GB 0120 WMS/Amer.109-111 - Sabine, Sir Edward (1788-1883)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0120 WMS/Amer.109-111

Title

Sabine, Sir Edward (1788-1883)

Date(s)

  • 1813-1820 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

1 volume and 2 files

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Edward Sabine was born in 1788 and joined the Royal Artillery in 1803. While stationed on the Niagara frontier of Canada he began his studies into natural history, which were eventually to encompass ornithology, meteorology and the study of terrestrial magnetism. The latter study was his particular specialism and led to his attachment to the Arctic expeditions of John Ross (1777-1856) in the Isabella (1818) and Edward Parry (1790-1855) in the Hecla (1819-1820). During his long career he rose to be a General in the Royal Artillery, President of the Royal Society, Knight-Commander of the Bath and a member of the informal "Arctic Council" that advised the Admiralty on Polar exploration. He retired from the Army in 1877 and died in 1883.

Archival history

GB 0120 WMS/Amer.109-111 1813-1820 Collection (fonds) 1 volume and 2 files Sabine , Sir , Edward , 1788-1883 , Knight, General and geophysicist

Edward Sabine was born in 1788 and joined the Royal Artillery in 1803. While stationed on the Niagara frontier of Canada he began his studies into natural history, which were eventually to encompass ornithology, meteorology and the study of terrestrial magnetism. The latter study was his particular specialism and led to his attachment to the Arctic expeditions of John Ross (1777-1856) in the Isabella (1818) and Edward Parry (1790-1855) in the Hecla (1819-1820). During his long career he rose to be a General in the Royal Artillery, President of the Royal Society, Knight-Commander of the Bath and a member of the informal "Arctic Council" that advised the Admiralty on Polar exploration. He retired from the Army in 1877 and died in 1883.

Purchased at Stevens', London, 1931 (accession number 83753).

The items in this collection are concerned with ornithology. WMS/Amer.109 is a copy of part of William Bartram's work on North American birds, while WMS/Amer.110-111 comprise Sabine's own observations, respectively on the Niagara frontier of Canada and in the Arctic during Parry's 1819-1820 expedition in the Hecla.

The items are held in chronological order of composition.

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.
English.

manuscript; bound and loose papers.

Described in: Robin Price, An Annotated Catalogue of Medical Americana in the Library of the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1983). Detailed catalogue available at http://www.a2a.pro.gov.uk.

The Wellcome Library holds MSS.7404 and 7486, collections of material relating to Polar explorers, containing some letters by Sabine.

The Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge University holds a journal of Sabine, 1818-1819. Further holdings of Sabine's later papers are kept by numerous repositories in the United Kingdom, including the British Library, Cambridge University Library, the Public Record Office, Royal Institution of Great Britain, Royal Society and University College London. Researchers should refer to the National Register of Archives, Historical Manuscripts Commission for further details.

WMS/Amer.109 comprises a copy of part of W. Bartram, Travels through North and South Carolina (London: J. Johnson, 1792).

description compiled by Christopher Hilton based upon those in the Library's published finding aid by Robin Price. Biographical information from the Dictionary of National Biography. 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. December 2000. Arctic Arctic regions Bartram , William , 1739-1823 , explorer and naturalist Biology Canada Climatic zones Geographical exploration Geography Hecla , ship North America Ornithology Polar regions Sabine , Sir , Edward , 1788-1883 , Knight , General and geophysicist Zoology

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Purchased at Stevens', London, 1931 (accession number 83753).

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The items in this collection are concerned with ornithology. WMS/Amer.109 is a copy of part of William Bartram's work on North American birds, while WMS/Amer.110-111 comprise Sabine's own observations, respectively on the Niagara frontier of Canada and in the Arctic during Parry's 1819-1820 expedition in the Hecla.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The items are held in chronological order of composition.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Conditions governing reproduction

Photocopies/photographs/microfilm are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds, and that photographs cannot be photocopied in any circumstances. Readers are restricted to 100 photocopies in twelve months. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English.

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

The Wellcome Library holds MSS.7404 and 7486, collections of material relating to Polar explorers, containing some letters by Sabine.

Finding aids

Described in: Robin Price, An Annotated Catalogue of Medical Americana in the Library of the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1983). Detailed catalogue available at http://www.a2a.pro.gov.uk.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

The Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge University holds a journal of Sabine, 1818-1819. Further holdings of Sabine's later papers are kept by numerous repositories in the United Kingdom, including the British Library, Cambridge University Library, the Public Record Office, Royal Institution of Great Britain, Royal Society and University College London. Researchers should refer to the National Register of Archives, Historical Manuscripts Commission for further details.

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

Wellcome Library

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