Guide to the Autograph letters and collections of the British Museum (Natural History), General Library (as filmed by the AJCP)

D.J. Adcock (Adelaide) to [unknown], 30 January 1894 (File)

Re problems identifying shells and mollusca.

Robin S. Allan [of New Zealand] (Cambridge) to Sherborn, 25 October 1926 (File)

Re break in his studies due to ill health.

Karl A. Anderson (Uppsala) to Professor Harmer, 14 September 1905 (File)

Re Siboga expedition and his work studying Antarctic Cephalodiseus.

Thomas A. Balfour (Edinburgh) to Trustees, 11 March 1878 (File)

Reference for R. Etheridge Junior. for position in Geological Department of British Museum.

Charles Barrett (Elsternwick) to Sherborn, 28 March 1923 (File)

That to exchange shell specimens with W.J. Writle.

Edward Bartlett (Sarawak) to E.A. Smith: re shells from Borneo, 1895-10-17; 1896-03-19; 1899-01-16 (File)

Charles E. Beddome (Hobart) to [unknown], 12 March 1883 (File)

Requesting he look at a collection of Tasmanian shells.

R. Bedford (Kyancutta Museum, South Australia) to Alexander Townsend, 7 November 1935 (File)

Forwarding copy of Memoirs of Kyancutta Museum.

William T. Bednall (Knightsbridge, South Australia) to E.A. Smith, 30 October 1911 (File)

Sending shells for identification...

William B. Benham (Dunedin) to S. Harmer, 30 April 1902 (File)

Re preparation of specimens.

John Bigsby [n.pl.] to Trustees on behalf of Robert Etheridge, 19 March 1878 (File)

"In both Scotch and Australian paleontology, my obligations to Mr Ethridge Jnr. are very great".

Thomas Blackburn (Adelaide) to Waterhouse: re description of coleoptera, 27 November 1888 (File)

John W. Brazier (Sydney) to E.A. Smith, 12 June 1893 (File)

That after thirteen years working at the Australian Museum, he has been told that his services are no longer required; problems at the Museum; 'nearly all the trouble of the place is brought about by the Curator never being in his place and a busybody of a Trustee coming about the place and finding fault with everyone in it'...

Henry Bristow (London) to Etheridge, 16 June 1875 (File)

'Your connection with the Geological Survey at home and in the colony of Victoria, under Mr Selwyn, has been highly creditable to you.'

T. Lindsay Buick (Wellington) to Miss Bate: re his work on moa bones, 14 November 1932 (File)

Includes: Obituary and photograph.

George W. Card (Sydney) to F.A. Bather, 24 February 1901 (File)

Acknowledging receipt of publications, the Museum (of Geological Survey) is housed 'in an old Exhibition shed'.

Joseph E. Carne (New South Wales Court, Crystal Palace) to A. Smith Woodward, 27 August 1890 (File)

That he hopes to visit the Museum soon.

Frederick Chapman (London) to Sherborn: re sorting out specimens, 9 September 1889 (File)

Includes: Three photographs of Chapman, 1900, 1916 and 1925.

James Chumley (Edinburgh) to Andrews, 13 April 1897 (File)

Re Christmas Island rocks; hopes he will have a successful expedition.

Reverend W.B. Clarke (St. Leonards) to Professor T.R. Jones, 19 May 1863 (File)

Re fossils from Newcastle coal beds.

James C. Cox [n.pl.] to E. Smith re joining Conchological Society, 24 July 1893 (File)

James Croll (Edinburgh) on behalf of Robert Ethridge, 22 June 1875 (File)

Richard Daintree (Bournemouth) to Carruthers, 7 February 1874 (File)

Re Queensland fossils and discovery of coal near mouth of Endeavour River.

Edgeworth David (London) to Smith Woodward re meeting, [n.d.] (File)

Edgeworth David (Sydney) to Taylor sending testimonials, 10 July 1907 (File)

Does not include testimonials. Includes: Flyer for biography of Edgeworth David by M. Edgeworth David.

Arthur Dendy (Melbourne; Christchurch, New Zealand) to Kirkpatrick and Woodward, 1888-03-22;1897-07-07; 1898-06-16 (File)

Re his work on New Zealand sponges; work of J.B.Magne; he is building a house on Port Hills. (9p.)

William Doherty (Calcutta, Timor, Ternate), 1891-01-24; 1892-04-18; 1893-08-29 (File)

Re collecting shells in Sumatra; shells from Amboyna; plans to collect in New Guinea. (14p.)

