Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1878-1901 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
4 observation boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born, 1858; educated, Edinburgh University, 1875-1878; geologist and naturalist to an expedition under Alexander Keith Johnston the younger, sent by the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) to open up a road from Dar es Salaam to lakes Nyasa and Tanganyika, 1878-1880; Fellow of the RGS, 1881-1895; RGS expedition to find a route between the seaboard of eastern Africa and the northern shores of Lake Victoria, 1883-1884; RGS Founder's Medal, 1885; expedition for the National African Company to gain territorial and trading privileges, 1885; expedition in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, 1888; treaty making expedition to Katanga (Shaba) for the British South Africa Company, 1890; died, 1895.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0402 JTH 1878-1901 Collection level 4 observation boxes Thomson , Joseph , 1858-1894 , explorer of Africa
Born, 1858; educated, Edinburgh University, 1875-1878; geologist and naturalist to an expedition under Alexander Keith Johnston the younger, sent by the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) to open up a road from Dar es Salaam to lakes Nyasa and Tanganyika, 1878-1880; Fellow of the RGS, 1881-1895; RGS expedition to find a route between the seaboard of eastern Africa and the northern shores of Lake Victoria, 1883-1884; RGS Founder's Medal, 1885; expedition for the National African Company to gain territorial and trading privileges, 1885; expedition in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, 1888; treaty making expedition to Katanga (Shaba) for the British South Africa Company, 1890; died, 1895.
Unknown
Papers of Joseph Thompson, 1878-1901, comprising four observations files, 1879-1888, including: computations of observations made in Morocco, 1883-1884 and 1888; positions, altitudes and temperatures, Tanganyika 1879; barometric observations, Morocco, 1888; barometric and hypsometric observations, Kenya, 1883-1884; computations of observations made in Kenya, 1883-1884; journals: of East Africa, 1881-1893; North Africa, 1889 and the Nile, 1879; correspondence, 1878-1901, (Correspondence Blocks 1871-1880, 1881-1910 and 1911-1920) including 17 letters 1878-1880; printed copies of letters Mar and Nov 1882 and Feb 1883; letters from Taveta 4 Apr 1883 and from Mombasa 5 Jun [1883] on his journey to Kilimanjaro and retreat from Ngara; 8 letters, Dec 1882, from the Foreign Office to Royal Geographical Society (RGS); 21 letters from Thomson 1882-1886 and 1892; 11 telegrams with typescript copies, 1883-1886; statement of financial accounts, John Kirk (Consul General, Zanzibar) in account with RGS for Thomson's expedition; 4p. proofs of 'Hints to Travellers' with corrections by Thomson; nine letters from J H Thomson (nephew) ,1901; three letters from J B Thomson (brother), 1895-1896; letters on a portrait of Thomson; letters to J Scott Keltie and letter to Gilmour (Keltie's son-in-law) nd.
Original order
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
Prepared by an archives volunteer using existing finding aids. Revised by Sarah Drewery.
Sources: Obit. Geog. Jnl, Vol. 6, 1895, pp 289-291; Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
ISAD(G) ed. 2, name authority NRA.
31 Jan 2001. May 2008. Mombasa East Africa Tanzania UR Royal Geographical Society Thomson , Joseph , 1858-1894 , explorer of Africa Geographical exploration Geography Geographical data North Africa Kenya Morocco Africa Nile, river
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Unknown
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Joseph Thompson, 1878-1901, comprising four observations files, 1879-1888, including: computations of observations made in Morocco, 1883-1884 and 1888; positions, altitudes and temperatures, Tanganyika 1879; barometric observations, Morocco, 1888; barometric and hypsometric observations, Kenya, 1883-1884; computations of observations made in Kenya, 1883-1884; journals: of East Africa, 1881-1893; North Africa, 1889 and the Nile, 1879; correspondence, 1878-1901, (Correspondence Blocks 1871-1880, 1881-1910 and 1911-1920) including 17 letters 1878-1880; printed copies of letters Mar and Nov 1882 and Feb 1883; letters from Taveta 4 Apr 1883 and from Mombasa 5 Jun [1883] on his journey to Kilimanjaro and retreat from Ngara; 8 letters, Dec 1882, from the Foreign Office to Royal Geographical Society (RGS); 21 letters from Thomson 1882-1886 and 1892; 11 telegrams with typescript copies, 1883-1886; statement of financial accounts, John Kirk (Consul General, Zanzibar) in account with RGS for Thomson's expedition; 4p. proofs of 'Hints to Travellers' with corrections by Thomson; nine letters from J H Thomson (nephew) ,1901; three letters from J B Thomson (brother), 1895-1896; letters on a portrait of Thomson; letters to J Scott Keltie and letter to Gilmour (Keltie's son-in-law) nd.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Original order
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
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)
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Description control area
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Rules and/or conventions used
ISAD(G) ed. 2, name authority NRA.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English