Archibald Liversidge (1847–1927), was an important figure in the Australian scientific community in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was mainly through the initiative and drive of Liversidge that the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) was established in 1885, and held its first meeting in Sydney in 1888. Liversidge raised the profile and standard of chemistry in Australia, and he became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1882.

After his death, he made a bequest to the Royal Society of NSW (which he had served as Secretary and President) to found a Research Lectureship in Chemistry. Five series of lectures arose, two in the UK, and three in Australia. This journal details the thirty-two lectures by eminent Australian and international chemists given as part of the Royal Society of NSW series between 1931 and 2000.

For more information on Archibald Liversidge and his bequest, see the About page of the journal.