Robert Etheridge (Edinburgh, Sydney) to Waterhouse, Woodward and Smith, 1878-04-03; 1887-04-26; 1898-09-20 (File)

Re discovery of fish in Hawesbury [Hawkesbury?] Rocks; his position at the Australian Museum - needs more money and more space.

Robert Etheridge (Sydney) to Woodward with news of other scientists, 11 February 1892 (File)

Alfred Hart Everett (London, Borneo) to Godwin Austen, Oldfield Thomas and Smith, 1890-12-17 (Answered); 1892-03-24; 1897-01-09 (File)

Re collecting in Lubuan; sending Tupaia from Dulit Mountain.

Hartley T. Ferrar (Wellington) to Sherborn congratulating him on his DSc, 8 September 1931 (File)

H.J. Findlay (Dunedin) to Sherborn, 4 November 1924 (File)

Congratulating him on publication of Index Animalium.

Henry Forbes (Liverpool) to Sherborn, 2 March 1894 (File)

Advice on going out to Java; Buitenzorg is a better place to stay than Batavia...

Charles French (Melbourne): re obtaining Spondylus shells, 13 June 1899 (File)

Walter W. Froggatt (Sydney) to editors of Natural Science, 12 May 1894 (File)

Re Australian gall making insects.

Ludwig Glauert (Perth, Sheffield) to Woodward and Sherborn, 1909-12-06; 1919-12-23 (File)

Requesting Woodward's advice 'I am only a beginner in the wide field of Palaeontology'; spending Christmas holidays with his mother.

Henry B. Guppy (London), 15 October 1885 (File)

Introducing C.M. Woodford who is going to Solomon Islands from Fiji.

Julius von Haast (New Zealand Court, London): re J.A. Wollet, 8 May 1886 (File)

T.S. Hall (Melbourne) to Sherborn: re publications, 23 March 1903 (File)

R. Hanitsch (Singapore): re shells collected in British North Borneo, 27 July 1894 (File)

William A. Haswell (Sydney) to Harmer, 9 June 1900 (File)

Re lost specimens; his current work.

Charles Hedley (Sydney) to Woodward and Sykes, 1893-03-21; 1905-08-28; 1921-08-12 (File)

Re his work; his official misfortunes 'I have been most unjustly and unfairly treated'...

Charles Hedley (Sydney) to Bullen Newton, 1891-02-17; 1924-05-22 (File)

Re collecting in Tasmania; that Australian Museum 'fallen under control of business men'; scientific work to be cut out.

John Hewitt (Sarawak) to Smith: sending shells, 1905-01-31; 1905-11-21 (File)

Edwin S. Hills (Kew, Victoria) to Sherborn, [n.y.]-11-08; 1933-11-21; 1937-11-23 (File)

Sending Christmas greetings, his work; family news.

Charles Hose (Baram, Purley) to Editor of Natural Science and C.W. Andrews, 1894-04-23; 1920-04-04 (File)

Re publications; Andrew's work on Christmas Island.

Walter Howchin (North Adelaide): acknowledging publication, 21 November 1892 (File)

Includes: Obituary of Howchin, The Age 30 July 1938.

Reginald Hurd (Brisbane) to E.A. Smith: re his work on Australian shells, 1897-05-27; 1897-09-27 (File)

Frederick Hutton (Auckland, Christchurch) to Jones and E.A. Smith, 1866-01-11; 1891-11-15 (File)

Re mapping Waikato District; problem in identifying specimens 'in the colonies with very limited libraries'.

Tom Iredale (Sydney) to Sherborn, 1932-06-28; 1933-06-27 (File)

Re fieldwork; the use made of Sherborn's work by Australian scientists...

Robert L. Jack (Brisbane, London) to A. Smith Woodward and R. Bullen Newton, 1894-03-14; 1901-07-18 (File)

Re identification of Scarus; Malayan fossils.

Elizabeth Jelly (Red Hill) to Kirkpatrick, 23 August [n.y.] (File)

Re fossil specimens of New Zealand Eschara obliqua of MacGillivray.

J.B. Jukes (H.M.S. Fly, Cape Upstart) to Waterhouse, 20 April 1843 (File)

Re work on voyage; his dredge was eaten by rats; opossum mouse caught in Van Diemen's Land 'he is rather addicted to biting'; other specimens collected - birds and corals; problems working in a naval vessel.

Agnes F. Kenyon (Richmond) to E.A. Smith, 1900-07-31; 1901-05-27 (File)

Re specimens sent to British Museum by McCoy.

C. Boden Kloss (Singapore) to Sherborn with comments on his Index Animalium, 2 September 1931 (File)

Constance Knox, daughter of 5th Earl of Ranfurly (London), [n.d.] (File)

That the specimen of mollusca found on Admiralty Islands was given to Hutton.

