Fonds GB 0096 AL466 - Masson, David and Carlyle, Thomas: letters

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0096 AL466

Title

Masson, David and Carlyle, Thomas: letters

Date(s)

  • 1867 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

2 items (2 leaves)

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

David Mather Masson was born in Aberdeen and educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen, and the University of Edinburgh. He worked as a journalist in Scotland and London for several years, becoming acquainted with many leading literary figures. Masson became Professor of English at University College London in 1852 and Professor of Rhetoric and Literature at the University of Edinburgh in 1865, holding the latter position until his retirement in 1895. He became well-known as an editor and biographer and was named historiographer-royal for Scotland in 1893. He was also a noted supporter of tertiary education for women.

Thomas Carlyle was born in Ecclefechan, Annandale, Scotland on 4 December 1795. Brought up as a strict Calvinist, he was educated at the village school, Annan Academy and Edinburgh University (1809-1814) where he studied science and mathematics. After graduating from university he became a teacher at Kirkcaldy. In 1818 he moved to Edinburgh where he worked on translating German authors. Whilst in Edinburgh he also wrote articles for the Edinburgh Encyclopaedia and the Edinburgh Review. After spending two years in Edinburgh he moved to an isolated hill farm, Graigenputtoch, Dumfriesshire. At Graigenputtoch he worked on the Sartor Resartus, which was published in 1836. Carlyle moved to Chelsea, London in 1834, where he continued to give lectures, write articles, essays and books on many subjects including, history, philosophy and politics. He also contributed essays to the Westminster Review. Carlyle died age 85 in London on 5 February 1881.

Archival history

See archivist

GB 0096 AL466 1867 fonds 2 items (2 leaves) Masson , David Mather , 1822-1907 , biographer, university teacher and editor

Carlyle , Thomas , 1795-1881 , historian and philosopher

David Mather Masson was born in Aberdeen and educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen, and the University of Edinburgh. He worked as a journalist in Scotland and London for several years, becoming acquainted with many leading literary figures. Masson became Professor of English at University College London in 1852 and Professor of Rhetoric and Literature at the University of Edinburgh in 1865, holding the latter position until his retirement in 1895. He became well-known as an editor and biographer and was named historiographer-royal for Scotland in 1893. He was also a noted supporter of tertiary education for women.

Thomas Carlyle was born in Ecclefechan, Annandale, Scotland on 4 December 1795. Brought up as a strict Calvinist, he was educated at the village school, Annan Academy and Edinburgh University (1809-1814) where he studied science and mathematics. After graduating from university he became a teacher at Kirkcaldy. In 1818 he moved to Edinburgh where he worked on translating German authors. Whilst in Edinburgh he also wrote articles for the Edinburgh Encyclopaedia and the Edinburgh Review. After spending two years in Edinburgh he moved to an isolated hill farm, Graigenputtoch, Dumfriesshire. At Graigenputtoch he worked on the Sartor Resartus, which was published in 1836. Carlyle moved to Chelsea, London in 1834, where he continued to give lectures, write articles, essays and books on many subjects including, history, philosophy and politics. He also contributed essays to the Westminster Review. Carlyle died age 85 in London on 5 February 1881.

See archivist

Found inserted in De Morgan's copy of D Brewster's edition of A M Legendre Elements of Geometry and Trigonometry (1824), translated by Carlyle - classmark: [DeM] L6 [Legendre] SSR.

(1) Letter from David Mather Masson of the Garrick Club to Augustus De Morgan, 13 Jun 1867. Discussing Thomas Carlyle's mathematical work.

(2) Letter from Thomas Carlyle of Chelsea to [De Morgan], 19 Jun 1867. Discussing Carlyle's translation of A M Legendre's Eléments de géométrie and the 'the Galbraith legend' [that a Mr Galbraith was the translator of Legendre's work].

Both letters are autograph, with signatures.

See hard copy catalogue.

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Please contact the University Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

English

Typescript catalogue available in the Library's Palaeography Room.

Presumably, Miss Treadwell retained the original letters after relinquishing these copies; the current whereabouts of the original letters is unknown.

Compiled by Anya Turner.

Compiled in compliance with 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.

July 2008 Mathematics Carlyle , Thomas , 1795-1881 , historian and philosopher Masson , David Mather , 1822-1907 , biographer, university teacher and editor

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Found inserted in De Morgan's copy of D Brewster's edition of A M Legendre Elements of Geometry and Trigonometry (1824), translated by Carlyle - classmark: [DeM] L6 [Legendre] SSR.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

(1) Letter from David Mather Masson of the Garrick Club to Augustus De Morgan, 13 Jun 1867. Discussing Thomas Carlyle's mathematical work.

(2) Letter from Thomas Carlyle of Chelsea to [De Morgan], 19 Jun 1867. Discussing Carlyle's translation of A M Legendre's Eléments de géométrie and the 'the Galbraith legend' [that a Mr Galbraith was the translator of Legendre's work].

Both letters are autograph, with signatures.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

See hard copy catalogue.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Please contact the University Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Typescript catalogue available in the Library's Palaeography Room.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Presumably, Miss Treadwell retained the original letters after relinquishing these copies; the current whereabouts of the original letters is unknown.

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Senate House Library, University of London

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with 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

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area