Graphical version

Royal Geographical Society

SPIRO Collection: letters from African explorers


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0402 SPI

Held at: Royal Geographical Society

Title: SPIRO Collection: letters from African explorers

Date(s): 1855-1892

Level of description: Collection Level

Extent: One box, three files

Name of creator(s): Spiro | Henry | fl 1984
Spiro | Brigitte | fl 1984

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Henry and Brigitte Spiro were living in New York, 1984.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Photocopies of letters from African explorers, 1855-1892, including letters to C Geigler, Chief of Sudan Telegraphs at Khartoum, and to others, 1855-1892, from Samuel White Baker, Richard Francis Burton, Romolo Gessi, James Augustus Grant, David Livingstone, Charles Chaille Long, E Schnitzer (Emin Pasha) and Henry Morton Stanley; copies of letters from Colonel Charles George Gordon to Samuel White Baker and others, 1873-1884 and copies of letters of Lady Florentia Sale, 1842.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English and German

System of arrangement:

Unknown

Conditions governing access:

Accessible 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 the permission of the RGS-IBG Archivist.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Photocopies of the Sotheby's catalogue which describe and calendar the letters can be found with the collection.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

The collection appears to have been artificially brought together by the Spiro family. Many pieces were bought from Sotheby's.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Given to the RGS from the Spiro family, Jul 1983 and Mar 1984.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Held by the Spiro family.

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Prepared by Archives Volunteer using existing finding aids. Revised by Sarah Drewery.

Rules or conventions: ISAD(G) ed. 2, name authority NRA.

Date(s) of descriptions: 22 March 2001. May 2008.


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
African history | National history
Explorers | People by roles | People
Geographical exploration | Geography

Personal names
Baker | Sir | Samuel White | 1821-1893 | Knight | traveller and sportsman
Burton | Sir | Richard Francis | 1821-1890 | Knight | explorer and diplomat
Gessi | Romolo | 1831-1881 | Italian soldier and explorer x Pasha | Gessi
Gordon | Charles George | 1833-1885 | Major-General | British army officer and administrator x Gordon of Khartoum
Grant | James Augustus | 1827-1892 | Scottish explorer
Livingstone | David | 1813-1873 | missionary and explorer
Long | Charles | Chaille- | 1842-1917 | American soldier
Pasha | Mehmet Emin | 1840-1892 | physician, naturalist and colonial administrator x Schnitzer | Eduard Carl Oscar Theodor x Schnitzer | Isaak Eduard
Sale | Lady | Florentia | 1790-1853 | wife of Major-General Sir Robert Henry Sale
Stanley | Sir | Henry Morton | 1841-1904 | Knight | explorer, author and journalist x Rowlands | John

Corporate names

Places
Africa