J. Krefft (Sydney) to R.L. Playfair: re fish specimens (Xerox), 18 October 1867 (File)

Edgar Layard (Noumea) to E.A. Smith: re work on New Caledonian shells, 23 October 1883 (File)

F. McCoy (Melbourne) to Gray: re Gray's account with the National Museum, 25 November 1862 (File)

Sir William MacGregor (British New Guinea): re specimens from Woodlark Island, 16 December 1890 (File)

Charles Maplestone (Eltham), 11 January 1901 (File)

That Professor Spencer has persuaded him to take up the work of MacGillivray on polyzoa on his retirement from government service.

T.P. Moody (Whangarei) to Sherborn: that has left Bay of Islands, 12 March 1895 (File)

R. Murdock (Wanganui) to E.A. Smith: sending New Zealand shells, 1894-04-30; 1894-08-30 (File)

Charles Musson (Narrabri): re work on shells, 28 April 1888 (File)

C.H. Oestingh (Sumatra): re freshwater shells of Sumatra, 13 April 1929 (File)

Thomas J. Parker (Dunedin) to Bell, 1886-02-26; 1897-06-08 (File)

Re sending specimens of New Zealand invertebrates to the Colonial Exhibition.

William F. Petterd (Launceston) to Oldfield Thomas: that will send him a Thylacium, 20 July 1887 (File)

F.A. Rodway (Nowra) to Major Austin, 10 November 1927 (File)

Sending specimens of insects; about to leave for Barrier Reef.

Ernest Willington Skeats (Melbourne) to Sherborn, 16 November 1908 (File)

Re his work at the University; visits to Sydney, Tasmania and Adelaide; University funding; his accommodation at the University; Gregory's views on artesian water...

Sir Walter Baldwin Spencer (Melbourne) to Smith Woodward and Editor Malacological Journal, 1891-04-13; 1900-06-26 (File)

Re papers and type specimens.

Henry Suter (Christchurch, Auckland) to Smith and Woodward, 1915-07-10; 1898-01-22; 1901-08-17; 1903-09-11 (File)

Re his work on shells, 'In New Zealand a scientific man is simply buried alive', Hutton's bad health.

Ralph Tate (Adelaide) sending mollusca collected in Central Australia by Horn Expedition, 28 May 1895 (File)

J. Allan Thomson (Wellington) to Sherborn: re corrections to his paper, 6 October 1919 (File)

C.W. de Vis (Queensland Museum) to Oldfield Thomas with his opinion of P. canina, 29 November 1907 (File)

Alfred R. Wallace (Sarawak) to Waterhouse, 8 May 1855 (File)

He is working hard collecting insects; hopes to get specimen of orangoutan...

G.G. Waterhouse (Adelaide) to George Waterhouse, 13 February 1854 (File)

Sending a box of insects; strange spiders found in reed beds. (Faint)

William H. Webster (Auckland) to E.A. Smith: sending Mactra shell, 1903-04-24; 1904-07-08 (File)

John Whitehead (Singapore) to Grant, 18 October 1893 (File)

That is proceeding to Manila; death of collector during Pehang Expedition.

Thomas Whitelegge (Sydney) to Harmer: re dredgings from Holborn Island, 15 September 1899 (File)

Frederick Wood Jones (Adelaide) to Sherborn, 10 June 1923 (File)

During his trips in Australia he has discovered five new mammals and 'innumerable new insects'.

Julian E.T. Woods (South Australia), 19 March 1864 (File)

Sending shell from Muddy Creek; work at fossil beds near Hamilton.

Bernard Woodward (Perth) to Henry Woodward, Rupert Jones and others, 1900-08-14; 1896-10-02; 1897-11-25; 1895-08-30 (File)

Re publications; his work at the Museum; interest of Lady Forrest in the Museum...

F. Hutton (Dunedin) re fossils from Wanganui beds (incomplete letter?), 23 April 1877 (File f. 103-105)

[Rough diary of voyage] (File I)

Includes notes on Madeira, (rocks and insects); Rio de Janeiro, Valparaiso, Galapagos (humming birds), birds, fish. (30ff.)

[Transcript from rough diary of voyage] (File II)

Includes observations made at sea - birds, fish, giving latitude and longitude. (21ff.)

[First rough notes] (69ff.) (File III)

Includes birds of Chile, Galapagos, Sandwich Islands, Brazil.

[First rough notes] (33ff.) (File IV)

Includes description of birds of Sandwich Islands and sketches of Sandwich Islands, Malden's Islands and Galapagos Islands.

