Papers of Robert W Kidston 1852-1924, palaeobotanist, and David Thomas Gwynne-Vaughan 1871-1915, palaeobotanist

Scope and Content

  • UGC 088/A 1906-1914, original papers pertaining to publications by Robert W Kidston and David T Gwynne-Vaughan;
  • UGC 088/B 1897-1966, correspondence relating to the Robert W Kidston Slide Collection;
  • UGC 088/C (no date) original box files.

Administrative / Biographical History

This collection represents 3 box files of material stored in association with the Robert Kidston palaeobotanical slide collection (bequeathed to the University upon his death in 1924) from the time that John Walton was Regius Professor of Botany (1930-1961) until March 2003. During this time the collection was moved from the Botany Building (25th November 1966) into the care of the Hunterian, where the slides were originally stored (along with other geological slide material) in a custom-built room within the Museum, but this was demolished in 2000. Beforehand, all the slides in that room were transferred to the Hunterian's Thurso Street Store. The original red box files have been retained because the handwriting on the spine provides contextual information but the papers have been removed for reasons of preservation.

The papers were transferred to storage in the University's Archive Services in April 2003. The 3 box files cover 2 series of content - Kidston & Gwynne-Vaughan original publication papers (handwritten manuscripts and original pasted-together plates for the same publications); and associated correspondence for the Kidston collection of slides. The first box file contained the handwritten manuscripts for the Kidston & Gwynne-Vaughan Fossil Osmundaceae papers; the second box file contained the original photographs and drafted plates for the Kidston & Gwynne-Vaughan Fossil Osmundaceae papers; the third box file (marked "Kidston Collection + Library") contained the 1912 original manuscript and drafted plates (as well as related 1901-3 correspondence) for the 1912 Kidston & Gwynne-Vaughan paper On the New Carboniferous Flora of Berwickshire. Part I. - Stenomyelon tuedianum? , and correspondence associated with the Kidston collection of slides. All of these manuscripts were published within the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh , and all the thin-sections that the work was based on are held by the Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow, in the Gwynne-Vaughan and Kidston slide collections. The papers are key and definitive works in the understanding of Carboniferous flora, and still referred to in 2003 as classics.

Arrangement

Arranged into three series

Access Information

Open

Acquisition Information

Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow April 2003

Other Finding Aids

Further notes containing contextual information, compiled during cataloguing, are available on request from the Hunterian Museum.

Alternative Form Available

No known copies

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

None which affect the use of this material

Conditions Governing Use

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Archivist.

Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents

Appraisal Information

This material has been appraised in line with standard GB 0248 procedures

Custodial History

Previously in the custody of the botany department and latterly in the custody of the Hunterian Museum.

Accruals

None expected

Related Material

All the thin-sections used by these two gentlemen in their joint works, are held by the Hunterian Museum, in either the Gwynne-Vaughan slide collection (1-2290), or the Kidston slide collection (1-3162). Contact the staff of the Geology section of the Museum for further details.

Location of Originals

This material is original

Bibliography

No known publications using this material

Additional Information

Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives,ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999 and National Council on Archives,Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names

Scotland is the location of all place names in the administrative/biographical history element, unless otherwise stated.

Collection catalogued by Jeff Liston, Geology Section, Hunterian Museum, March 2003. Catalogue converted to Encoded Archival Description by Victoria Stobo, Archive Assistant 2011. Catalogue edited by Alma Topen, Senior Assistant Archivist (Cataloguing) 17 January 2013 and Emma Anthony, Business Archives Cataloguer, 22 January 2013.

Geographical Names