GB 0402 DL - LIVINGSTONE, David (1813-1873)

6 boxes with 8 files

GB 0402 DL 1850-1873 Collection level 6 boxes with 8 files Livingstone , David , 1813-1873 , African Missionary Consul , explorer

Born, 1813; employed in a mill as a 'piecer', 1823; became involved with the London Missionary Society in 1838 and undertook a probationary year of scriptural studies to a clergyman in Chipping Ongar, Essex; moved to London for lectures on anatomy and medicine, 1840; licentiate of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, 1840; ordained, Nov 1840; missionary in South Africa, 1841-1852; discovered Lake Ngami, 1849; crossing of Africa, 1852-1856; returned to Britain, 1856-1858; Royal Geographical Society gold medal, 1856; fellow of the Royal Society, 1858; Zambezi expedition, 1858-1864; in Britain, 1864-1865; returned to Africa for further expeditions, 1866-1873; died, 1873.

Papers of David Livingstone including autograph letters and articles; one small watercolour; copies of letters to various correspondents; a notebook of astronomical observations and many letters and copies of letters from relations; friends and the Foreign Office referring to Livingstone.

Papers relating to the period 1850-1852, including a letter from Livingstone to William Cotton Oswell dated from Kuruman Sept 20 1852 which contains an account of the activities of the Boers around Kuruman and towards Sechele and copies of letters, 1850-1851, to the London Missionary Society. (9 items)

Papers, 1853-1857, principally concerning the expedition to Loanda, Linyanti and the Victoria Falls. These include 10 letters from Livingstone in Africa, 1853-1856, reporting to the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) on the progress of the expedition, the discovery of the Victoria Falls etc (long extracts from these letters were published by the RGS); a letter dated [25 Aug 1856] to the Editor of the 'Athenaeum' discussing 'easy chair versus field geography'; 18 letters from English addresses, Jan 1857-Feb 1858 to Dr Norton Shaw (the Society's Secretary) in which Livingstone asks for information on the mouth of the Zambesi, requires a copper boat, comments on his book, maps, family matters and the London Missionary Society; copies of letters from Livingstone to E Gabriel from Cassange, 14 Feb 1855, to Mr Sturge from Tette, 11 Dec 1858 and to Mr Layard from Bombay, 28 Sep 1865. (76 items)

Papers, 1858-1865, concerning the expedition to the Shiré, Zambesi and Lake Nyasa. These include 8 letters from Livingstone in Africa 1860-1864, to Sir Roderick Murchison and Dr Norton Shaw at the RGS reporting on the progress of the expedition; a small watercolour of the Victoria Falls; a report on the navigation of the Zambesi; an article in which Livingstone summarises proceedings of the expedition and activities of Universities Mission [probable date Jan 1862]; letters from Mary Livingstone to Dr. Norton Shaw, 1858 and 1860; copies of 19 letters from Livingstone to Macgregor Laird, the Foreign Office, Sir Thomas Maclear, E. Gabriel, the Rev A Monk, 1858-1862. (54 items).

Papers, 1865-1873, concerning Livingstone's last expedition. These include 3 letters from Livingstone to Sir Roderick Murchison, 2 Feb 1867; to Sir Thomas Maclear 8 Jul 1868, to Sir Henry Rawlinson dated from South Central Africa 1873 [probably written in early April, and the last known communication addressed by Livingstone to any official of the RGS]; a notebook of astronomical observations 1872-1873; a collection of news cuttings of 1872 about Livingstone and H M Stanley; copies of 17 letters from Livingstone to the Foreign Office, Sir Bartle Frere, Dr. John Kirk, Sir Roderick Murchison and Mr Seward; letters of Dr. John Kirk, H A Churchill and others communicating news and rumours about Livingstone. (60 items).

Papers relating to the death and funeral of Livingstone. (11 items).

