Papers of Sir John Franklin. They consist of a volume of bound letters written by Sir John Franklin between 1820 and 1845 to his niece Mary Anne Kay and to Lieutenant Edward Kendall, R.N., whom she later married. Several letters refer to Franklin's second overland expedition. His last letter was written in 1845 at the Whale Fish Islands. There are other letters relating to exploration and some Arctic material including prints and manuscript copies of the New Georgia Gazette of 1819.

These include transcripts of documents dating from the sixteenth century: the earliest is a description of Drake's preparations for his expedition in 1585. There are also transcripts of official letters, 1718 to 1720 to Admiral Sir George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington (1663-1733), when he was in command of the British fleet in the Mediterranean; a copy of a letter describing the sinking of the GREAT BRITAIN in the St Lawrence River, 1842; and transcripts of letters from the Duke of Windsor and Prince Albert (later King George VI) to Admiral Sir Campbell Tait (1886-1946), 1913 to 1919.

Correspondence, papers and journals of Charles Tilstone Beke, 1824-1910, principally relating to Abyssinia and the Middle East, with papers of his wife Emily Beke (née Alston). The collection holds information on all aspects of Beke's career, from his early legal training to the search for employment and financial security of his final years. His intervening travels, geographical and biblical studies and resulting publications are documented by journals, notebooks and printed material. Correspondence includes that generated during Beke's secretaryship of the National Association for the Protection of Industry and Capital throughout the British Empire; and generally reflects a wide range of scholarly acquaintance and interests. Supplementary papers of Emily Beke record her championing of C.T. Beke's posthumous reputation, and her attempts to gain recompense for his occasional government service.

Letters and papers of Charles George Gordon, known as 'Chinese Gordon' and later 'Gordon of Khartoum', with related letters by his brother, Colonel S.E. Gordon, and Captain C Orde Browne, 1856-1884.

The letters and papers document many aspects of Gordon's career, including his service in China and the Sudan. They shed light on his political views, religious faith and personal ambitions and are especially important in showing his interest in biblical history and archaeology.

The letters were largely addressed to fellow officers in the Royal Engineers.

The main part of these manuscripts is a translation into English of part of the published account of de Bruin's travels. There is also a transcription of a small portion of Sir John Chardin's travels. The first volume is signed by Joseph Smith, probably Joseph Smith whose biographical details are noted under the appropriate heading, and some of the manuscripts are in his hand.

Horizontal pendulum records from the British National Antarctic Expedition 1901-1904.

Identifications and field notes by Edred John Henry Corner and Wee Lek Chew from the Royal Society's expeditions to Kinabalu, North Borneo, 1961 and 1964; with a preliminary report on the Cambridge expedition to Mount Kinabalu, 1965.

An account of the Mato Grosso based on the Royal Society and Royal Geographical Society expedition to central Brazil in 1967-1969 by Anthony Smith. Typescript marked 'First draft'.

Papers, 1898-1948, of Frederick Migeod, comprising notebooks and other manuscript material relating to West Africa. Topics covered include natural history and botany in addition to language materials.

Notebooks of Emilia Noel, comprising 57 travel journals, 1892-1937, together with a manuscript volume of 'Indian Notes' and two small notebooks with named specimens of seaweeds and British mosses. Journals are quarto manuscript or typescript with many small watercolours, photographs, picture postcards, etc, within the text - they cover Noel's travels throughout the world.

Papers of Edward Stirling, 1828-1829, comprising journal of a voyage in the Persian Gulf, departed from Bombay, 1828; description of Khorassan [Khorasan], 1830; journal of a journey from Tehran to Meshed, 1828 and a journey from Meshed to Balkh-Kabul, 1828; volume containing botanical observations begun in Sept, 1828, in Meshed, and copies of letters from William Moorcroft, 1821 and 1823 and 'an account of the accidents which befell Mr Moorcroft and the party with him in Turkestan as given by Luskeree Khan one of his servants.'

Photocopies of papers relating to Francis Skead, 1858-1861, including notes by Skead on the Zambesi delta, May-June, 1858; positions on the Zambesi river observed by Young and [Skead] and an edited version of the journal of Lieut. R W Brigstock, Jan-Feb 1861, referring to his meeting with the Livingstone party.

Papers of Sir Francis Younghusband and Sir George Younghusband, 1884-1981, including papers relating to the travels of Sir Francis Younghusband including his copy of 'Hints to Travellers'; two volumes of his travel journal, 'Kashmir to Sinkiang'; 'Leh to Yarkand and Khain to Akzai'; illustrated notebook kept by Sir George of his journey in Burma, 1887; correspondence and press cuttings.

