GB 0402 JTB - BAINES, John Thomas (1822-1875)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0402 JTB

Title

BAINES, John Thomas (1822-1875)

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.

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

Related descriptions

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

Royal Geographical Society

Rules and/or conventions used

ISAD(G) ed.2.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area