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The Society organised annual receptions for Fellows and members of Council. Although essentially social events, they were used as an opportunity to raise funds.

Awarded to annually to speakers deemed to have given the most interesting lecture over the preceding year. The medal was re-designed in 1948 by Percy Metcalf RDI

Lecture series started in 1961 by John A Chambliss, Senior to commemorate the three outstanding American landscape architects Bradford Williams, Vaughan Cornish and Gordon Cooper. The name of the series 'Reflection Riding', is the name of a landscape park near Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA

A series of lectures established in the late 1990s to explore more controversial issues beyond the main lecture programme.

The lecture programme developed from the 1850s when the Society ceased the award of premiums for inventions. Lecture texts have traditionally been published in the Journal.\nRecords comprise correspondence about administrative arrangements for speakers and for publication of their texts and suggestions for topics for discussion

Annual reports were issued as a statement of the Society's activities over the year, initially within the Journal (from 1852). By the 1980s the Annual Report was issued as a separate publication.

James Barry was born in 1741 and died in 1806. In 1777 Barry submitted a proposal to the Society to decorate the Great Room of its new premises. He offered to paint the whole room without fee, in return for canvas, paints and models. He began painting in April that year, and although he continued to alter the paintings until 1801, they were exhibited in 1783 and '84, with the proceeds going to Barry.\n\nBarry was his own publisher, and produced numerous works explaining the The Progress's symbolism, later editions of which contained appendices railing against his critics.\n\nIn 1782, Barry was elected to professor of painting at the Royal Academy, receiving a salary in return for six lectures a year. Barry used the position to engage with role of the artist in society, but went too far in putting forth his opinions and, together with his 1798 Letter to the Dilettanti Society's attacks on the state of arts patronage in England, angered the Academy was expelled in 1799. His was the Academy's only expulsion until Professor Brendan Neiland resigned in July 2004.\n\nThe Earl of Buchan came to Barry's aid after he lost his salary, paying expenses and moving him to a larger house so that he could finish his final painting, The Birth of Pandora. James Barry died in February 1806, and his body laid in state in the Society's Great Room, before being interred in St. Paul's Cathedral.

The Society has only recently established a personnel department. Staff matters and pensions were dealt with by senior managers and accounts staff. It includes some personal reminiscences of some longer-serving staff members. \n\nThis series of twentieth century material relates mainly to general policy on staffing although it does include a small amount of information relating to individuals which may be sensitive. The RSA reserves the right to restrict access to this series of records.

Various House Committees were set up at different times to look at the building, its use, function, administration and management.\nRecords include minutes of House committees and correspondence and papers. Later material can be found with AD.MA/300

The Society's house was built as part of the Adelphi scheme by the Adam brothers. Items relating to the area have been collected by the Society, including engravings, drawings and photographs

This series comprises copy photographs of early views of the exterior of the Society's House from 1772 and of other premises occupied by the Society before this date. It also includes 20th century original images of the House, including the front and Strand elevations

This series comprises copy photographs of early prints and engravings of the interior of the Society's House including the Great Room and former Library room. Twentieth century photographs show alterations to the property and additions and extensions including the Vaults redevelopment of 1990

The Society's premises were designed and build by Robert and James Adam. The building has been extended and altered over the years. \nRecords concerned with the Society's building in John Adam Street from its design and construction by the Adam Brothers and including correspondence papers, notes, leases and other legal documents, administration, management, alteration and repair of the building

Gifts produced by the Commercial Director for sale, includes calendars, jigsaws, ties and scarves. Christmas cards and postcards appear in a different series, PR.GE/109