GB 0120 MSS.7080-7093 - Alexander von Humboldt, Friedrich Wilhelm Karl Heinrich (1769-1859), Baron von Humboldt

19 files

GB 0120 MSS.7080-7093 1799-1858 Collection (fonds) 19 files Humboldt , Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander Freiherr , von , 1769-1859 , naturalist and explorer

Born in Berlin, 1769; educated, Freiberg Academy of Mines under the famous geologist A G Werner; hiked around Europe with George Forester, Captain James Cook's scientific illustrator from his second voyage; government mines inspector in Franconia, Prussia, 1792-1800; expedition with botanist Aime Bonpland in South America, 1800-1803; lived in France, 1804-1827; King of Prussia's advisor, 1827-; invited to make geographical explorations of Russia by the tsar: discovered permafrost and recommended that Russia establish weather observatories across the country which were set up in 1835; gave public lectures in Berlin, 1827-1828; Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, 1856-1859, died, 1859.

Publications: Kosmos (1845)

Most of the letters and papers were purchased in Paris between 1930 and 1936, mainly from Degrange. Other items were acquired at Sotheby's and Stevens' sales, and from Glendinning. (various accession nos.)

Correspondence and papers of Alexander von Humboldt relating to his many scientific interests, publications, and professional and social life. Most of the letters are written to French men of science, publishers, officials and others, with a smaller number to German, British and other correspondents.

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

French, German and Spanish

Described in typescript supplements, by Christopher Hilton and Richard Aspin, to the Library's published finding aids.

In the Wellcome Library: Humboldt occurs as a correspondent within the Hodgkin family papers (PP/HO). Letters to him occur at PP/HO/D/A2413 f15v; PP/HO/D/A2423 f18v; PP/HO/D/A2447 f7r; and PP/HO/L/B24.

Copied from the Wellcome Library catalogue by Sarah Drewery.

In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Jan 2009 Humboldt , Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander Freiherr , von , 1769-1859 , naturalist and explorer Natural history Geographical exploration Geography

Most of the letters and papers were purchased in Paris between 1930 and 1936, mainly from Degrange. Other items were acquired at Sotheby's and Stevens' sales, and from Glendinning. (various accession nos.)

Correspondence and papers of Alexander von Humboldt relating to his many scientific interests, publications, and professional and social life. Most of the letters are written to French men of science, publishers, officials and others, with a smaller number to German, British and other correspondents.

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

• English

• Latin

French, German and Spanish

In the Wellcome Library: Humboldt occurs as a correspondent within the Hodgkin family papers (PP/HO). Letters to him occur at PP/HO/D/A2413 f15v; PP/HO/D/A2423 f18v; PP/HO/D/A2447 f7r; and PP/HO/L/B24.

Described in typescript supplements, by Christopher Hilton and Richard Aspin, to the Library's published finding aids.

In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

• English