Summary Two documents written in his youth by the distinguished nineteenth-century British geologist Archibald Geikie have recently become available to historians. One is Geikie's ?Journal?, written when he had recently been appointed to the Scottish Branch of the Geological Survey; the other is an essay ?On the Study of the Sciences?, which is published here in full. The essay gives an indication of Geikie's early views on science and his thoughts about education. The ?Journal? reveals much about Geikie's youthful personal (...) fears and goals, and his religious views. It appears that he was filled with religious zeal and piety when a young man, though as far as the evidence goes, this gave way to conventional religious observance in later life. (shrink)