| Administrative History | ANNALS OF BOTANY is a peer-reviewed scientific journal, publishing papers on a wide range of topics in plant biology.
The journal was first published in 1887. Since its inception the journal has been published by Oxford University Press, first printed by its Oxford offices, which were known as Clarendon Press during the early history of the journal.
The journal was founded as a response to the great advancements being made in the study of botany in Europe. The founding group of botanists were dissatisfied with the offerings of the Linnean Society and did not achieve success in discussions with the editor of the existing JOURNAL OF BOTANY. They felt that a new journal was needed. The inception of the journal was strongly influenced by Scottish botanist Isaac Bayley Balfour. He gained the support of other botanists. The group faced initial scepticism from Joseph Dalton Hooker over the practicalities of producing the new journal. However it was his suggestion that the journal be titled ANNALS OF BOTANY.
The nine founding members of the journal were (in alphabetical order): Isaac Bayley Balfour; Frederick Orpen Bower; Francis Darwin; William Thiselton-Dyer; Walter Gardiner; William Gilson Farlow; Dukinfield Henry Scott; Sydney Howard Vines; and Henry Marshall Ward. These men represented a younger generation of botanists. Together they formed the Annals of Botany committee. From the start the journal gained the co-operation of American botanists, including Farlow, which lead to the appointment of an American sub-editor.
A falling out between two of its founders in 1899 threatened the future of the journal. Despite their closeness in earlier years, a dispute rose between Vines and Thiselton-Dyer. This resulted in Vines resigning as editor, though he remained on the committee until 1902.
The journal became a registered company, the Annals of Botany Company, in 1903. Balfour was appointed Chairman and continued to lead the company until 1912. Scott followed him as Chairman. He had served as Vice-Chairman of the company since 1903 and remained in post until his death in 1934. The loss of the founding members led to a period of change. The journal re-started as a new series in 1937, in response to increased competition from younger journals.
Between 1887 and 1978 the journal was issued at irregular intervals, dependent on the supply of suitable articles for inclusion. The journal has been published monthly since 1979. |
| Custodial History | The volume of correspondence was given to RBG Kew by the Annals of Botany Company in 1943. Further items were donated by the company in 2015 and 2019. |