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Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine

RAMSAY, Sir Andrew Crombie (1814-1891)


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0098 KGA RAMSAY

Held at: Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine

Title: RAMSAY, Sir Andrew Crombie (1814-1891)

Date(s): Created 1812-1933

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 18 boxes

Name of creator(s): Ramsay | Sir | Andrew Crombie | 1814-1891 | Knight | geologist

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Born Glasgow, 1814, son of William Ramsay, a manufacturing chemist; clerk in a cotton-grower's office, 1827; published book on the Isle of Arran, 1841; appointed Assistant Geologist on the Geological Survey, 1841; appointed Local Director, 1845; Professor of Geology, University College London, 1848-1851; Fellow of the Royal Society, 1849; Professor of Geology, Royal School of Mines, 1851-1876; President of the Geological Society, 1867-1864; Director for England and Wales, Geological Survey; Wollaston medal of the Geological Survey, 1871; Royal medal of the Royal Society, 1871; knighted, 1881; died, 1891.
Publications: include: The Geology of the Island of Arran, from original survey. Illustrated by engravings (Glasgow, 1841); Passages in the history of Geology: an inaugural lecture at University College, London (London, 1848); A descriptive catalogue of the Rock Specimens in the Museum of Practical Geology with Henry W Bristow, Archibald Geikie and Hilary Bauerman (London, 1858); The geological structure of Merionethshire and Caernarvonshire reprinted, with additions, from "The Geologist" (London, 1858); The Geology of North Wales ... With map and sections (1866).

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay, 1812-1933, comprising notebooks and diaries, 1841-1882, recording both professional and personal details, including geological observations and drawings from field work in Britain, the Rhine, Canada, Switzerland, North Africa, France; sketches of landscapes, details of personal and official expenses, principally for travelling and accommodation; verses; inserted copies of correspondence; notices of deaths;
rough notes for lectures at the Royal School of Mines, Royal Institution, [1850-1880]; miscellaneous notes and printed papers, 1840-1889, principally relating to his book on Arran, 1841; appointment to University College London, 1847-1849; articles by Ramsay in the 'Saturday Review', 1858-1873; Bedfordshire palaeontology; examination papers, 1858-1875, for various institutions including the Geological Survey and Royal School of Mines, London University and University College, Cambridge University; sketch books and drawings of scenery, geological sections, portraits, [1840-1880]; miscellaneous printed papers, 1836-1892, notably papers relating to the Metropolitan Red Lion Association, 1836-1854; obituary notices for Ramsay, 1892;
family correspondence, 1812-1933, comprising letters of family members, including Ramsay's parents, wife, and daughters; correspondence with Sir Henry de la Beche, 1841-1854; general correspondence, 1833-1895, comprising letters from various correspondents, including Charles Robert Darwin, 1846-1864, Edward Forbes, 1844-1854, the Geological Survey, 1844-1876, Thomas Henry Huxley, 1854-1855, Joseph Beete Jukes, 1846-1867, Charles Kingsley, 1864, Sir Charles Lyell, 1841-1872, Sir Roderick Impey Murchison, 1848-1869, John Phillips, 1842-1867, Lyon Playfair, 1837-1854, Adam Sedgwick, [1865], Alfred Richard Cecil Selwyn, 1846-1881, James Sharpe, 1840-1851, Sir Warrington Wilkinson Smyth, [1840-1890], Joshua Trimmer, [1840-1857], Anna Maria Williams, 1842-1852.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English and French.

System of arrangement:

The records are arranged in sections as outlined in the scope and content.

Conditions governing access:

Researchers wishing to consult the Archives should first contact the College Archivist, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, for an appointment.

Conditions governing reproduction:

A photocopying service is available at the discretion of the Archivist. Photocopies are supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Archivist.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

A catalogue is available in the reading room of the College Archives.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Given to Imperial College in 1934 by the daughters of Sir Ramsay. They were transferred from the Department of Geology to the College Archives in 1970.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Records of the Department of Geology (KG), including notes on Professor Ramsay's lectures nos I - XXXIII (KG/8), held at Imperial College.

Correspondence and papers, held at the British Geological Survey Library (reference: IGS3, GSM1/420); correspondence, 1841-1891, held at the National Library of Wales, Department of Manuscripts and Records (reference: NLW MSS 7780-93, 9634-42, 11574-93); correspondence, 1843-1879, held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections (reference: Gen 524, 1426, 1999); letters to William Aveline, 1845-1883, held at the British Geological Survey Library (reference: IGS1); letters to Sir Henry De la Beche, held at the National Museum of Wales; letters to George Gordon, 1866-1886, held at the Elgin Museum (reference: NRA(S)1989); correspondence with Sir Charles Lyell, 1846-1874, held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections (reference: Lyell 1); letters to Sir Roderick Impey Murchison, 1841-1867, held at the Geological Society of London (reference: M/R1); letters to Trenham Reeks, 1854-1879, held at the British Geological Survey Library (reference: IGS1).

Publication note:

Memoir of Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay, etc by Sir Archibald Geikie KCB (Macmillan & Co, London, 1895)

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Sources: British Library On-Line Public Access Catalogue 97; National Register of Archives. Compiled by Julie Tancell as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.

Rules or conventions: 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.

Date(s) of descriptions: October 2000


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Diaries | Nonfiction | Prose | Literary forms and genres | Literature
Drawings | Visual materials
Examinations | Student evaluation | Educational evaluation
Field work | Research work
Geologists | Scientists | Scientific personnel | Personnel | People by occupation | People
Geology
Illustrations
Palaeontology
Primary documents
Travel

Personal names
Beche | Sir | Henry Thomas | De la | 1796-1855 | Knight | geologist x De la Beche | Sir | Henry Thomas
Darwin | Charles Robert | 1809-1882 | scientist and naturalist
Forbes | Edward | 1815-1854 | naturalist
Huxley | Thomas Henry | 1825-1895 | scientist and educationist
Jukes | Joseph Beete | 1811-1869 | geologist
Kingsley | Charles | 1819-1875 | Canon of Westminster | author
Lyell | Sir | Charles | 1797-1875 | 1st Baronet | geologist
Murchison | Sir | Roderick Impey | 1792-1871 | 1st Baronet | geologist
Phillips | John | 1800-1874 | geologist
Playfair | Lyon | 1818-1898 | 1st Baron Playfair | chemist x Playfair | 1st Baron
Ramsay | Sir | Andrew Crombie | 1814-1891 | Knight | geologist
Sedgwick | Adam | 1785-1873 | geologist
Selwyn | Alfred Richard Cecil | 1824-1902 | geologist
Sharpe | James | fl 1840-1851 | correspondent of Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay
Smyth | Sir | Warington Wilkinson | 1817-1890 | Knight | mineralogist
Trimmer | Joshua | 1795-1857 | geologist
Williams | Anna Maria | fl 1842-1852

Corporate names
Geological Survey of Great Britain
Metropolitan Red Lion Association
Royal Institution of Great Britain
Royal School of Mines
University of Cambridge x Cambridge University
University of London x London University

Places
Bedfordshire | England | UK | Western Europe | Europe
Canada | North America
France | Western Europe | Europe
London | England | UK | Western Europe | Europe
Switzerland | Western Europe | Europe
North Africa