GB 0102 MS 193299 - Johnston, Sir Harry Hamilton

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0102 MS 193299

Title

Johnston, Sir Harry Hamilton

Date(s)

  • Created c1919 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

3 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Harry Hamilton Johnston was born on 12 June 1858, in Kennington, London. He was educated at Stockwell Grammar School, Kings College London and from 1876-1880 he was a student of the Royal Academy of Arts. He travelled to North Africa, 1879-1880. He explored Portugese West Africa and the Congo River, 1882-1883. In 1884 he commanded a Scientific Expedition of the Royal Society to Mt. Kilimanjaro.

He served in the Consular Service in Africa from 1885-1901. He was H.M. Vice-Consul in the Cameroons, 1885; Acting-Consul in the Niger Coast Protectorate, 1887; Consul for the Province of Mozambique, 1888. In 1889, his expedition to Lakes Nyasa and Tanganyika led to the foundation of the British Central Africa Protectorate. He became Commissioner and Consul-General of the British Central Africa Protectorate in 1891; Consul-General for the Regency of Tunis, 1897-1899; and Special Commissioner, Commander-in-Chief and Consul-General for the Uganda Protectorate, 1899-1901.

He was married to the Hon. Winifred Irby, O.B.E. He was awarded the K.C.B. in 1896, and the G.C.M.G in 1901. He died on 31 July 1927.

Harry Hamilton Johnston published numerous works including A Comparative Study of the Bantu and Semi-Bantu Languages (Oxford University Press, 1919).

Archival history

GB 0102 MS 193299 Created c1919 Collection (fonds) 3 boxes Johnston , Harry Hamilton , 1858-1927 , Knight , explorer, colonial administrator and linguist
Harry Hamilton Johnston was born on 12 June 1858, in Kennington, London. He was educated at Stockwell Grammar School, Kings College London and from 1876-1880 he was a student of the Royal Academy of Arts. He travelled to North Africa, 1879-1880. He explored Portugese West Africa and the Congo River, 1882-1883. In 1884 he commanded a Scientific Expedition of the Royal Society to Mt. Kilimanjaro.

He served in the Consular Service in Africa from 1885-1901. He was H.M. Vice-Consul in the Cameroons, 1885; Acting-Consul in the Niger Coast Protectorate, 1887; Consul for the Province of Mozambique, 1888. In 1889, his expedition to Lakes Nyasa and Tanganyika led to the foundation of the British Central Africa Protectorate. He became Commissioner and Consul-General of the British Central Africa Protectorate in 1891; Consul-General for the Regency of Tunis, 1897-1899; and Special Commissioner, Commander-in-Chief and Consul-General for the Uganda Protectorate, 1899-1901.

He was married to the Hon. Winifred Irby, O.B.E. He was awarded the K.C.B. in 1896, and the G.C.M.G in 1901. He died on 31 July 1927.

Harry Hamilton Johnston published numerous works including A Comparative Study of the Bantu and Semi-Bantu Languages (Oxford University Press, 1919).

Donated in c1966.

Manuscripts of the collected vocabularies, c1919, of Sir Harry Hamilton Johnston. The manuscripts were used in the compilation of A Comparative Study of the Bantu and Semi-Bantu Languages, and were contained in the first of the two-volume set, the second volume being an analysis and comparison of the phonologies, syntax and word roots detailed in volume one.

For each language a set of 250 vocabulary items was collected, and they are classified according to Johnston's own geographical groups. This original arrangement has been retained. There is an alphabetical index of languages at the back of the handlist.

Unrestricted.

No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.
Bantu languages

Unpublished handlist.

The School of Oriental and African Studies holds letters of Harry Hamilton Johnston, 1888-1891, among the papers of Sir William Mackinnon (Ref: PP MS 1).

Correspondence and papers (1871-1927) held at the National Archives of Zimbabwe (see HMC Papers of British Colonial Governors 1782-1900, 1986, JO1-2). Travel journal (1887) held at Royal Geographical Society (see Bridson, Natural History MS resources, 1980). Letters to Sir J S Keltie (1896-1923) held at Royal Geographical Society (see RGS Archives, p 113). Notes on African languages held at Cambridge University Library, Royal Commonwealth Society Library (see HMC Private Papers of British Diplomas 1782-1900, 1985). Letters to R T Coryndon held at Oxford University, Rhodes House Library (Ref: MSS Afr s 633). Correspondence with Lord Lugard held at Oxford University, Rhodes House Library (Ref: MSS Lugard, Brit Emp 30-90). Letters to Sir Edmund Gosse (1894-1907) held at Leeds University, Brotherton Collection (Ref: Library Publications no 3). Correspondence with E D Morel (1903-1913) held at London University, British Library of Political and Economic Science (Ref: Morel). Letters to W T Stead (1888-1908) held at Cambridge University, Churchill Archives centre (Ref: STED). Letters to Frederic Whyte (1901-1927) held at Newcastle upon Tyne University, Robinson Library.

15 May 2000 Africa African languages Bantu languages Central Africa East Africa Grammar Johnston , Sir , Harry Hamilton , 1858-1927 , Knight , explorer and colonial administrator Lexicography Linguistics Linguists Phonetics Social scientists Southern Africa Syntax Vocabularies West Africa

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Donated in c1966.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Manuscripts of the collected vocabularies, c1919, of Sir Harry Hamilton Johnston. The manuscripts were used in the compilation of A Comparative Study of the Bantu and Semi-Bantu Languages, and were contained in the first of the two-volume set, the second volume being an analysis and comparison of the phonologies, syntax and word roots detailed in volume one.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

For each language a set of 250 vocabulary items was collected, and they are classified according to Johnston's own geographical groups. This original arrangement has been retained. There is an alphabetical index of languages at the back of the handlist.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Unrestricted.

Conditions governing reproduction

No publication without written permission. Apply to archivist in the first instance.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

Bantu languages

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

The School of Oriental and African Studies holds letters of Harry Hamilton Johnston, 1888-1891, among the papers of Sir William Mackinnon (Ref: PP MS 1).

Finding aids

Unpublished handlist.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Correspondence and papers (1871-1927) held at the National Archives of Zimbabwe (see HMC Papers of British Colonial Governors 1782-1900, 1986, JO1-2). Travel journal (1887) held at Royal Geographical Society (see Bridson, Natural History MS resources, 1980). Letters to Sir J S Keltie (1896-1923) held at Royal Geographical Society (see RGS Archives, p 113). Notes on African languages held at Cambridge University Library, Royal Commonwealth Society Library (see HMC Private Papers of British Diplomas 1782-1900, 1985). Letters to R T Coryndon held at Oxford University, Rhodes House Library (Ref: MSS Afr s 633). Correspondence with Lord Lugard held at Oxford University, Rhodes House Library (Ref: MSS Lugard, Brit Emp 30-90). Letters to Sir Edmund Gosse (1894-1907) held at Leeds University, Brotherton Collection (Ref: Library Publications no 3). Correspondence with E D Morel (1903-1913) held at London University, British Library of Political and Economic Science (Ref: Morel). Letters to W T Stead (1888-1908) held at Cambridge University, Churchill Archives centre (Ref: STED). Letters to Frederic Whyte (1901-1927) held at Newcastle upon Tyne University, Robinson Library.

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

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Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

School of Oriental and African Studies

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area