Papers of Sir Harry Johnston including diary of an expedition, Rio del Ray, Cameroon, 1887, with four printed maps of the region attached; sketch and notebook, Nyasaland, 1893; sketch book, North Africa and photocopied correspondence of Johnston with members of his family, 1866-1926 and copies of six portrait photographs of Johnston.

Papers of H Hayes Perkins, 1904-1957, including an account of some of Perkins' periods of residence and travel in the Belgian Congo, South and East Africa entitled 'The African experiences of H Hayes Perkins, 1906-53'; three volumes of personal journals in North and South America, entitled 'Here and there', 1904-1936; typescript entitled 'Alaska and the Yukon, 50 years ago', 1956; pages from Perkins' diary entitled 'The diamond fields of Kasai', 1918-1920 and typescript of Perkins' last journeys across the Sahara, 1952 and South America, 1957.

Correspondence, newspaper cuttings and papers of Sir Henry Morton Stanley, 1871-1936, including papers relating to Stanley in the period prior to his return from Africa, 1884; correspondence of Stanley and Lady Stanley with correspondents including the Royal Geographical Society, 1878-1909, Henry Wellcome, 1885-1909; Mr and Mrs French Sheldon, 1884-1891 and Herbert Ward, 1889-1895; papers relating to the Emin Pasha Relief expedition; personal papers; papers relating to the American Testimonial Banquet, 1890, including committee minutes, correspondence and printed material; press cuttings, 1885-1933; papers relating to a Livingstone Memorial, 1894-1901 and papers relating to the death, funeral and biographies of Stanley.

Papers of Harry St John Bridger Philby, 1918-1955, including notebooks, journals, observations, letters and annotated typescript of Arabian Highlands. The journal and notebooks cover his journey across the Empty Quarter (Al Rub al Khali) in 1932. Typewritten reports cover his motorised journeys around Saudi Arabia from 1946-1955. His observations formed the basis for maps of Arabia prepared and published by the Royal Geographical Society.

Journal of Henry Wemyss Feildon entitled 'Journal of a voyage to Smith Sound in the years 1875-76 on board HMS ALERT by HWF naturalist to the expedition'; sketches, engravings, notes and press cuttings enclosed.

Papers of Maj Harold William Tilman, 1919-1979, including logs, notebooks, journals, photographs, slides and correspondence relating to his travels by boat, and material relating to his wartime service.

Papers of James Alfred Steers, 1928-1970, including diary of voyage to Australia and Great Barrier Reef Expedition, 14 Jun 1928-11 Jan 1929; reports prepared for the Ministry of Town and Country Planning on coasts of England, Scotland and Wales, 1943-1949; report and recommendations by Steers on the conservation of coasts in certain countries of Europe, 1969 and 'Protection of coastal areas', a paper by Steers prepared for the European Committee for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, May, 1970.

Papers of Sir James Clark Ross, 1819-1875, including log as sub-lieutenant on HMS HECLA, on W E Parry's first expedition on search of the North-West Passage, 1819-1920; letter, letter-draft and memorandum, 1838, containing proposals for an expedition in search of the North-West Passage; letter from Ross on the HMS EREBUS to the Royal Geographical Society reporting on his Antarctic voyage, 1842; and copy, made by Allen Young in 1875, of a message left by Ross at Cape Coulman, 7 Jun 1849.

A collection of articles and letters sent to the Royal Geographical Society for publication in its Journals. This material covers all aspects of geography and exploration across the globe. This includes material from some of the most celebrated 19th and early 20th Century explorations, throughout the World. The articles were often sent to referees and their reports are often to be found with the article, in some cases the referee report has been retained even though the article has been returned to the author.

Articles and letters by various authors relating to Australlia, including Papua New Guinea, sent to the Royal Geographical Society for publication in its Journals, 1830-1952. The articles were often sent to referees and their reports are often to be found with the article, in some cases the referee report has been retained even though the article has been returned to the author.

Articles and letters by various authors relating to North America, sent to the Royal Geographical Society for publication in its Journals, 1830-1952. The articles were often sent to referees and their reports are often to be found with the article, in some cases the referee report has been retained even though the article has been returned to the author.

Articles and letters by various authors relating to Central America, including the Caribbean, sent to the Royal Geographical Society for publication in its Journals, 1833-1944. The articles were often sent to referees and their reports are often to be found with the article, in some cases the referee report has been retained even though the article has been returned to the author.

Articles and letters by various authors relating to the Near and Middle East including Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan and Turkey, sent to the Royal Geographical Society for publication in its Journals, 1830-1958. The articles were often sent to referees and their reports are often to be found with the article, in some cases the referee report has been retained even though the article has been returned to the author.

