Kiri Ross-Jones
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kirirj.bsky.social
Kiri Ross-Jones
@kirirj.bsky.social
140 followers 200 following 48 posts
Botany (and botanicals) loving archivist, and occasional forest school assistant 🌿 All views are own.
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kirirj.bsky.social
📣📣 FREE talk and workshops relating to our Persia Reimagined exhibition
rbgkew.bsky.social Kew Gardens @rbgkew.bsky.social · 2d
Interested in Persian collections? This Wednesday, we will be hosting a talk about the Persian materials within our archive, focusing on the unexpected cultural & social histories:
Learn more 👉 ow.ly/ENHb50XCLJ2
#KewLA
Photo of a woman in a yellow top, with dark hair, drawing sitting at a desk, with other opposite. Colouring pencils and textile are visible on the table. 2) Sketch of a maintain range, mostly in pencil, but with some colour (green) indicating the plants and trees on the mountain range. Some place names are indicated with arrows in manuscript.
December 8, 2025 at 11:05 PM
kirirj.bsky.social
So proud of this project, which has had so many lovely outcomes! And an absolute pleasure to work with the lovely @shabnambalouch.bsky.social 🎨🌺🇮🇷
rbgkew.bsky.social Kew Gardens @rbgkew.bsky.social · 3d
Do we have archives relating to your history? Probably! Our archive reflects global histories & is open to all. Conservator Shabnam Balouch has helped uncover our Persian archive, and you can find out more at an upcoming talk & our free public workshops in January! #EYAYourArchives #KewLA
Poster for an exhibition at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, titled 'Persia Reimagined: From Herbarium to Heritage'. The exhibition dates 30 September 2025 to 21 January 2026. The text is laid over a collage of archive materials: a coloured illustration of a yellow-flowered Rosa persica, yellow and orange Persian lime and typewritten text.
December 7, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Reposted by Kiri Ross-Jones
rbgkew.bsky.social
Happy #EYAInclusion Day! We believe archives are for everyone, and we recently hosted workshops with Persian communities who visited our current exhibition & created beautiful booklets inspired by the items on display! It's vital that anyone who wants to use archives is able to access them. #KewLA
Photograph over the shoulder of a woman with long dark hair, sitting at a table drawing. In front of her on the table are papers of different sizes and drawing materials, such as coloured pencils. A dark wooden table with fixed lamps. Across the table, papers of different sizes are strewn, showing photographs of pomegranates, exhibition flyers for 'Persia Reimagined', copies of archive materials, drawing mats and coloured pencils, as well as patterned shawls. Two people's hands can be seen at the top of the picture, in the middle of drawing.
December 5, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by Kiri Ross-Jones
rbgkew.bsky.social
For #EYADigital, we’re looking back at how Kew managed its corporate records - from filing paper documents to reviewing which should be archived or securely destroyed. While some paper files remain, we now support staff in managing records effectively in a primarily digital environment. #KewLA
Numerous paper registered files stored vertically on five horizontal white shelves.
December 4, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Reposted by Kiri Ross-Jones
rbgkew.bsky.social
Did you know botanist Sir Joseph Hooker travelled with two Bhotea mastiff dogs? Today’s featured image for #ExploreYourArchive Week #EYAPets is a playful drawing from his letters, showing Kinchin the dog being ‘taught’ to write.
A letter which at the top includes a drawing in ink and the number ‘151’ printed and written in the top left corner. The drawing depicts from left to right: a pot cooking with steam rising from it; a Bhotea mastiff dog writing a note using a quill; a tent with a person sat at a table inside. There are mountains drawn in the background. Underneath, the letter notes that it was sent from Darjeeling on April 2. The contents of the letter discuss Joseph Hooker’s Bhotea mastiffs – Bruno and puppy Kinchin. It mentions that Kinchin is cleaned daily with mustard oil and woods ashes, he steals cheese from Joseph Hooker’s dinner and that Kinchin learnt English was being taught how to write. Ref: JDH/1/10, ff.151
December 3, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Kiri Ross-Jones
rbgkew.bsky.social
For #EYASilence, we thought it fitting to look back at a time in which the Gardens had to be silent. This instruction sheet, issued during the Blitz in WWII, and an air raid logbook detail how the frequency of bombing raids led to the regular suppression of daily operations. #KewLA
Two typewritten documents, situated in the centre and left-hand side, layered on top of a handwritten logbook, situated on the right-hand side.