[no title] (14ff.) (File V)

Includes vocabulary lists for Sandwich Islands and descriptions of birds of Sandwich Islands.

Description of birds etc. at Valparaiso and Chile (File VI)

[notes transcribed from III]. (18ff.)

Conception (File VII)

Lists of birds, shells, reptiles. (2ff.)

Galapagos (File VIII)

Description of fauna. (5ff.)

[no title] (16ff.) (File IX)

Includes notes on guana of Galapagos, birds, porpoises.

[Lists of birds, insects, shells; letter to Admiralty; natural history of Sandwich Islands] (File X)

(19ff.) Includes...

Correspondence, 25 October 1890 - 15 June 1898 (File XI)

Alfred Newton (Cambridge) and Henry Forbes (London) to Reverend J.R. Bloxam (Andrew Bloxam's brother) and A. Roby Bloxam (Christchurch, NZ) (Andrew Bloxam's son) re Newton's interest in natural history of Sandwich Islands, and Andrew Bloxam's diary of voyage. 10 letters.

Notes re deposit. (3ff.) (File XII)

A series of specimens showing the composition of the circular coral-reef which forms Keeling Atoll or Lagoon Island in Indian Ocean (File 1-2)

Collected by Charles Darwin during voyage of the Beagle. 2 sheets. (Larger sheet faint). Printed transcription of the larger manuscript sheet.

Photocopy of the exhibit caption (File 3)

Note by Rex Banks on the provinence of the collection, 1980 (File 4)

Volume 1: Journal, 22 December 1835 - 5 December 1839 (File)

Subjects and places include: Madeira; 'very good Madeira brandy'; other flora of Madeira; fish harpooned; St Catherine's; Monte Video; gales round Cape Horn, 'it was useless to attempt to sleep'; taking soundings in Pacific; Valparaiso; general remarks on coast of South America - climate, vegetation etc.; Panama; Sandwich Islands - sugar cane, languages, population, American missionaries; Prince William Sound; Sitka-Russian settlement; natives; Nootka; San Francisco; Acapulco; Caleao; Panama; Sandwich Islands - 'the king honoured us with a second visit on board'; Columbia River; California...

Volume 2: Natural History Observations, 9 January 1836 - 14 July 1840 (File)

Subjects and places include: Madeira; vegetation of Teneriffe; climate; Gorgona - botany; Sandwich Islands - flora and natural history; Nootka - vegetation; Cocos - shells and animals; Marquesas - vegetation, fauna; Bow Island - perculiarities of vegetation, flora, shells; Tahiti - vegetation, flora, breadfruit, sandalwood; Fiji - peculiarities of vegetation, shells; New Ireland - botany, birds, shells...

Sarawak: collection of photographs of peoples, flora, and fauna of Sarawak, n.d. (File)

Subjects include: Kuching; The Astana; Borneo Company's House; Kenyah natives; kayan natives; Sea Dayak natives; Tinjar River; Punan's heads taken by Sea Dayaks; native houses; musical instruments; animals. 170 photos...

Wallace (Singapore): re expense of travelling, 10 March 1856 (File 1)

Equipment he needs; insects; specimens sent on Water Lily (incomplete?).

Wallace (Singapore): engaged a good man to shoot and skin birds and animals; orang skins sent on Water Lily, 12 May 1856 (File 2)

Wallace (Ampanam): cannot get passage to Macassar; nothing to collect locally, 21 August 1856 (File 3)

'nothing but dusty roads and paddy fields for miles around'; birds 'throw light on the laws of geographical distribution of animals in the east'; cultivation of Bali and Lombock Islands - production of cotton.

Wallace (Macassar): re the local countryside, 27 September 1856 (File 4)

Collecting birds, including new species; priouiturus platurus; native customs 'amok'.

Wallace (Batchian): re collecting at Kaisal Islands, 29 October 1858 (File 5)

Batchian should prove to be a good locality for collecting; new species of Loyrcorus; butterflies; new Bird of Paradise; monkeys; 'an essay on varieties which I sent to Mr Darwin has been read to Linnaean Society ... on account of an extraordinary coincidence with some views of Mr Darwin'

Notes re deposit, 1974 (File 6)

First and second drafts of Undiscovered Australia, 1923 - 1925 (File)

An account of Wilkin's expedition to tropical Australia to collect fauna for the British Museum (Natural History), 1923-1925...

87 photographs, identified, [c. 1923-1925] (File)

Subjects include: animals; fossils; natives; Thomby Head Station; camp; emu brought to bay by dogs; rock carvings.