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Senate House Library, University of London

Combe, George: letter (1847)


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0096 AL40

Held at: Senate House Library, University of London

Title: Combe, George: letter (1847)

Date(s): 1847

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 2 leaves

Name of creator(s): Combe | George | 1788-1858 | phrenologist

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

George Combe was born and educated in Edinburgh before practising as a lawyer. He first encountered phrenology in 1815 and, though initially sceptical, he and his brother Andrew soon became two of its leading exponents, co-founding the Edinburgh Phrenological Society in 1820. George Combe lectured extensively on phrenology and its relationships with religion, science, education and social systems, and wrote several books, including The Constitution of Man (1828). The actress Sarah Siddons was his mother-in-law.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Letter from George Combe of 45 Melville Street, Edinburgh to Professor [Augustus] De Morgan, London, 10 May 1847. Referring to criticism levelled at Combe and De Morgan by Sir William Hamilton, of whom he writes: 'He is, I believe, a good husband, a good master to his servants, pays his debts honestly, and so forth: But he is notoriously quarrelsome, and not very scrupulous ... as to the mode in which he annoys his opponent'. Headed: 'Confidential'. Autograph, with signature.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

See hard copy catalogue.

Conditions governing access:

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Please contact the University Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Catalogue of the manuscripts and autograph letters in the University Library at the central building of the University of London (1921). A copy is available in the Library's Palaeography Room.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

See archivist

Immediate source of acquisition:

Bought from Tregaskis in 1912 (about 2 months after Ludlow's books were sold at Hodgson's).

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

On negative microfilm - reference: MIC 242/2

Related material:

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled by Anya Turner.

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with 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: July 2008


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects

Personal names
Combe | George | 1788-1858 | phrenologist
Hamilton | Sir | William | 1788-1856 | Knight | metaphysician
Morgan | Augustus De | 1806-1871 | mathematician and historian x De Morgan | Augustus

Corporate names

Places