GB 0402 PHF - FAWCETT, Lt Col Percy Harrison (1867-1925)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0402 PHF

Title

FAWCETT, Lt Col Percy Harrison (1867-1925)

Date(s)

  • 1906-1988 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

4 boxes and 25 files

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Born, 1867; educated at Newton School, Newton Abbott; Westminster School, 1881-1882; commission in the Royal Artillery, 1886; first posting to Trincomalee, in Ceylon, 1886; took a course of gunnery instruction at Shoeburyness, Essex, and was posted to Falmouth, Cornwall, 1890s; undercover officer sent to Morocco; undertook the War Office training on boundary survey and obtained a diploma; Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, 1901-1930 (presumed deceased); Hong Kong, then to Ceylon, 1902; posted to Spike Island, co. Cork, 1903; chief Bolivian commissioner, leading a survey party from the falls of the Rio Madeira to the source of the Rio Acre, then down the Abuna, Bolivian boundary commission, 1906-1907; exploration of the unknown upper reaches of the Rio Heath, Bolivia-Peru boundary, 1908-; third boundary survey, Bolivia-Peru boundary, 1911; resigned from the Army; rejoined the Army in First World War, 158th brigade of the Royal Field Artillery, 1916-1919; expedition to Corumbá, on the border with Bolivia, 1920-1921; several journeys between the Rio São Francisco and the Atlantic coast before he re-equipped and set off alone into the interior; organised a final expedition to Brazil in 1925, the party vanished without trace.

Archival history

GB 0402 PHF 1906-1988 Collection level 4 boxes and 25 files Fawcett , Percy Harrison , 1867-[1925] , explorer , Lieutenant Colonel

Born, 1867; educated at Newton School, Newton Abbott; Westminster School, 1881-1882; commission in the Royal Artillery, 1886; first posting to Trincomalee, in Ceylon, 1886; took a course of gunnery instruction at Shoeburyness, Essex, and was posted to Falmouth, Cornwall, 1890s; undercover officer sent to Morocco; undertook the War Office training on boundary survey and obtained a diploma; Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, 1901-1930 (presumed deceased); Hong Kong, then to Ceylon, 1902; posted to Spike Island, co. Cork, 1903; chief Bolivian commissioner, leading a survey party from the falls of the Rio Madeira to the source of the Rio Acre, then down the Abuna, Bolivian boundary commission, 1906-1907; exploration of the unknown upper reaches of the Rio Heath, Bolivia-Peru boundary, 1908-; third boundary survey, Bolivia-Peru boundary, 1911; resigned from the Army; rejoined the Army in First World War, 158th brigade of the Royal Field Artillery, 1916-1919; expedition to Corumbá, on the border with Bolivia, 1920-1921; several journeys between the Rio São Francisco and the Atlantic coast before he re-equipped and set off alone into the interior; organised a final expedition to Brazil in 1925, the party vanished without trace.

Various sources.

Papers of and relating to Percy Fawcett including 'The exploration of the Rio Aquiry', 1906-1907; letters to Reginald Pound, 1923 and to the editor of World Wide Magazine, 1923; report to the Royal Anthropological Institute, London, 15 Nov 1951, on some human remains brought from Brazil by Senor Chateaubriand and thought to be those of P. H. Fawcett; astronomical observations, Bolivia-Peru boundary and Bolivia-Brazil boundary, 1908-1910; 'The new frontier between Bolivia and Peru', 1910 and papers relating to the search for Col Fawcett.

Original order.

Accessible 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

Detailed box list and card index.

RGS Archives Correspondence Blocks: All correspondence from Fawcett and his wife, and letters concerning the search for Fawcett are filed in one collection: from Corr. Block, 1881-1910: 15 letters 1906-10 and 15 letters from Nina Fawcett; from Corr. Block 1911-20: 64 letters and two memoranda and 18 letters from Nina Fawcett. Corr. Block 1921-30: 24 letters 1921-25 and 3 memoranda; from Scott Keltie correspondence 72 letters 1917-25.

Prepared by Archives volunteer using existing finding aids. Revised by Sarah Drewery. Sources: Oxford DNB.

ISAD(G) ed.2, name authority NRA.

7th June, 2001. Nov 2008. Royal Anthropological Institute Astronomy Fawcett , Percy Harrison , 1867-[1925] , explorer , Lieutenant Colonel Geographical exploration Geography Geographical data Bolivia South America Peru Brazil

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Various sources.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of and relating to Percy Fawcett including 'The exploration of the Rio Aquiry', 1906-1907; letters to Reginald Pound, 1923 and to the editor of World Wide Magazine, 1923; report to the Royal Anthropological Institute, London, 15 Nov 1951, on some human remains brought from Brazil by Senor Chateaubriand and thought to be those of P. H. Fawcett; astronomical observations, Bolivia-Peru boundary and Bolivia-Brazil boundary, 1908-1910; 'The new frontier between Bolivia and Peru', 1910 and papers relating to the search for Col Fawcett.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Original order.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Accessible 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: All correspondence from Fawcett and his wife, and letters concerning the search for Fawcett are filed in one collection: from Corr. Block, 1881-1910: 15 letters 1906-10 and 15 letters from Nina Fawcett; from Corr. Block 1911-20: 64 letters and two memoranda and 18 letters from Nina Fawcett. Corr. Block 1921-30: 24 letters 1921-25 and 3 memoranda; from Scott Keltie correspondence 72 letters 1917-25.

Finding aids

Detailed box list and card index.

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 Geographical Society

Rules and/or conventions used

ISAD(G) ed.2, name authority NRA.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area