December 2, 2025 at 4:30 PM
kirirj.bsky.social
The oldest item in our archives! Although we do have older books in our library collections…
rbgkew.bsky.social Kew Gardens @rbgkew.bsky.social · 9d
While most of our archives are from the 19th century onwards, we do have a few older records, including this #EYAMedieval land deed from 1451! It is written in Latin and relates to Ardingly, which is near where our second site Wakehurst is located. #KewLA
A handwritten document laid out and held down by snake weights. It is written in Latin, in early modern handwriting. It is possibly a land deed.
December 4, 2025 at 8:20 AM
kirirj.bsky.social
Elsie Wakefield - showing women could also do science jobs back in 1915 👑🍄
rbgkew.bsky.social Kew Gardens @rbgkew.bsky.social · 10d
What #EYABeauty lies on the inside of this unassuming folder? We're showing off Elsie Wakefield's fungi illustrations today 🍄 Wakefield became Head of Mycology at Kew Gardens in 1915 and our Archives hold her personal papers collection, which includes letters, illustrations and photographs. #KewLA
A blank grey paper folder on a brown wooden surface. Numerous coloured illustrations of mushrooms layered on top of each other so that corners and sections of pages are obscured. On each sheet there are light pencil annotations next to the illustrations.
December 4, 2025 at 8:19 AM
kirirj.bsky.social
Happy #ExploreYourArchives week!
rbgkew.bsky.social Kew Gardens @rbgkew.bsky.social · 11d
Did you know today is #EYAConservation day? We’re celebrating with this 1734 engraved map by John Rocque, showing the gardens, park and related buildings of the Royal Family at Kew. Our conservator has mounted it on a board for support and advises Melinex sleeves and flat storage. #KewLA
A plan of the House, Gardens, Park and Hermitage of their Majesties at Richmond by John Rocque. Shows Oven House, the Summer House, Merlin's Cave, the Hermitage, the Dairy House, the Green House and the Orangery, 'His Majesties House in Richmond' North and South prospects. Includes numbered references showed on the plan referring to other features in the Gardens; this is also written in French. Printed for John Bowles at the Black Horse, Cornhill. Unmounted engraving in blue card folder. The main Gardens are depicted across three quarters of the spread with individual illustrations of buildings filling the top right-hand corner.
December 4, 2025 at 8:18 AM
kirirj.bsky.social
A very enjoyable Places, Plants and People Archive Network meeting @nhmlibraryarchives.bsky.social, including the chance to see some archives! Also enjoying the Christmas lights on the bus ride back to station…
December 2, 2025 at 5:21 PM
kirirj.bsky.social
Exploring belonging and connection, through making with @jacquir711.bsky.social at the fabulous #CreativeConnections symposium
October 17, 2025 at 5:26 PM
kirirj.bsky.social
This was a great afternoon, welcoming 60 super engaged students from @unisouthampton.bsky.social to our collections!
rbgkew.bsky.social Kew Gardens @rbgkew.bsky.social · Oct 15
Last week our Library & Archives team welcomed 60 students from Graphic Comms at the University of Southampton to explore themes around plant histories, challenging perspectives through engagement with the archive. We look forward to seeing their interpretations of the display we prepared! #KewLA
A spacious library room with tables displaying open historical books, manuscripts, and documents under bright linear ceiling lights.
October 17, 2025 at 8:11 AM
kirirj.bsky.social
A fabulous visit to @middletemple.bsky.social archives yesterday, for our Places, Plants and People Archive Network. A real treat to see the hall, gardens and archives!