Correspondence of John Palliser comprising letter to Dr Norton Shaw, 1856; letter to Charles Vaux, 1857; letter to W S W Vaux, 1863; copy of a letter to Charles Vaux, 1857; printed copy of a letter to his father, 17 Jul 1857; correspondence on Palliser including from Purser, Fairholme and Paterson; two photographs and Passes of the Rocky Mountains by J N Wallace, (1927).

Collection of news cuttings from American and English newspapers on African subjects, especially the Emin Pasha Expedition, made by Mrs Rose-Troup, 1889-1896.

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.

Papers of Joseph Thompson, 1878-1901, comprising four observations files, 1879-1888, including: computations of observations made in Morocco, 1883-1884 and 1888; positions, altitudes and temperatures, Tanganyika 1879; barometric observations, Morocco, 1888; barometric and hypsometric observations, Kenya, 1883-1884; computations of observations made in Kenya, 1883-1884; journals: of East Africa, 1881-1893; North Africa, 1889 and the Nile, 1879; correspondence, 1878-1901, (Correspondence Blocks 1871-1880, 1881-1910 and 1911-1920) including 17 letters 1878-1880; printed copies of letters Mar and Nov 1882 and Feb 1883; letters from Taveta 4 Apr 1883 and from Mombasa 5 Jun [1883] on his journey to Kilimanjaro and retreat from Ngara; 8 letters, Dec 1882, from the Foreign Office to Royal Geographical Society (RGS); 21 letters from Thomson 1882-1886 and 1892; 11 telegrams with typescript copies, 1883-1886; statement of financial accounts, John Kirk (Consul General, Zanzibar) in account with RGS for Thomson's expedition; 4p. proofs of 'Hints to Travellers' with corrections by Thomson; nine letters from J H Thomson (nephew) ,1901; three letters from J B Thomson (brother), 1895-1896; letters on a portrait of Thomson; letters to J Scott Keltie and letter to Gilmour (Keltie's son-in-law) nd.

Papers of Sir Kenneth Mason on the Himalayas including copy of his journal on the Shaksgam expedition, 1926; copy of letter from Mason to F V Thompson, Mussoorie about a stereo plotter used in India, 3 May 1914; correspondence, 1927-1940 on the Karakoram map; calculation of rectangular co-ordinates for Shaksgam stereographic survey by A R Hinks and cuttings from the Geographical Journal relating to the Himalayas, 1927-1935.

Papers of Lord Henry Cecil John Hunt, [1925-1998], including Hunt's diary of the Mount Everest expedition, 10 Mar-12 Jun 1953; photographs, transcripts of letters and diaries from the 1953 Mount Everest expedition; papers relating to the administration of the Pamirs Expedition, 1962; climbing journals, 1925-1958; extracts from diaries, 1969-1986; papers relating to the celebratory events following the ascent of Everest and the Pamirs Expedition, 1962; papers relating to expeditions including peak 36, Salturo, 1935, Kangri, Zemu glacier, 1937, Kongor expedition, Caucasus, 1958, North East Greenland, 1960, Pamirs, 1962, Greece, Pindus, 1963, Yukon Alpine centennial expedition, 1967, Nepal, 1970s-1990s, the International Karakoram Project, 1980, China, 1980s, Peru, Andes, 1983 and Kulu-Lahul-Ladakh-Kashmir, 1990; maps of Kashmir, Nepal and Mount Everest; lectures, articles and essays on mountaineering; correspondence on mountaineering; papers on mountaineering training; papers relating to mountaineering organisations including In Search of Adventure, Adventure UK, National Association for Outdoor Education, the Foundation for Outdoor Adventure, Alpine Club, Mount Everest Foundation and the British Mountaineering Council; papers relating to the Royal Geographical Society and papers relating to the Empire and Commonwealth Museum.

Papers of César L M Des Graz on the voyage of the ASTROLABE, 1837-1840, including journal entitled 'Impressions et remarques pendant le voyage des corvettes l'ASTROLABE et la ZELEE', 7 Sep 1837-22 Jun 1840, in three volumes; a varient draft of the journal, 7 Sep 1837-6 Feb. 1838, including pen and ink sketches; 'Tableau comparatif des idiomes des disserents peuplades visitees par l'expedition' (French and fifteen native languages of Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand); eulogy of Dumont D'Urville, and some account of the expedition and 'Latitudes et longitudes et direction des vents de chaque jour pendant le voyage des corvettes l'ASTROLABE et la ZELEE', 1837-1840.

