#FathersDay
I was 19, still two years shy of the age of consent for gay men in the UK at the time.
He told me he loved me but just felt sad.
All he knew of gay men then told him that we led short, unhappy lives.
#FathersDay
June 15, 2025 at 11:14 AM
In 1986 my father found out I was gay when he discovered me in bed with my boyfriend.
I was 19, still two years shy of the age of consent for gay men in the UK at the time.
He told me he loved me but just felt sad.
All he knew of gay men then told him that we led short, unhappy lives.
#FathersDay
I was 19, still two years shy of the age of consent for gay men in the UK at the time.
He told me he loved me but just felt sad.
All he knew of gay men then told him that we led short, unhappy lives.
#FathersDay
Reposted by Will Beharrell
These subtle drawings of koalas are by John William Lewin (1770 – 1819). #wildkoaladay
The pencil drawings are part of a folder in our archives (MS-630), containing a selection of Lewin's sketches and watercolours of Australian wildlife and thought to have been drawn between 1800-1817.
The pencil drawings are part of a folder in our archives (MS-630), containing a selection of Lewin's sketches and watercolours of Australian wildlife and thought to have been drawn between 1800-1817.
May 3, 2025 at 12:28 PM
These subtle drawings of koalas are by John William Lewin (1770 – 1819). #wildkoaladay
The pencil drawings are part of a folder in our archives (MS-630), containing a selection of Lewin's sketches and watercolours of Australian wildlife and thought to have been drawn between 1800-1817.
The pencil drawings are part of a folder in our archives (MS-630), containing a selection of Lewin's sketches and watercolours of Australian wildlife and thought to have been drawn between 1800-1817.
Reposted by Will Beharrell
🌿 It’s Lily of the Valley Day: a French tradition where the flower is given on 1 May for luck.
We’re marking it with Gilbert White’s May diary entry noting his first sighting 🌸 and a delicate botanical watercolour from our Naturalists’ Notebooks exhibition.
We’re marking it with Gilbert White’s May diary entry noting his first sighting 🌸 and a delicate botanical watercolour from our Naturalists’ Notebooks exhibition.
May 1, 2025 at 4:46 PM
🌿 It’s Lily of the Valley Day: a French tradition where the flower is given on 1 May for luck.
We’re marking it with Gilbert White’s May diary entry noting his first sighting 🌸 and a delicate botanical watercolour from our Naturalists’ Notebooks exhibition.
We’re marking it with Gilbert White’s May diary entry noting his first sighting 🌸 and a delicate botanical watercolour from our Naturalists’ Notebooks exhibition.
Reposted by Will Beharrell
Charles Darwin's archive has been recognised on the UNESCO International Memory of the World Register, which protects invaluable records that tell the story of human civilisation.
www.linnean.org/news/2025/04...
www.linnean.org/news/2025/04...
April 22, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Charles Darwin's archive has been recognised on the UNESCO International Memory of the World Register, which protects invaluable records that tell the story of human civilisation.
www.linnean.org/news/2025/04...
www.linnean.org/news/2025/04...
This is Andrea at the #DefendTransRights protest in Reading yesterday. She’s Newbury Pride’s Vice-Chair and my friend ❤️
I couldn’t have been prouder.
#TransRightsAreHumanRights
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
@readingprideuk.bsky.social
@newburypride.bsky.social
I couldn’t have been prouder.
#TransRightsAreHumanRights
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
@readingprideuk.bsky.social
@newburypride.bsky.social
April 20, 2025 at 12:24 PM
This is Andrea at the #DefendTransRights protest in Reading yesterday. She’s Newbury Pride’s Vice-Chair and my friend ❤️
I couldn’t have been prouder.
#TransRightsAreHumanRights
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
@readingprideuk.bsky.social
@newburypride.bsky.social
I couldn’t have been prouder.
#TransRightsAreHumanRights
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
@readingprideuk.bsky.social
@newburypride.bsky.social
Reposted by Will Beharrell
Birch twigs adorned with colourful feathers are a traditional Swedish Easter decoration, brightening up the dinner table.
Illustration by J. Terrier from 'Faune de la Senegambie' by Alphonse Trémeau de Rochebrune, 1883-1884.
www.magnoliabox.com/...
Illustration by J. Terrier from 'Faune de la Senegambie' by Alphonse Trémeau de Rochebrune, 1883-1884.
www.magnoliabox.com/...
April 20, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Birch twigs adorned with colourful feathers are a traditional Swedish Easter decoration, brightening up the dinner table.
Illustration by J. Terrier from 'Faune de la Senegambie' by Alphonse Trémeau de Rochebrune, 1883-1884.
www.magnoliabox.com/...
Illustration by J. Terrier from 'Faune de la Senegambie' by Alphonse Trémeau de Rochebrune, 1883-1884.
www.magnoliabox.com/...
