Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1765-1804 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
8 volumes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Forsyth was born at Old Meldrum, Aberdeen in 1737 and died on the 25 July 1804 in his home in Kensington, London. During his career he worked as a head gardener at Syon House, Brentford from 1763 until 1771 when he became head gardener of the Chelsea Physic Garden; where he continued to work until 1784. The rest of his life was spent working as superintendent of the royal gardens of the Palaces of St James' and Kensington. Whilst working in the royal gardens, Forsyth also developed and promoted his own 'plaister', which was a paste that he claimed would bind together old wood and help new wood to grow.
Forsyth also wrote two volumes OBSERVATIONS ON DISEASES, DEFECTS AND INJURIES IN ALL KINDS OF FRUIT AND FOREST TREES (1791) and TREATISE ON CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT-TREES (1802). Later editions of his treatise were created following his death, with the later being the seventh edition published in 1824. He was a Fellow of both the Linnean Society and the Society of Antiquaries and was also involved with the creation of the Royal Horticultural Society.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0068 FOR 1765-1804 Collection (fonds) 8 volumes Forsyth , William , 1737-1804 , horticulturist
Forsyth was born at Old Meldrum, Aberdeen in 1737 and died on the 25 July 1804 in his home in Kensington, London. During his career he worked as a head gardener at Syon House, Brentford from 1763 until 1771 when he became head gardener of the Chelsea Physic Garden; where he continued to work until 1784. The rest of his life was spent working as superintendent of the royal gardens of the Palaces of St James' and Kensington. Whilst working in the royal gardens, Forsyth also developed and promoted his own 'plaister', which was a paste that he claimed would bind together old wood and help new wood to grow.
Forsyth also wrote two volumes OBSERVATIONS ON DISEASES, DEFECTS AND INJURIES IN ALL KINDS OF FRUIT AND FOREST TREES (1791) and TREATISE ON CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT-TREES (1802). Later editions of his treatise were created following his death, with the later being the seventh edition published in 1824. He was a Fellow of both the Linnean Society and the Society of Antiquaries and was also involved with the creation of the Royal Horticultural Society.
Details of the custodial history of this collection and how it came to arrive in the archives at RBG Kew are unknown.
Papers of William Forsyth, 1765-1804, comprising a large amount of correspondence (1765-1804), most of which was sent to Forsyth from correspondents living both in England and abroad, including a volume of letters from Alexander Anderson. Also included are four volumes of horticultural notes and annotated drafts (1789-1804) made by Forsyth together with some correspondence; which were presumably created when he was creating his two volumes, OBSERVATIONS ON DISEASES, DEFECTS AND INJURIES IN ALL KINDS OF FRUIT AND FOREST TREES (1791) and TREATISE ON CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT-TREES (1802).
This collection consists of two series: FOR/1: Correspondence, FOR/2: Horticultural Notes. The arrangement of this collection is simple with two series as described above. All the material within the collections has previously been bound into volumes and it is presumed that this in some way relates the original order of the material, when it was in use however there is no information on this subject to confirm or deny this.
Unrestricted - surrogates to be used where available.
Please contact the Archive for further information.
English, French
Detailed catalogue available, contact the archives for more details.
Entry transcribed by Sarah Drewery, March 2011.
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.
March 2011
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Details of the custodial history of this collection and how it came to arrive in the archives at RBG Kew are unknown.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of William Forsyth, 1765-1804, comprising a large amount of correspondence (1765-1804), most of which was sent to Forsyth from correspondents living both in England and abroad, including a volume of letters from Alexander Anderson. Also included are four volumes of horticultural notes and annotated drafts (1789-1804) made by Forsyth together with some correspondence; which were presumably created when he was creating his two volumes, OBSERVATIONS ON DISEASES, DEFECTS AND INJURIES IN ALL KINDS OF FRUIT AND FOREST TREES (1791) and TREATISE ON CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT-TREES (1802).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
This collection consists of two series: FOR/1: Correspondence, FOR/2: Horticultural Notes. The arrangement of this collection is simple with two series as described above. All the material within the collections has previously been bound into volumes and it is presumed that this in some way relates the original order of the material, when it was in use however there is no information on this subject to confirm or deny this.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Unrestricted - surrogates to be used where available.
Conditions governing reproduction
Please contact the Archive for further information.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English, French
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Detailed catalogue available, contact the archives for more details.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
The originals are in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney (Ref: ZML MSS 2901).
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
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