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Missing Darwin Notebooks Returned After 20 Years

Cambridge, England —(Map)

Two missing notebooks belonging to the scientist Charles Darwin were secretly returned to the Cambridge University Library recently. The stolen notebooks, which had been missing for over 20 years, were returned in good condition.

Charles Darwin was a very famous scientist who lived in the 1800s. His ideas about evolution – how different kinds of living creatures change slowly over time – completely changed the way scientists understand the natural world.

Photograph of Charles Darwin around 1854.
Two notebooks belonging to Charles Darwin were secretly returned to the Cambridge University Library after being missing for 20 years. Mr. Darwin was a scientist whose ideas about evolution completely changed the way scientists understand the natural world. Above, Mr. Darwin around 1854.
(Source: Henry Maull/John Fox [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.)

Mr. Darwin began to develop his ideas after visiting the Galapagos Islands. He was trying to understand how tortoises and birds there had developed differently, depending on where they lived and what they ate.

He recorded his ideas in a series of notebooks labeled with letters of the alphabet. It took over 20 years for Mr. Darwin to turn his ideas into a world-changing book. Since then, his notebooks have been considered extremely important for showing how he developed his ideas.

Librarian Jessica Gardner examines the "tree of life" page of Charles Darwin's missing notebooks after they were returned to the Cambridge University Library.
Mr. Darwin recorded his ideas in a series of notebooks like the one above. Those ideas later became a world-changing book. Since then, his notebooks have been considered extremely important for showing how he developed his ideas.
(Source: Stuart Roberts/ Cambridge University Library .)

The Cambridge University Library had several of Mr. Darwin’s notebooks. The two that were missing were kept in a small box, and were last seen in 2000, when they were taken out to be photographed. In 2001, someone noticed that the box was missing. Luckily, the library had taken pictures of the notebook’s pages, so the information wasn’t completely lost.

In 2020, the library made a huge effort to find the books. Workers searched through the 10 million books and other items in the library, but didn’t find the notebooks. Finally, the library asked people around the world to help look for the books. They officially reported the missing notebooks as stolen so that police around the world would search for them.

Jessica Gardner was the librarian behind the push to get Darwin’s notebooks back. But even she could never have expected the way in which the notebooks were returned: in a pink gift bag with a note that said “Librarian, Happy Easter, X”.

The packaging that was used to return Charles Darwin's missing notebooks to the Cambridge University Library.
Jessica Gardner was the librarian behind the push to get Darwin’s notebooks back. But even she could never have expected the way in which the notebooks were returned: in a pink gift bag with a note that said “Librarian, Happy Easter, X” (above).
(Source: Stuart Roberts/ Cambridge University Library .)

Dr. Gardner told the New York Times, “I still feel shaky. It’s really hard to express how overjoyed I am.” People at the library quickly recognized the blue box that the notebooks had been stored in. Inside a brown envelope they found the two missing notebooks, tightly wrapped in plastic.

After the police had examined the package, library workers were able to open and carefully study the notebooks. They were pleased to learn that the notebooks were in good shape. They hadn’t been damaged and they weren’t missing any pages.

A library specialist unwraps one of Charles Darwin's missing notebooks after they were returned to the Cambridge University Library.
After the police had examined the package, library workers were able to open and carefully study the notebooks (above). They were pleased to learn that the notebooks were in good shape. They hadn’t been damaged and they weren’t missing any pages.
(Source: Stuart Roberts/ Cambridge University Library .)

The timing of the return is perfect. The library was planning a show called “Darwin in Conversation”, which is set to open in July. Dr. Gardner says that now the missing notebooks can be part of that show.

The police, who are still investigating the theft, said, “We share the university’s delight that these priceless notebooks are now back where they belong.”

Librarian Jessica Gardner poses with two of Charles Darwin's missing notebooks after they were returned to the Cambridge University Library.
The library is planning a show called “Darwin in Conversation”, which opens in July. Dr. Gardner (above) says the missing notebooks will be part of that show. The police said, “We share the university’s delight that these priceless notebooks are now back where they belong.”
(Source: Stuart Roberts/ Cambridge University Library .)

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