GB 0114 MS0243 - Drawings of North American Indian Crania

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0114 MS0243

Title

Drawings of North American Indian Crania

Date(s)

  • Early 19th century (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

10 drawings

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Charles Alexandre Lesueur was born in 1778, the son of a French naval officer. Aged 23, he sailed from his home at Le Havre, France, on an expedition to Australia and Tasmania. During the next 4 years, Lesueur and the naturalist François Péron collected over 100,000 zoological specimens representing 2,500 new species, and Lesueur made 1,500 drawings. Lesueur met William Maclure in 1815, and was persuaded to join him in Philadelphia where he lived until the end of 1825. Lesueur travelled on Maclure's 'Boatload of Knowledge' to Mount Vernon, Indiana, and then a few miles on to New Harmony. He remained there until 1837, when he returned to France. He was appointed curator of the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle du Havre in 1845, which was created to house his many drawings and paintings. He died in 1846.

Frederick Christian Lewis was born in London, in 1779. He was primarily a printmaker and engraver, and his prints were highly valued by his contemporaries. He became engraver of drawings to Princess Charlotte, Prince Leopold, George IV, William IV, and Queen Victoria. He also made tours in Europe producing various etchings. He died in Enfield, Middlesex, in 1856.

Biographical information regarding B A Vitry was unavailable at the time of compilation.

Archival history

Originally presented to the Medico-Chirurgical Society by Sir William Lawrence.

GB 0114 MS0243 Early 19th century Collection (fonds) 10 drawings Lesueur , Charles Alexandre , 1778-1846 , naturalist

Lewis , Frederick Christian , 1779-1856 , engraver and landscape painter

Vitry , B A , early 19th century , artist

Charles Alexandre Lesueur was born in 1778, the son of a French naval officer. Aged 23, he sailed from his home at Le Havre, France, on an expedition to Australia and Tasmania. During the next 4 years, Lesueur and the naturalist François Péron collected over 100,000 zoological specimens representing 2,500 new species, and Lesueur made 1,500 drawings. Lesueur met William Maclure in 1815, and was persuaded to join him in Philadelphia where he lived until the end of 1825. Lesueur travelled on Maclure's 'Boatload of Knowledge' to Mount Vernon, Indiana, and then a few miles on to New Harmony. He remained there until 1837, when he returned to France. He was appointed curator of the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle du Havre in 1845, which was created to house his many drawings and paintings. He died in 1846.

Frederick Christian Lewis was born in London, in 1779. He was primarily a printmaker and engraver, and his prints were highly valued by his contemporaries. He became engraver of drawings to Princess Charlotte, Prince Leopold, George IV, William IV, and Queen Victoria. He also made tours in Europe producing various etchings. He died in Enfield, Middlesex, in 1856.

Biographical information regarding B A Vitry was unavailable at the time of compilation.

Originally presented to the Medico-Chirurgical Society by Sir William Lawrence.

Presented by Walter George Spencer in 1925.

Papers relating to North American Indian Crania, early 19th century, comprising a drawing titled 'North American Savage Wabash Nation. Female. Drawn by Charles Alexandre Lesueur'; a drawing titled 'North American Indian Wabash nation. Male. Drawn by Charles Alexandre Lesueur'; a drawing titled 'North American Indian. Paunee tribe. Missouri. Drawn by Charles Alexandre Lesueur'; a drawing titled 'Jack Snake. Cherokee Chief, aged about 23. (side view) Drawn by Charles Alexandre Lesueur'; a drawing titled 'Jack Snake. Cherokee Chief. (front view) Drawn by Charles Alexandre Lesueur'; a drawing titled 'Head of a Carib. Drawn by F C Lewis from the skull in the museum of the Royal College of Surgeons'; a drawing titled 'Head of a Carib of the Island of St Vincent. Drawn from the original' (in the museum of St Thomas's Hospital), by FC Lewis; a drawing titled 'Head of a negro, drawn from the original in the museum of St Bartholomew's Hospital by F C Lewis'; a drawing titled 'North American Indian from Columbia River, N. West Coast' by B A Vitry; and a drawing titled 'North American Indian from Columbia River, North West Coast' by B A V[itry].

As outlined in Scope and Content.

By written appointment only.

No photocopying permitted.

English

Compiled by Anya Turner.

Source: http://faculty.evansville.edu/ck6/bstud/lesueur.html and http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/16582

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.

Sep 2008 Amerindians Anatomy Anthropology Biology Drawings Ethnic groups Hunterian Museum Lesueur , Charles Alexandre , 1778-1846 , naturalist Lewis , Frederick Christian , 1779-1856 , engraver and landscape painter Missouri Royal College of Surgeons of England Skull St Bartholomew's Hospital , London St Thomas' Hospital , London Visual materials Vitry , B A , early 19th century , artist North America USA Illustrations

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Presented by Walter George Spencer in 1925.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers relating to North American Indian Crania, early 19th century, comprising a drawing titled 'North American Savage Wabash Nation. Female. Drawn by Charles Alexandre Lesueur'; a drawing titled 'North American Indian Wabash nation. Male. Drawn by Charles Alexandre Lesueur'; a drawing titled 'North American Indian. Paunee tribe. Missouri. Drawn by Charles Alexandre Lesueur'; a drawing titled 'Jack Snake. Cherokee Chief, aged about 23. (side view) Drawn by Charles Alexandre Lesueur'; a drawing titled 'Jack Snake. Cherokee Chief. (front view) Drawn by Charles Alexandre Lesueur'; a drawing titled 'Head of a Carib. Drawn by F C Lewis from the skull in the museum of the Royal College of Surgeons'; a drawing titled 'Head of a Carib of the Island of St Vincent. Drawn from the original' (in the museum of St Thomas's Hospital), by FC Lewis; a drawing titled 'Head of a negro, drawn from the original in the museum of St Bartholomew's Hospital by F C Lewis'; a drawing titled 'North American Indian from Columbia River, N. West Coast' by B A Vitry; and a drawing titled 'North American Indian from Columbia River, North West Coast' by B A V[itry].

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

As outlined in Scope and Content.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

By written appointment only.

Conditions governing reproduction

No photocopying permitted.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Royal College of Surgeons of England

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

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area