Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1857-1870 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
Two folders
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born, 1820; educated at private schools in King's Lynn; apprenticed to a painter of heraldic arms on coach panels; began sketching marine subjects; sailed for Cape Town, where he practised his trade, 1842-1845; became a marine and portrait painter, 1845; official war artist to the British forces during the Cape Frontier War, 1851-1852; returned to England and worked for the Royal Geographical Society, 1853; joined Augustus Gregory's expedition to north-west Australia, 1855; Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, 1857-1875; storekeeper and artist to David Livingstone's expedition to open up the Zambezi for trade, 1857; joined James Chapman on an expedition from the south-west coast of Africa to the Victoria Falls, 1861; returned to England to write and lecture before going back to southern Africa to lead an expedition which successfully secured concessions for a gold mining company; testimonial gold watch by the Royal Geographical Society, 1873; continued to travel in southern Africa, surveying, drawing, and painting; died, 1875.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0402 JTB 1857-1870 Collection (fonds) Two folders Baines , John Thomas , 1822-1875 , artist and explorer
Born, 1820; educated at private schools in King's Lynn; apprenticed to a painter of heraldic arms on coach panels; began sketching marine subjects; sailed for Cape Town, where he practised his trade, 1842-1845; became a marine and portrait painter, 1845; official war artist to the British forces during the Cape Frontier War, 1851-1852; returned to England and worked for the Royal Geographical Society, 1853; joined Augustus Gregory's expedition to north-west Australia, 1855; Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, 1857-1875; storekeeper and artist to David Livingstone's expedition to open up the Zambezi for trade, 1857; joined James Chapman on an expedition from the south-west coast of Africa to the Victoria Falls, 1861; returned to England to write and lecture before going back to southern Africa to lead an expedition which successfully secured concessions for a gold mining company; testimonial gold watch by the Royal Geographical Society, 1873; continued to travel in southern Africa, surveying, drawing, and painting; died, 1875.
Diary, 1869-1870 donated by E Stanford, 1912, now missing.
Papers of John Thomas Baines including manuscript descriptions of four lithographs of South Africa; photocopies of two letters to Thornton, one dated 1859; typed list of 288 paintings owned by the RGS; catalogue and booklet of exhibitions of 1975; topographical notes of journey west from Zambesi and diary, May 1869-April 1870, missing since 1968.
None expected
Items have been brought together from disparate sources over time and have not undergone any arrangement beyond the internal structure of the files.
Accessed via the Foyle Reading Room. Free of charge for Fellows, Members and those with valid academic identification. All other users pay a charge and must bring identification in order to register on arrival.
Photocopying at Archivist's discretion, and subject to completion of 'application for copies' form. No reproduction or publication without permission of the RGS-IBG Archivist.
English
The material is in good condition.
The RGS archives: a handlist compiled by Christine Kelly. London: RGS, 1977.
J P L Bury is named as owner of the originals of the photocopied letters.
A copy of the (now) missing diary was given to the Government Archivist in Rhodesia in 1939 - see RGS Archives: correspondence block 1941-1946.
RGS Archives - Correspondence blocks 1851-1860, 1861-1870, 1871-1880 and 1911-1920, 1941-1946: Baines, J T Journal Mss; Central Africa 1854, 1859, 1866; Australia 1857, 1858, Baines, J T.
"The Northern Goldfields Diaries of Thomas Baines", London, 1946 reprints, Baines' diaries from 1869-1872.
Prepared by an archives volunteer using existing finding aids. Revised by Sarah Drewery.
Sources: Dictionary of National Biography; Obit: Geog. Jnl. Vol. 20 p389. ISAD(G) ed.2. 25 September 2000; Nov 2008. Australia Baines , John Thomas , 1822-1875 , artist and explorer Catalogues Central Africa Exhibitions Fine arts Geographical exploration Geography Geomorphology Oceania Painting Paintings Royal Geographical Society Secondary documents South Africa Southern Africa Topography Zambesi, River Zambezi, River Illustrations Visual materials
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Diary, 1869-1870 donated by E Stanford, 1912, now missing.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of John Thomas Baines including manuscript descriptions of four lithographs of South Africa; photocopies of two letters to Thornton, one dated 1859; typed list of 288 paintings owned by the RGS; catalogue and booklet of exhibitions of 1975; topographical notes of journey west from Zambesi and diary, May 1869-April 1870, missing since 1968.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
None expected
System of arrangement
Items have been brought together from disparate sources over time and have not undergone any arrangement beyond the internal structure of the files.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Accessed via the Foyle Reading Room. Free of charge for Fellows, Members and those with valid academic identification. All other users pay a charge and must bring identification in order to register on arrival.
Conditions governing reproduction
Photocopying at Archivist's discretion, and subject to completion of 'application for copies' form. No reproduction or publication without permission of the RGS-IBG Archivist.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
RGS Archives - Correspondence blocks 1851-1860, 1861-1870, 1871-1880 and 1911-1920, 1941-1946: Baines, J T Journal Mss; Central Africa 1854, 1859, 1866; Australia 1857, 1858, Baines, J T.
Finding aids
The RGS archives: a handlist compiled by Christine Kelly. London: RGS, 1977.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
A copy of the (now) missing diary was given to the Government Archivist in Rhodesia in 1939 - see RGS Archives: correspondence block 1941-1946.
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
ISAD(G) ed.2.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English