Reposted by Will Beharrell
In 1694 #OTD the naturalist George Ewards was born.
Known by some as the father of British ornithology, Edwards travelled through Europe producing colourful drawings of birds as he went.
He finally published A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, which was subsequently referenced by Linnaeus. (📸BHL)
Known by some as the father of British ornithology, Edwards travelled through Europe producing colourful drawings of birds as he went.
He finally published A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, which was subsequently referenced by Linnaeus. (📸BHL)
April 3, 2025 at 3:21 PM
In 1694 #OTD the naturalist George Ewards was born.
Known by some as the father of British ornithology, Edwards travelled through Europe producing colourful drawings of birds as he went.
He finally published A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, which was subsequently referenced by Linnaeus. (📸BHL)
Known by some as the father of British ornithology, Edwards travelled through Europe producing colourful drawings of birds as he went.
He finally published A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, which was subsequently referenced by Linnaeus. (📸BHL)
Reposted by Will Beharrell
Frederik Ruysch was born #OTD in 1638.
Ruysch was primarily an anatomist, experimenting with and testing new ways to preserve and embalm specimens which could then be further used for study and teaching.
But he also studied animals and was the first to describe the vomeronasal organ in snakes.
Ruysch was primarily an anatomist, experimenting with and testing new ways to preserve and embalm specimens which could then be further used for study and teaching.
But he also studied animals and was the first to describe the vomeronasal organ in snakes.
March 28, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Frederik Ruysch was born #OTD in 1638.
Ruysch was primarily an anatomist, experimenting with and testing new ways to preserve and embalm specimens which could then be further used for study and teaching.
But he also studied animals and was the first to describe the vomeronasal organ in snakes.
Ruysch was primarily an anatomist, experimenting with and testing new ways to preserve and embalm specimens which could then be further used for study and teaching.
But he also studied animals and was the first to describe the vomeronasal organ in snakes.
Reposted by Will Beharrell
The Ray Society is now on Bluesky! Most recent publication ‘Biology, evolution and genetic review of the chemosymbiotic Bivalve Family Lucinidae’ by John Taylor and Emily Glover RRP £98 from the Ray Society and NHBS websites.
March 30, 2025 at 3:57 PM
The Ray Society is now on Bluesky! Most recent publication ‘Biology, evolution and genetic review of the chemosymbiotic Bivalve Family Lucinidae’ by John Taylor and Emily Glover RRP £98 from the Ray Society and NHBS websites.
Reposted by Will Beharrell
How has the humble notebook been an essential tool for celebrated thinkers throughout history? Our upcoming free exhibition, Naturalists' Notebooks, explores how naturalists recorded our world from the 18th century to today.
Open Tuesday 11 March until Saturday 20 September 2025.
bit.ly/43kBXmC
Open Tuesday 11 March until Saturday 20 September 2025.
bit.ly/43kBXmC
March 4, 2025 at 5:12 PM
How has the humble notebook been an essential tool for celebrated thinkers throughout history? Our upcoming free exhibition, Naturalists' Notebooks, explores how naturalists recorded our world from the 18th century to today.
Open Tuesday 11 March until Saturday 20 September 2025.
bit.ly/43kBXmC
Open Tuesday 11 March until Saturday 20 September 2025.
bit.ly/43kBXmC
I wrote a thing about growing up gay in West Berkshire for LGBT+ History Month and Newbury Pride. You can read my shapeless musings below 👇
February 16, 2025 at 12:49 PM
I wrote a thing about growing up gay in West Berkshire for LGBT+ History Month and Newbury Pride. You can read my shapeless musings below 👇
I run some funny errands for the @linneansociety.bsky.social. Today’s was taking Carl Linnaeus’s walking stick to the V&A to be x-rayed (we thought there might be a sword inside it)…
January 23, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I run some funny errands for the @linneansociety.bsky.social. Today’s was taking Carl Linnaeus’s walking stick to the V&A to be x-rayed (we thought there might be a sword inside it)…
Reposted by Will Beharrell
Over the last many months I've been working on two new terms for the RMBS controlled vocabularies thesaurus. They're for use when cataloguing books with plants (or other organic bits and bobs) pressed inside them, and they're currently open for comment. (Links in next post) #GLAMS 📚 #RareBooks
New Term: Pressed plants [CVRMC] | RBMS Controlled Vocabularies Community Discussion
rbms.info
January 23, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Over the last many months I've been working on two new terms for the RMBS controlled vocabularies thesaurus. They're for use when cataloguing books with plants (or other organic bits and bobs) pressed inside them, and they're currently open for comment. (Links in next post) #GLAMS 📚 #RareBooks
Reposted by Will Beharrell
This #BlueMonday, a few 'blue' pages from one of our most popular books 'Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions' (1843) by pioneering photographer Anna Atkins.
