The Navy Records Society was founded in 1893 by a small group of historians, naval officers, publicists and statesmen lea by Professor Sir John Knox Laughton and Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge. Their object was to publish original materials on the history of the Royal Navy, as the basis for the development of policy and doctrine. Combining the interests of professional, academic, political and non-specialist members the Society acted as an intellectual pressure group and opinion former. By insisting on the highest scholarly standards the Society ensured that naval history was at the core of the newly emerging professional historical discipline.
Over the past 100 years the Society has published more than 150 volumes, covering the period between the fourteenth century and the Second World War. Among the major figures covered are: Nelson, Fisher, Beatty, St. Vincent, Jellicoe, Somerville, Cunningham, Keyes, Collingwood, Anson, Hawke, Hood and Vernon. A brief assessment of the subjects covered can only give a flavour of the breadth of the subject: campaigns, administration, technology, politics, law, signals, strategy and tactics. The Society's volumes, many of which are still available to members, form a unique and invaluable resource for serving officers, scholars and all those interested in British naval history and the development of naval power generally. The Society, which has charitable status, continues to flourish through the support of an international membership.
Society Notices
The Navy Records Society publishes three new volumes every two years. There will be two volumes published in 2007:
Volume 151 Rodney Papers Volume II
Volume 152 Naval Intelligence from Germany
Past Members
Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge (1839-1924)
Sir Julian Corbett (1854–1922)
Sir John Knox Laughton (1830-1915)
Michael A. Lewis (1890-1970)
The Navy Records Society, which has published one or two volumes of naval papers every year since its foundation in 1893, published its 150th volume in 2006
