Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1930-1940 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 box, 2 files
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born, 1892; educated privately; Trinity College, Cambridge, PhD; Civil Service, 1908-1914; served with the North Somerset Yeomanry in Belgium, 1914-1915; Somerset Light Infantry in Mesopotamia (Iraq), 1916-1918; Assistant Political Officer in Mesopotamia, 1918-1922; Assistant British Representative in Trans-Jordan (Jordan), 1922-1924; Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS), 1920-1950; Finance Minister and Wazir to the Sultan of Muscat and Oman (Oman), 1925-1932. During this time he made a number of expeditions into the desert, becoming the first European to cross the Rub' Al Khali (Empty Quarter), 1930-1931; RGS Founder's Medal, 1931; Information Officer in Bahrain, 1942-1943; Director of the Middle East Centre for Arab Studies, Palestine, 1943-1946, and Lebanon, 1947-1948; adviser to Shell Group, 1948-1949; died, 1950.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0402 BTH 1930-1940 Collection level 1 box, 2 files Thomas , Bertram Sidney , 1892-1950 , diplomat, explorer and author
Born, 1892; educated privately; Trinity College, Cambridge, PhD; Civil Service, 1908-1914; served with the North Somerset Yeomanry in Belgium, 1914-1915; Somerset Light Infantry in Mesopotamia (Iraq), 1916-1918; Assistant Political Officer in Mesopotamia, 1918-1922; Assistant British Representative in Trans-Jordan (Jordan), 1922-1924; Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS), 1920-1950; Finance Minister and Wazir to the Sultan of Muscat and Oman (Oman), 1925-1932. During this time he made a number of expeditions into the desert, becoming the first European to cross the Rub' Al Khali (Empty Quarter), 1930-1931; RGS Founder's Medal, 1931; Information Officer in Bahrain, 1942-1943; Director of the Middle East Centre for Arab Studies, Palestine, 1943-1946, and Lebanon, 1947-1948; adviser to Shell Group, 1948-1949; died, 1950.
Unknown
Papers of Bertram Sidney Thomas, 1930-1940, including lists and notes on observations made during his expedition to southern Arabia, 1930: appendices to article by Thomas, 'A Journey into Rub' Al Khali: The Southern Arabian Desert', The Geographical Journal, Vol. 77, No. 1 (Jan, 1931), pp. 1-31; and astronomical observations, Arabia, 1930-1931.
As outlined in the 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
Collection level description available in the Foyle Reading Room.
RGS Correspondence Blocks: 1921-1930 and 1931-1940.
Prepared by an archives volunteer using existing finding aids. Revised by Sarah Drewery.
Sources: Obit: The Geographical Journal no. 117, 1951, pages 117-119; Oxford DNB.
ISAD(G) ed.2, name authority NRA.
15 February 2001; May 2008. Thomas , Bertram Sidney , 1892-1950 , diplomat, explorer and author Astronomy Geography Geographical exploration Rub' al Khali Middle East Gulf States
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Unknown
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Bertram Sidney Thomas, 1930-1940, including lists and notes on observations made during his expedition to southern Arabia, 1930: appendices to article by Thomas, 'A Journey into Rub' Al Khali: The Southern Arabian Desert', The Geographical Journal, Vol. 77, No. 1 (Jan, 1931), pp. 1-31; and astronomical observations, Arabia, 1930-1931.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
As outlined in the 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
RGS Correspondence Blocks: 1921-1930 and 1931-1940.
Finding aids
Collection level description available in the Foyle Reading Room.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
ISAD(G) ed.2, name authority NRA.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English