GB 0402 JTH - THOMSON, Joseph (1858-1894)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0402 JTH

Title

THOMSON, Joseph (1858-1894)

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.

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

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Royal Geographical Society

Rules and/or conventions used

ISAD(G) ed. 2, name authority NRA.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area