Library Manuscripts comprise manuscript items donated to the Royal Geographical Society. They are chiefly single files or a small number of items which are not large enough to warrant forming a special collection. The papers include, astronomical and meteorological observations, diaries, correspondence, notes, conference papers, reports, articles, photographs, sketches and maps covering all aspects of geography and exploration across the globe and date from 1691 to 1994. Highlights include:

Memorandum on a map of South America, by John Arrowsmith.

Papers of Maj R A Bagnold, 1929-1933, comprising positions, routes and heights in Egypt and letters from Bagnold.

Letters from Sir John Barrow to Lord Melville, 1935-1945 and letters to Barrow from Murzuq, 1822 and J D Dundas, 1818.

Papers of Dr Heinrich Barth, 1846-1952, letters and copy of a sketch map of Timbuktu.

Notes on heights of mountains in America by Capt F W Beechey, 1826.

Letters from the King of Siam to Sir John Bowring, 1855.

Letters relating to the British Arctic Air Route Expedition, 1928-1932.

Correspondence and reports of the British Ornithologists' Union Expedition to New Guinea, 1908-1911.

Papers of G Wyman Bury, 1913-1918.

Papers of Capt R F M Crozier, 1836-1906.

Account of a journey to Lhasa and central Tibet by Sarat Chandra Das, 1902.

Papers of Lt James Barker Emery, chiefly relating to Mombassa, 1822-1835.

Plan and elevation of the Screw Yacht FRAM as reconstructed in 1898.

'Narrative of a small party of HMS LEVEN under command of Lt C W Browns sent to explore the Zambesi by one of the survivors, a native of Angola', by Antonio Jozi, 1823.

Journal of Joseph Kaye's voyage from London to Genoa.

Papers and maps relating to William Kennish's exploration in South America for a canal route.

Papers relating to the Kufara expedition led by H W C J Penderel and P A Clayton to Gilf Kebir, 1933.

Papers relating to the Livingstone Award, 1875-1970.

H B Molesworth's diary of a journey to Mokalla (Mukalla), 1893.

Letters from Sir John Morrison to Henry Dundas and others concerning Persia and trade with Persia, 1783-1792.

Narrative of a shipwreck on the southern shores of Arabia by B A R Nicholson, 1836.
Correspondence of Walter Oudney, 1821-1823.

Papers of Adm Sir W E Parry, relating to the Arctic, 1819-1823.

Papers relating to the Pitcairn Islands, 1831-1885.

Annotated 'Code of Naval Signals' belonging to Adm Sir Home Popham, 1799.

Letter from Sultan Husain Sufrari, 1708.

Account of explorations on the coast of Patagonia by B Villarino, 1782.

Travel journals of J Washington, chiefly in South America, 1822-1829.

Letters to A F R Wollaston, 1896-1926.

Papers of Morgan Philips Price, 1910-1954, including letters and transcripts of letters (where the original has been destroyed), corrected typescript for an unpublished book on Russian Central Asia and the typescript of two unpublished chapters of an autobiography, (subsequently published as My Three Revolutions, 1969) and photostats and press cutting of obituaries. The papers chiefly refer to an expedition to Russian Central Asia and Chinese Turkestan undertaken with Douglas Carruthers and J.H. Millar, 1910-1911, and his return journey home from Kuldja after separating from Carruthers and Millar.

Papers of Ney Elias, 1857-1890, chiefly referring to Elias' career in China, Kashmir, Chinese Turkestan and with the Siamese Boundary Commission together with personal journals and drafts and the manuscripts and proofs of his book Tarikh-I-Rashidi. Nos. 1-12, 1873-1890; Nos. 13-23, drafts of letters and reports to the Government of India; Nos. 24-35, personal journals while at school in Dresden 1857-1860, 1867 and 1868 in China, 1880 Yarkand, 1885-1886 Pamir journey, and 1889-1890 as a member of the Siamese Boundary Commission; Nos. 36-48, miscellaneous notes and drafts; Nos. 48-54, rough notes and correspondence; Nos. 55-56, drafts and notes relating to a book The History of the Khojas of Eastern Turkistan; calculations of altitudes, Sinkiang, 1887 and reductions of observations made in the Mongolian Republic, 1872-1873.

Journal of the scientific research voyage of HMS Challenger from 1872-1875. Illustrated with watercolours and line drawings. The typescript contains the text of the journal.

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.

Papers of Sir Allen William Young, 1857-1920, including ship's logs of the voyages of the PANDORA and the HOPE to the Arctic and the COROMANDEL and the MARLBOROUGH to India; journals kept on the FOX (the search for Sir John Franklin) and other voyages; nine scrapbooks of press cuttings entitled 'Shipping' and miscellaneous items.