The collection has been grouped into five sections, and as far as practicable, filed in chronological order: documents concerning the period 1850-1852, (9 items); documents of 1853-1857, principally concerning the expedition to Loanda Linyanti and the Victoria Falls, (76 items); documents of 1858-1865, concerning the expedition to the Shire, Zambesi and Lake Nyasa, (54 items); documents of 1865-1873 concerning Livingstone's last expedition, (60 items); small group of miscellaneous papers referring to the death and funeral of Livingstone, (11 items).

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 the permission of the IBG-RGS Archivist.
English

Detailed catalogue available in the Foyle Reading room and on A2A.

The Society's Library holds further material relating to Livingstone: the Map Room holds 9 manuscript maps drawn by Livingstone, 1853-61; a number of relics which either belonged to the explorer (e.g. sextant, compass, chair, cap worn at his meeting with H. M. Stanley) or were connected with him (e.g. slave chains brought from Africa by Livingstone); a section of the tree under which Livingstone's heart was buried. See also separate Collections in the RGS Archives: Livingstone Award and Livingstone Memorial Correspondence.

The Archives also contain 6 letters from Livingstone to Sir George Back, 1856-60(Back Collection); typescripts of 4 letters from Livingstone to Heinrich Barth (Barth correspondence 1851-60); typescripts of six letters from Livingstone to Mrs. Sewell 1847-52 and of a letter to the 2nd Duke of Wellington, 1860 (Library Y 224.11); papers relating to the several Search and Aid Expeditions and some letters from contemporaries referring to Livingstone. The R.G.S. Library holds further material relating to Livingstone: a prayer book which belonged to him, news cuttings, photostat copies of Livingstone's journal of 1853-56 and copies of Livingstone's despatches to the Foreign Office 1870-72.

Long extracts from the letters from Livingstone, 1853-1856, reporting to the Royal Geographical Society on the progress of the expedition and the discovery of the Victoria Falls and the 3 letters from Livingstone to Sir Roderick Murchison, 2 Feb 1867, were published by the RGS.
Prepared by an Archives volunteer using existing finding aids. Revised by Sarah Drewery.
Sources: Oxford DNB. ISAD(G) ed. 2, name authority NRA 24 May 2001; Oct 2001. Athenaeum London Missionary Society Royal Geographical Society Frere , Sir , Henry Bartle Edward , 1815-1884 , first baronet , colonial governor Kirk , Sir , John , 1832-1922 , Knight , naturalist and political agent Churchill , Henry Adrian , 1828-1886 , diplomat Stanley , Sir , Henry Morton , 1841-1904 , Knight , explorer, author and journalist x Rowlands , John Livingstone , David , 1813-1873 , missionary and explorer Oswell , William Cotton , 1818-1893 , explorer and hunter Livingstone , Mary , 1821-1862 , née Moffat , missionary Murchison , Sir , Roderick Impey , 1792-1871 , 1st Baronet , geologist Laird , Macgregor , 1808-1861 , shipbuilder and explorer Maclear , Sir , Thomas , 1794-1879 , Knight , astronomer Rawlinson , Sir , Henry Creswicke , 1810-1895 , Knight , 1st Baronet , archaeologist, diplomat and MP , Major General Astronomy Water resources Surface water Rivers Waterfalls Geographical exploration Geography Geographical data Fine arts Painting Watercolour painting Foreign Office Angola Southern Africa Zimbabwe Zambezi, River Zambia Malawi, Lake Central Africa Malawi Botswana Mumbai Salsette Island Maharashtra India South Asia Mozambique Kuruman Province of the Northern Cape South Africa

Papers of David Livingstone including autograph letters and articles; one small watercolour; copies of letters to various correspondents; a notebook of astronomical observations and many letters and copies of letters from relations; friends and the Foreign Office referring to Livingstone.

