WILLIS COLLECTION

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0074 ACC/2584
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: WILLIS COLLECTION
Date(s)	: [1800-1899]
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 0.15 linear metres
Name of creator(s)	: Smith | Charles Roach | 1806-1890 | antiquary

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Charles Roach Smith was a chemist who practiced archaeology as a hobby; collecting items found in the construction of sewers and the dredging of the Thames. He published a catalogue of his collection in 1854, and in 1855 sold the items (over 5000 of them) to the British Museum. Smith worked on studies of Roman London based on observation of remains; as well as publishing articles relating to coins, field monuments, Anglo-Saxon grave goods and sepulchres, both in the UK and Europe. In December 1843 Smith joined Thomas Wright in founding the British Archaeological Association.

Frederick William Fairholt trained as an artist from the age of 12, and became an engraver preparing illustrations for magazines. He began to receive commissions to illustrate antiquarian works; and was employed as artist and writer for the Art Union magazine. His antiquarian knowledge made him much in demand for the illustration of scholarly publications; and he did the illustrations for Charles Roach Smith's The Antiquities of Richborough (1850) and Thomas Wright's Archaeological Album (1845).

Source of information: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, online edn, Oxford University Press.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Letter from Charles Roach Smith, FSA (1807-1890), antiquary, to Frederick William Fairholt, FSA (1814-1866), engraver and antiquary; referring to the progress of copying Faussett (Inventorium Sepulchrale), published 1859, and asking for copy (sketch?) of Roman altar at Doncaster.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

One letter.

Conditions governing access:

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright to this collection rests with the City of London.

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Document transferred from the Map and Print Collections, 7 July 1988.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

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:
August to October 2010.