A new Seasearch Guide, Marine Crustaceans of Britain and Ireland has recently been published, featuring illustrations by Dr Marie Lebour (1877-1971), sourced from the MBA archive.
Written by MBA Members Lin Baldock and Charlotte Bolton and also co-authored by Iain M.T. Dixon, this photographic identification guide is an invaluable guide to species identification of this diverse group of marine animals for anyone out in the field.
Traditionally illustrated with detailed photographs, this edition also features diagrams to aid identification, including two hand drawn-illustrations by former MBA researcher Dr Lebour, one of the most celebrated female scientists of the 20th Century. These illustrations are just two of a large set of originals created by Dr Lebour during her decades-long career at the MBA, which now reside in the MBA archive. Dr Lebour’s primary research focus was on planktonic decapod larvae and marine phytoplankton, work that is of inestimable scientific value to present-day marine researchers.
Providing access to historic material is a key role of the National Marine Biological Library (NMBL) and staff continue today to develop awareness of the collection and interest in its scientific and historical importance.
Commenting on her visits to the MBA Archive while researching for the book, co-author Lin Baldock said: “I greatly appreciated that the MBA so readily allowed me access to the Marie Lebour archive; it was a privilege to explore the content. I was permitted to photograph and use two of Marie Lebour’s delightful paintings which accompanied her original species descriptions of two shrimp (Caridea): Caridion steveni and Spirontocaris occulta (now Eualus occultus), images which beautifully capture the characteristic live stance and colouration of these two species. I also discovered other, rather more personal content where I found fond reference to family and friends known to me and now long gone.
“Library and Archives Officer Kristina Hixon and Library Services Manager Carol Giles were both most welcoming and enthusiastically facilitated my access to the archive, arranging the paperwork necessary for the copyright agreement to use the material in our publication.”
The NMBL was grateful to receive an in-kind donation of the guide that is now available for staff, students and Members to discover in the Library’s main print collection.
Containing thousands of individual items, the archive highlights the history of the MBA and includes material such as the scientific work and personal correspondences of a number of well-known marine researchers. Records on Dr Lebour’s fascinating archive material are available through The National Archives Discovery portal, along with records of other personal collections held at the MBA.
The archive also includes the MBA Herbarium – a collection of hundreds of samples of marine algae as well as lichens, some dating as far back as the 1850s.
To find out more about the MBA archive and how to access it please visit the Library webpage, or email nmbl@mba.ac.uk. You can also follow the NMBL on Instagram and Bluesky.
MBA Members enjoy access to the NMBL and its resources, including the print, rare book, journal and object collections, as well as the archive. Find out more about becoming a Member here.
To buy a copy of Marine Crustaceans of Britain and Ireland, click here.
