Donaldson, John (1841-1899)

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0064 DON
Held at	: National Maritime Museum   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://collections.rmg.co.uk/ ›
Full title	: Donaldson, John (1841-1899)
Date(s)	: [1841-1899]
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 11 boxes
Name of creator(s)	: Donaldson | John | 1841-1899 | civil servant and engineer

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

John Donaldson was born in Aberdeen, later studying Engineering at Glasgow University. It was here that he met fellow pupil John Isaac Thornycroft, who became a lifelong friend. After graduating, Donaldson worked in Calcutta for the Department of Public Works. It was whilst in India that he married John Thornycroft's sister, Frances. Returning to England in 1873 due to Frances' ill health, Donaldson joined Thornycroft as a partner in his boatyard at Chiswick. It was here that Donaldson's skill as an engineer came into its own, designing and working on various craft, especially fast torpedo boats, for which the company became famous. John Donaldson lived and worked in Chiswick until his relatively early death in 1899, aged 58.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of John Donaldson, covering most of Donaldson's education and working life, ranging from school work, his university exercise books and exam papers, to government reports and surveys from his time in India, and finally to extensive letters, reprots, etc, covering the period with Thornycroft.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

In transit - item unavailable from May to August 2011

Conditions governing reproduction:

Please contact the Archive for further information.

Finding aids:

Detailed catalogue online at the: National Maritime Museum website .

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers were donated to the National Maritime Museum in 1986 by Ian Donaldson, John Donaldson's grandson.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Edited by Sarah Drewery, Jun 2011.

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:
2011-04-19