September 26, 2025 at 4:39 PM
kirirj.bsky.social
Birthday trip to beautiful @kneppwilding.bsky.social!
August 19, 2025 at 11:10 PM
kirirj.bsky.social
A fabulous drink on Isola Bella!
August 13, 2025 at 7:38 PM
kirirj.bsky.social
I do love this photo! Happy friendship day!
rbgkew.bsky.social Kew Gardens @rbgkew.bsky.social · Jul 30
Many friendships have been made at Kew Gardens! To celebrate #InternationalFriendshipDay here is an image of our female gardeners during WWII, sharing a hot drink together in their break from gardening duties! #KewLA
A black and white photograph of six women in traditional 1940s gardening clothing, sitting in a glasshouse, drinking from mugs.
July 30, 2025 at 9:03 PM
kirirj.bsky.social
Now that’s how you do #Glastonbury #TheProdigy
June 29, 2025 at 9:46 PM
kirirj.bsky.social
Very much enjoying @rbgkew.bsky.social @englishheritage.bsky.social Gardens and Empire conference @britishlibrary.bsky.social
June 28, 2025 at 9:24 AM
kirirj.bsky.social
A super interesting workshop @rgsibg.bsky.social today, exploring GIS and archives. And a tour of the collection, which was a real treat! Just need to magic up some time to see what we can do with our archives and GIS ✨
June 12, 2025 at 5:50 PM
kirirj.bsky.social
Happy International Archives Day!
rbgkew.bsky.social Kew Gardens @rbgkew.bsky.social · Jun 9
Happy #InternationalArchivesDay! Why not delve deeper into bits of our collections today? 📜

Browse our catalogued items: www2.calmview.co.uk/kew/calmview/
Try reading Sir Joseph Hooker's handwriting: jdhooker.kew.org/p/jdh
Find out more about Wardian cases: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtiM...

#KewLA
Two shelves of black bound volumes; some have cotton string with brown tags attached to them to denote their specific volume number or record ID.
June 9, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Reposted by Kiri Ross-Jones
rbgkew.bsky.social
On the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we look back in our Library & Archives collections at the work of Kew during the Second World War. This press release from 1943, shows how the Garden’s spaces changed their use, including the introduction of demonstration plots. #KewLA #VE80
Black and white photograph showing people viewing a vegetable plot. Caption below image reading ‘Demonstration plot, 1940-45 at Kew’. ©RBG Kew A close-up of a black and white type script press release. Kew Archives – 1/Adm/41
May 8, 2025 at 12:59 PM
kirirj.bsky.social
FREE behind the scenes tours! Come and find out more about our records relating to trees, through an exciting collaboration with @urbantreefest.bsky.social 🌲 🌳🪾
May 7, 2025 at 8:01 AM
kirirj.bsky.social
Some super exciting news for our #archives, brought about by a collaboration led by @theul.bsky.social (am trying not to cringe at the reel)
rbgkew.bsky.social Kew Gardens @rbgkew.bsky.social · Apr 23
Huge news today that the Darwin papers in our #KewLA #Archive collection are being added to the @unesco.org Memory of the World Register! 🗃️

Take a look at the writings of a young Charles Darwin with our Senior Archivist & Records Manager, Kiri 👇
April 23, 2025 at 6:59 PM
kirirj.bsky.social
Exploring Northumberland and some rather excellent cup and ring marks. Anyone know what these signified? I’ve guessed ritual, the kids think they were part of children’s games and A thinks waymarks 🤔
April 14, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Reposted by Kiri Ross-Jones
edwinrose.bsky.social
Delighted to see the new exhibition as part of the project 'Natural History in the Age of Revolutions' in the Library and Archives at @rbgkew.bsky.social ! Thank you to all those who made this happen, especially my Co-I Staffan Müller-Wille and Fiona Ainsworth. Free and open 1 April-19th June
April 6, 2025 at 4:28 PM