Also watch our librarian, Will Beharrell's @willbeharrell.bsky.social, talk on the Society’s copy
youtu.be/bTK_YU75Wbc
Also watch our librarian, Will Beharrell's @willbeharrell.bsky.social, talk on the Society’s copy
youtu.be/bTK_YU75Wbc
January 20, 2025 at 3:48 PM
This #BlueMonday, a few 'blue' pages from one of our most popular books 'Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions' (1843) by pioneering photographer Anna Atkins.
Also watch our librarian, Will Beharrell's @willbeharrell.bsky.social, talk on the Society’s copy
youtu.be/bTK_YU75Wbc
Also watch our librarian, Will Beharrell's @willbeharrell.bsky.social, talk on the Society’s copy
youtu.be/bTK_YU75Wbc
Reposted by Will Beharrell
🚨 Registration now open for our Early Career Researcher Symposium on 20 February! 🚨
Join online to listen to talks ranging from the Language of Flowers to the Secret Face of Isaac Newton 🌸🕵️
For more information, including full programme & how to book your FREE ticket 👇
shnh.org.uk/shnh-early-c...
Join online to listen to talks ranging from the Language of Flowers to the Secret Face of Isaac Newton 🌸🕵️
For more information, including full programme & how to book your FREE ticket 👇
shnh.org.uk/shnh-early-c...
SHNH Early Career Researcher Symposium 2025 - Society for the History of Natural History
For this symposium we have welcomed papers from across the field which speak to any aspects of the history of natural history. The speakers have been drawn from individuals registered for PhD programm...
shnh.org.uk
January 16, 2025 at 9:19 AM
🚨 Registration now open for our Early Career Researcher Symposium on 20 February! 🚨
Join online to listen to talks ranging from the Language of Flowers to the Secret Face of Isaac Newton 🌸🕵️
For more information, including full programme & how to book your FREE ticket 👇
shnh.org.uk/shnh-early-c...
Join online to listen to talks ranging from the Language of Flowers to the Secret Face of Isaac Newton 🌸🕵️
For more information, including full programme & how to book your FREE ticket 👇
shnh.org.uk/shnh-early-c...
My proudest professional achievement. Only six boxes of reshelving.
January 13, 2025 at 7:08 PM
My proudest professional achievement. Only six boxes of reshelving.
A little light weeding
January 9, 2025 at 8:06 PM
A little light weeding
Just a little shelving to do
January 7, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Just a little shelving to do
Reposted by Will Beharrell
The latest edition of Archives of Natural History is online! 🙌
Just in time for some festive reading, it covers everything from controversial ducks 🦆👀 to the early 20C trading of African wildlife 🦁🦒
Have a peruse for yourself! 👇
www.euppublishing.com/toc/anh/51/2
Just in time for some festive reading, it covers everything from controversial ducks 🦆👀 to the early 20C trading of African wildlife 🦁🦒
Have a peruse for yourself! 👇
www.euppublishing.com/toc/anh/51/2
December 22, 2024 at 6:25 PM
The latest edition of Archives of Natural History is online! 🙌
Just in time for some festive reading, it covers everything from controversial ducks 🦆👀 to the early 20C trading of African wildlife 🦁🦒
Have a peruse for yourself! 👇
www.euppublishing.com/toc/anh/51/2
Just in time for some festive reading, it covers everything from controversial ducks 🦆👀 to the early 20C trading of African wildlife 🦁🦒
Have a peruse for yourself! 👇
www.euppublishing.com/toc/anh/51/2
Reposted by Will Beharrell
Let’s end our nature-inspired #Christmas lights trail at our Piccadilly neighbour’s magical woodland window display. Central to the design at #FortnumAndMason is this lovely fox, who can also be found running around our library in Mivart’s ‘Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes’ (1890).
#London #Nature
#London #Nature
December 20, 2024 at 11:00 AM
Let’s end our nature-inspired #Christmas lights trail at our Piccadilly neighbour’s magical woodland window display. Central to the design at #FortnumAndMason is this lovely fox, who can also be found running around our library in Mivart’s ‘Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes’ (1890).
#London #Nature
#London #Nature
Reposted by Will Beharrell
Lots of wonderful nature-based Christmas decorations in #London this year, like this stunning peacock in Berkeley Square…but something looks familiar… Ah yes, this gorgeous plate from D’Orbigny’s ‘Dictionnaire universel d'histoire naturelle’ (1843-49). #ChristmasLights #Nature
December 16, 2024 at 11:00 AM
Lots of wonderful nature-based Christmas decorations in #London this year, like this stunning peacock in Berkeley Square…but something looks familiar… Ah yes, this gorgeous plate from D’Orbigny’s ‘Dictionnaire universel d'histoire naturelle’ (1843-49). #ChristmasLights #Nature