Photocopies of letters from African explorers, 1855-1892, including letters to C Geigler, Chief of Sudan Telegraphs at Khartoum, and to others, 1855-1892, from Samuel White Baker, Richard Francis Burton, Romolo Gessi, James Augustus Grant, David Livingstone, Charles Chaille Long, E Schnitzer (Emin Pasha) and Henry Morton Stanley; copies of letters from Colonel Charles George Gordon to Samuel White Baker and others, 1873-1884 and copies of letters of Lady Florentia Sale, 1842.

Papers of Sir Joseph Banks, 1788-1811, comprise microfilm, and enlarged prints from the microfilm, of papers held in the Sutro Collection, State Library of California concerning subjects including the Africa Association.

Papers of Arthur Douglas Carey, 1884-1935, comprise a diary of a journey in Ladak, Tibet, and Sinkiang, 25 May 1885 to 19 May 1886; two letters from John Biddulph to (H E M) James (who travelled part way with Carey), 2 June and 24 June 1884, giving advice on travel in Central Asia; four letters from Ney Elias to Carey 27 Sept 1885, 13 Nov 1885, 3 Sept 1886, 20 March 1886 and official correspondence to and from Carey concerning his journey.

Papers of William Barents and Jacob van Heemskerk, 1871-1877, comprise a photocopy of record left by them on the island of Novaya Zemlya, in the Artic Circle, in 1597.

Geological and route notebooks of William Archibald MacFadyen, 1920-1948, including pre war notebooks in Egypt, Farsan Island, Romania, British Somaliland; Iraq and Syria, notebooks made during World War Two in North Africa, Sicily, Corsica and Italy and notebooks made in post war British Somaliland for the General Survey.

Papers of William Parker Snow, including four volumes of press cuttings and notes on North and South America, 1849-1850 and 1861-1867; notebooks containing material on Arctic matters including one volume of Arctic letters and maps; two volumes of press cuttings; one volume of extracts from correspondence with Lady Franklin and Sophia Cracroft about the PRINCE ALBERT and a proposed voyage in search of Sir John Franklin; journal, 4-15 Jul 1850 on board PRINCE ALBERT and journal of a voyage to Australia and residence in Melbourne, 1853.

Papers of Whitney Willard Straight, 1962-1968, comprising correspondence, press cuttings and papers concerning his visits to the Sahara and to Socotra.

Expedition papers of James Andrew Grant relating to the Royal Society expedition to the Solomon Islands in 1965 and to subsequent work in Australia. Includes a large number of photographic slides.

Papers of A G E Jones including biographical notes on Sir Allen Young, 1981; biographical notes on John L Cope, 1982; lists of ships leaving London for New South Wales and Van Diemans Land, 1786-1825; copies of press cuttings relating to finding the grave of one of Franklin's men in North Canada, 1984; copies of two letters on the loss of the log book of the DISCOVERY, 1904; copy of an article by Jaones in 'Notes and Queries' Dec 1984 on the crew of the TERROR and Franklin's last voyage; copies of two pages from the log of the SOUTHERN CROSS; typescripts of 'The Southern whale fishery' and 'Danial Bennett and Company', 1968.

Papers of Aeneas Lionel Acton Mackintosh comprising copy in Mackintosh's hand of his journal of a sledge journey from SS AURORA laying relief depots for Shackleton's party on the Trans-Antarctic expedition, 25 Jan 1915-15 Apr 1915 and copy of a typescript diary by Mackintosh during the British Antarctic Expedition, 1 Jan 1908-4 Mar 1909.

Papers relating to the work of the Royal Geographical Society, cientific enquiries, instruments and instruction, 1830-1938, including rough minutes of the Scientific Committee, 1830; note on the potential effects of the projected magnetic expedition, 1842; draft letter to Sir Robert Peel, 1843; plan for correcting and extending knowledge of the Chinese Empire; suggestions for the captains of vessels proceeding to the Antarctic seas, 1892; notes on instruments including of the Instruments Committee, 1857-1860; memorandum on training travellers to make useful scientific observations, by Clements Markham, 1879; draft of proposed arrangement with Mr Coles for instruction, 1879; rough minutes of Scientific Purposes Committee, 1879; instruction and instrument report, 1881; list of instruments lent to travellers, 1877-1883; proposals for instruments, 1884; report on instruments, 1894; prospectus for a 'Course of Instruction in Practical Astronomy and Surveying…' as given by E A Reeves, 1922; 'Course of instruction in exploratory survey and field astronomy', by Col C F Close, 1931; minutes, notes and correspondence of the Committee of Supervision of Instruction, 1936-1938 and instruments catalogues, 1862-1941.