The British archaeological association: its foundation and split

Abstract

The thesis investigates the foundation of the British Archaeological Association (BAA) at the end of 1843, and its development over the next couple of years. In September 1844 the BAA held a week-long archaeological congress at Canterbury, the details of which are discussed. Although it was deemed a great success by those who participated, a number of influential antiquarians on the BAA's Central Committee did not attend. By the end of the year, a controversy had arisen amongst members of the Central Committee. This led to the Association splitting into two factions and ultimately resulted in the formation of the rival Archaeological Institute (AI) in 1845. The development of the split is followed in detail and the causes behind it assessed. In order to put the BAA's foundation into perspective, other aspects of the antiquarian community in the 1840s are considered, together with wider movements in society. Particular attention is paid to parallels between the antiquarian and scientific communities in early Victorian Britain and the organisation of institutional bodies within them. Analogies are drawn between the Society of Antiquaries and the Royal Society, and between the establishment of the BAA and that of the British Association for the Advancement of Science (BAAS). Details of the formation of provincial and metropolitan learned societies and printing clubs in the first half of the nineteenth century are also considered. In particular, the Numismatic Society (founded 1836) and the Cambridge Camden Society (founded 1839) are looked at in order to throw light on factors behind the BAA's popularity. The appendices include information about the BAA's Central Committee in 1844, and data on the membership of the BAA and AI in their first few years.