Byberry Philosophical Society

"In the autumn of 1829 a constitution was produced for ratifying the affairs of a society to be known as The Byberry Philosophical Society. There were nine members at first, but that number soon grew to twenty-two. The object was the acquisition and promotion of scientific knowledge. The first plan for obtaining it was by means of lectures, which were delivered by one or other of the members. They followed each other regularly, according to the order laid down in textbooks adopted by the Society. Natural Philosophy was the first to engage their attention... Lectures continued to be given by the members for many years, and included such subjects as Magnetism, Vegetation, Metereology, Ornithology and Entomology." (300th Anniversary)

The society owned a large collection of natural history specimens, Indian relics, and curiosities. Many of the birds and animals were mounted by Charles Comly and Isaac Comly, both of whom were skillful taxidermists.

Bibliography: "300th Anniversary of Byberry Friends Meeting," 1983.

From the guide to the Byberry Philosophical Society records, 1886-1990, (Byberry Library)