Ramsay Manuscripts,

Papers, 1835-1924, of Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay comprising almost entirely of correspondence, which includes family letters, and correspondence, 1842-1923, between members of the Johnes family of Dolau Cothi and the Ramsay family.

Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay (1814-1891) was born in Glasgow and began his career in various business ventures before meeting the politician and chemist Lyon Playfair and the literary scholar and writer John Nichol, both of whom influenced the young Ramsay into developing an interest in science and literature. Ramsay eventually found his niche in the study of geology, with a particular interest in the geology of the Isle of Arran, where he took many vacations and field trips. In April 1841 Ramsay was appointed assistant geologist to Henry de la Beche who was conducting field studies in Pembrokeshire. It was in this part of Wales, as well as in Anglesey and Caernarvonshire, that Ramsay was to carry out his most important field work. He was appointed local directer of the Pembrokeshire survey from 1844 to 1845. In 1848 Ramsay took the post of Professor of Geology at University College, London, from where he would transfer, in 1851, to the departmental chair of the newly-established Royal School of Mines in Kensington. In 1872 he succeeded as director general of the Geological Survey, a position he held until his retirement in 1881. Amongst Ramsay's published works are The Geology of Arran (1841), The Physical Geology and Geography of Great Britain (1863) and The Geology of North Wales (1866), the fruits of his labours in the British geological field. He received several honours during his lifetime, including Fellow of the Geological Society in 1844 and of the Royal Society in 1862, and president of the British Association in 1880. He was knighted in 1881.

Arranged according to NLW MSS reference numbers: NLW MSS 7780-7793, 9634-9642, 11574-11593.

Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions noted on the 'Modern papers - data protection' form issued with their readers' tickets.

NLW MSS 7780-7793; Misses Dorothea and Violet Ramsay, daughters of Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay; Porthmadog; Donation; 1934
NLW MSS 9634-9642; Misses Dorothea and Violet Ramsay, daughers of Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay; Porthmadog; Donation; 1935
NLW MSS 11574-11593; Missess Dorothea and Violet Ramsay, daughers of Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay; Porthmadog; Donation; 1938

Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay (1814-1891) was born in Glasgow and began his career in various business ventures before meeting the politician and chemist Lyon Playfair and the literary scholar and writer John Nichol, both of whom influenced the young Ramsay into developing an interest in science and literature. Ramsay eventually found his niche in the study of geology, with a particular interest in the geology of the Isle of Arran, where he took many vacations and field trips. In April 1841 Ramsay was appointed assistant geologist to Henry de la Beche who was conducting field studies in Pembrokeshire. It was in this part of Wales, as well as in Anglesey and Caernarvonshire, that Ramsay was to carry out his most important field work. He was appointed local directer of the Pembrokeshire survey from 1844 to 1845. In 1848 Ramsay took the post of Professor of Geology at University College, London, from where he would transfer, in 1851, to the departmental chair of the newly-established Royal School of Mines in Kensington. In 1872 he succeeded as director general of the Geological Survey, a position he held until his retirement in 1881. Amongst Ramsay's published works are The Geology of Arran (1841), The Physical Geology and Geography of Great Britain (1863) and The Geology of North Wales (1866), the fruits of his labours in the British geological field. He received several honours during his lifetime, including Fellow of the Geological Society in 1844 and of the Royal Society in 1862, and president of the British Association in 1880. He was knighted in 1881.

The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, Volume II (Aberystwyth, 1951); Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, Volume III (Aberystwyth, 1961); Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, Volume IV (Aberystwyth, 1971); Dictionary of National Biography on-line site, viewed 13 October 2009; Oxford Dictionary of National Biograph on-line site, viewed 13 October 2009; Oxford Journals on-line site, viewed 21 October 2009.

Title based on contents.

Formerly known as Ramsay 1-43.

The descriptions are also available in the Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, Volume II (Aberystwyth, 1951), Volume III (Aberystwyth, 1961), and Volume IV (Aberystwyth, 1971).

July 2005 and October 2009.

Description was compiled by Siân Medi Davies for the retrospective conversion project of NLW MSS, and revised by Bethan Ifans.

Usual copyright laws apply.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales