Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1847 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2 leaves
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
George Combe was born and educated in Edinburgh before practising as a lawyer. He first encountered phrenology in 1815 and, though initially sceptical, he and his brother Andrew soon became two of its leading exponents, co-founding the Edinburgh Phrenological Society in 1820. George Combe lectured extensively on phrenology and its relationships with religion, science, education and social systems, and wrote several books, including The Constitution of Man (1828). The actress Sarah Siddons was his mother-in-law.
Repository
Archival history
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GB 0096 AL40 1847 fonds 2 leaves Combe , George , 1788-1858 , phrenologist
George Combe was born and educated in Edinburgh before practising as a lawyer. He first encountered phrenology in 1815 and, though initially sceptical, he and his brother Andrew soon became two of its leading exponents, co-founding the Edinburgh Phrenological Society in 1820. George Combe lectured extensively on phrenology and its relationships with religion, science, education and social systems, and wrote several books, including The Constitution of Man (1828). The actress Sarah Siddons was his mother-in-law.
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Bought from Tregaskis in 1912 (about 2 months after Ludlow's books were sold at Hodgson's).
Letter from George Combe of 45 Melville Street, Edinburgh to Professor [Augustus] De Morgan, London, 10 May 1847. Referring to criticism levelled at Combe and De Morgan by Sir William Hamilton, of whom he writes: 'He is, I believe, a good husband, a good master to his servants, pays his debts honestly, and so forth: But he is notoriously quarrelsome, and not very scrupulous ... as to the mode in which he annoys his opponent'.
Headed: 'Confidential'. Autograph, with signature.
See hard copy catalogue.
Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Please contact the University Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.
Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.
English
Catalogue of the manuscripts and autograph letters in the University Library at the central building of the University of London (1921). A copy is available in the Library's Palaeography Room.
On negative microfilm - reference: MIC 242/2
Compiled by Anya Turner.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
July 2008 Morgan , Augustus De , 1806-1871 , mathematician and historian x De Morgan , Augustus Hamilton , Sir , William , 1788-1856 , Knight , metaphysician Combe , George , 1788-1858 , phrenologist
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Bought from Tregaskis in 1912 (about 2 months after Ludlow's books were sold at Hodgson's).
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Letter from George Combe of 45 Melville Street, Edinburgh to Professor [Augustus] De Morgan, London, 10 May 1847. Referring to criticism levelled at Combe and De Morgan by Sir William Hamilton, of whom he writes: 'He is, I believe, a good husband, a good master to his servants, pays his debts honestly, and so forth: But he is notoriously quarrelsome, and not very scrupulous ... as to the mode in which he annoys his opponent'.
Headed: 'Confidential'. Autograph, with signature.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
See hard copy catalogue.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Please contact the University Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Catalogue of the manuscripts and autograph letters in the University Library at the central building of the University of London (1921). A copy is available in the Library's Palaeography Room.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
On negative microfilm - reference: MIC 242/2
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
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Subject access points
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Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English