Wellcome Images: Society for General Microbiology archives

The following archives include letters and photographs that provide a unique insight and visual guide to the founding days of the Society. The aim of the founding members, which included Sir Alexander Fleming FRS and Marjory Stephenson FRS, was to bring together scientists working in different areas of microbiology to form a Society that would offer the benefits of interdisciplinary discussion and provide microbiologists with a common meeting ground. 75 years later, this aim remains central to our purpose.

All images are credited to Wellcome Images.
Group photo of delegates attending the Second International Congress of Microbiology held from 25 July – 1 August 1936 at University College London, UK.
Group photo of delegates attending the Second International Congress of Microbiology held from 25 July – 1 August 1936 at University College London, UK.
Close-up taken from group photo of delegates attending the Second International Congress of Microbiology held from 25 July – 1 August 1936 at University College London, UK.
Close-up taken from group photo of delegates attending the Second International Congress of Microbiology held from 25 July – 1 August 1936 at University College London, UK.
(Those pictured on the front row include founding members of the Society, Sir Alexander Fleming, Henry J. Bunker, Sir Arnold Ashley Miles, Leslie Alfred Allen, Ralph St John-Brooks and Muriel Robertson).
Delegates at the official banquet of the Second International Congress of Microbiology held on 31 July 1936 at the Trocadero Restaurant, London, UK.
Delegates at the official banquet of the Second International Congress of Microbiology held on 31 July 1936 at the Trocadero Restaurant, London, UK.
Delegates at the Second International Congress of Microbiology in 1936, London, UK.
Delegates at the Second International Congress of Microbiology in 1936, London, UK.
Close-up of delegates awaiting the next session at the Second International Congress of Microbiology in 1936, London, UK.
Close-up of delegates awaiting the next session at the Second International Congress of Microbiology in 1936, London, UK.
Preliminary Programme from the Second International Congress of Microbiology which took place in London from 25 July – 1 August 1936.
Preliminary Programme from the Second International Congress of Microbiology which took place in London from 25 July – 1 August 1936.
Final Programme from the Second International Congress of Microbiology which took place in London from 25 July – 1 August 1936.
Final Programme from the Second International Congress of Microbiology which took place in London from 25 July – 1 August 1936.
Sir Alexander Fleming’s opening talk on Selective bacteriostasis, as highlighted in the Final Congress Programme, 1936.
Sir Alexander Fleming’s opening talk on Selective bacteriostasis, as highlighted in the Final Congress Programme, 1936.
Letter from the Honorary Secretaries to Sir Alexander Fleming, requesting permission to put forward his name as the first President of the Society for General Microbiology.
Letter from the Honorary Secretaries to Sir Alexander Fleming, requesting permission to put forward his name as the first President of the Society for General Microbiology (later to become the Microbiology Society).
Handwritten letter from Sir Alexander Fleming, dated 16 December 1947, accepting the offer made by Dr. St. R. John. Brooks to become the first President of the Society for General Microbiology.
Handwritten letter from Sir Alexander Fleming, dated 16 December 1947, accepting the offer made by Dr. St. R. John. Brooks to become the first President of the Society for General Microbiology.
Typed letter from Sir Alexander Fleming, accepting the offer from Society for General Microbiology’s Honorary Secretaries to be forward as the first President of the Society, dated 9 August 1944.
Typed letter from Sir Alexander Fleming, accepting the offer from Society for General Microbiology’s Honorary Secretaries to be forward as the first President of the Society, dated 9 August 1944.
Response from Dr. R. St. John. Brooks to Sir Alexander Fleming regarding the list of office bearers to be submitted at the Inaugural Meeting of the Society for General Microbiology, on 11 August 1944.
Response from Dr. R. St. John. Brooks to Sir Alexander Fleming regarding the list of office bearers to be submitted at the Inaugural Meeting of the Society for General Microbiology, on 11 August 1944.