GB 0402 AVH - HUMBOLDT, Baron Alexander von (1769-1859)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0402 AVH

Title

HUMBOLDT, Baron Alexander von (1769-1859)

Date(s)

  • 1783-1848 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

2 boxes and 3 files

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Born in Berlin, 1769; educated, Freiberg Academy of Mines under the famous geologist A.G. Werner; hiked around Europe with George Forester, Captain James Cook's scientific illustrator from his second voyage; government mines inspector in Franconia, Prussia, 1792-1800; expedition with botanist Aime Bonpland in South America, 1800-1803; lived in France, 1804-1827; King of Prussia's advisor, 1827-; invited to make geographical explorations of Russia by the tsar: discovered permafrost and recommended that Russia establish weather observatories across the country which were set up in 1835; gave public lectures in Berlin, 1827-1828; Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, 1856-1859, died, 1859.

Publications: Kosmos (1845)

Archival history

GB 0402 AVH 1783-1848 Collection level 2 boxes and 3 files Humboldt , Baron , Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander Freiherr , von , 1769-1859 , German naturalist and explorer

Born in Berlin, 1769; educated, Freiberg Academy of Mines under the famous geologist A.G. Werner; hiked around Europe with George Forester, Captain James Cook's scientific illustrator from his second voyage; government mines inspector in Franconia, Prussia, 1792-1800; expedition with botanist Aime Bonpland in South America, 1800-1803; lived in France, 1804-1827; King of Prussia's advisor, 1827-; invited to make geographical explorations of Russia by the tsar: discovered permafrost and recommended that Russia establish weather observatories across the country which were set up in 1835; gave public lectures in Berlin, 1827-1828; Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, 1856-1859, died, 1859.

Publications: Kosmos (1845)

Unknown.

Papers of Baron A von Humboldt, 1783-1848, including letter from Paris, May 1835, to Francois Arago; facsimile of a letter from Sans Souci, 12 Aug 1848, to A K Johnston and five small geographical drawings, done at the age of 16 years.

As outlined in Scope and Content.

Accessed 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 the discretion of the Archivist and subject to completion of 'application for copies' form. No reproduction or publication without permission of the RGS-IBG Archivist.

English

Hand list and card index.

Prepared by an archives volunteer using existing finding aids. Revised by Sarah Drewery.

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

19 November 2001; Oct 2008. Arago , François Jean Dominique , 1786-1853 , mathematician, physicist, astronomer and politician Humboldt , Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander Freiherr , von , 1769-1859 , naturalist and explorer Visual materials Geography Sketches Illustrations Johnston , Alexander Keith , 1804-1871 , Scottish geographer

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Unknown.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Baron A von Humboldt, 1783-1848, including letter from Paris, May 1835, to Francois Arago; facsimile of a letter from Sans Souci, 12 Aug 1848, to A K Johnston and five small geographical drawings, done at the age of 16 years.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

As outlined in Scope and Content.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Accessed 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 the discretion of the Archivist 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

Finding aids

Hand 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