Papers relating to the period 1850-1852, including a letter from Livingstone to William Cotton Oswell dated from Kuruman Sept 20 1852 which contains an account of the activities of the Boers around Kuruman and towards Sechele and copies of letters, 1850-1851, to the London Missionary Society. (9 items)

Papers, 1853-1857, principally concerning the expedition to Loanda, Linyanti and the Victoria Falls. These include 10 letters from Livingstone in Africa, 1853-1856, reporting to the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) on the progress of the expedition, the discovery of the Victoria Falls etc (long extracts from these letters were published by the RGS); a letter dated [25 Aug 1856] to the Editor of the 'Athenaeum' discussing 'easy chair versus field geography'; 18 letters from English addresses, Jan 1857-Feb 1858 to Dr Norton Shaw (the Society's Secretary) in which Livingstone asks for information on the mouth of the Zambesi, requires a copper boat, comments on his book, maps, family matters and the London Missionary Society; copies of letters from Livingstone to E Gabriel from Cassange, 14 Feb 1855, to Mr Sturge from Tette, 11 Dec 1858 and to Mr Layard from Bombay, 28 Sep 1865. (76 items)

Papers, 1858-1865, concerning the expedition to the Shiré, Zambesi and Lake Nyasa. These include 8 letters from Livingstone in Africa 1860-1864, to Sir Roderick Murchison and Dr Norton Shaw at the RGS reporting on the progress of the expedition; a small watercolour of the Victoria Falls; a report on the navigation of the Zambesi; an article in which Livingstone summarises proceedings of the expedition and activities of Universities Mission [probable date Jan 1862]; letters from Mary Livingstone to Dr. Norton Shaw, 1858 and 1860; copies of 19 letters from Livingstone to Macgregor Laird, the Foreign Office, Sir Thomas Maclear, E. Gabriel, the Rev A Monk, 1858-1862. (54 items).

Papers, 1865-1873, concerning Livingstone's last expedition. These include 3 letters from Livingstone to Sir Roderick Murchison, 2 Feb 1867; to Sir Thomas Maclear 8 Jul 1868, to Sir Henry Rawlinson dated from South Central Africa 1873 [probably written in early April, and the last known communication addressed by Livingstone to any official of the RGS]; a notebook of astronomical observations 1872-1873; a collection of news cuttings of 1872 about Livingstone and H M Stanley; copies of 17 letters from Livingstone to the Foreign Office, Sir Bartle Frere, Dr. John Kirk, Sir Roderick Murchison and Mr Seward; letters of Dr. John Kirk, H A Churchill and others communicating news and rumours about Livingstone. (60 items).

Papers relating to the death and funeral of Livingstone. (11 items).

The collection has been grouped into five sections, and as far as practicable, filed in chronological order: documents concerning the period 1850-1852, (9 items); documents of 1853-1857, principally concerning the expedition to Loanda Linyanti and the Victoria Falls, (76 items); documents of 1858-1865, concerning the expedition to the Shire, Zambesi and Lake Nyasa, (54 items); documents of 1865-1873 concerning Livingstone's last expedition, (60 items); small group of miscellaneous papers referring to the death and funeral of Livingstone, (11 items).

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 the permission of the IBG-RGS Archivist.

• English

• Latin

English

The Society's Library holds further material relating to Livingstone: the Map Room holds 9 manuscript maps drawn by Livingstone, 1853-61; a number of relics which either belonged to the explorer (e.g. sextant, compass, chair, cap worn at his meeting with H. M. Stanley) or were connected with him (e.g. slave chains brought from Africa by Livingstone); a section of the tree under which Livingstone's heart was buried. See also separate Collections in the RGS Archives: Livingstone Award and Livingstone Memorial Correspondence.

The Archives also contain 6 letters from Livingstone to Sir George Back, 1856-60(Back Collection); typescripts of 4 letters from Livingstone to Heinrich Barth (Barth correspondence 1851-60); typescripts of six letters from Livingstone to Mrs. Sewell 1847-52 and of a letter to the 2nd Duke of Wellington, 1860 (Library Y 224.11); papers relating to the several Search and Aid Expeditions and some letters from contemporaries referring to Livingstone. The R.G.S. Library holds further material relating to Livingstone: a prayer book which belonged to him, news cuttings, photostat copies of Livingstone's journal of 1853-56 and copies of Livingstone's despatches to the Foreign Office 1870-72.

Detailed catalogue available in the Foyle Reading room and on A2A.

ISAD(G) ed. 2, name authority NRA

• English