Journal and related papers describing places and farming in Patagonia, Argentina, 1905-1949

The volume contains photographs, manuscript notes, and newsprint cuttings. The manuscript notes in the volume appear to have been written during a visit to Patagonia, Argentina. They refer briefly to the background of the Anglo-Chilean Pastoral Company Limited at Rio Frias, and the Lochiel Sheep Farming Company Limited at Lochiel Estancia. The subject of interest is clearly the sheep farming business of the area. A brief daily journal from 6 April to 8 July 1906 records an expedition on horseback from Lochiel estate to Sarmiento, Chile. There are also notes recording the visit to Patagonia by HMS 'Amethyst', in 1909-1910.

The photographs record individuals and groups as well as scenery. They depict the following: a group photograph of passengers aboard RMS 'Highland Corrie', 1914; a group photograph of a shooting party in the Chubut Valley, Argentina; a group photograph of a picnic in the Chubut Valley; portrait of Captain Leahy of the Sherwood Foresters on a horse; landscape of La Florida Estancia, 16 de Octubre Colony in Patagonian Andes; portrait of [William] Ellis Thurtell M.A.; views of wool sheds in the Lochiel Estancia of the Lochiel Sheep Farming Company Limited; views of the homestead of the Anglo-Chilean Pastoral Company Limited at Rio Frias; portrait of 'Sonny' the stable boy with a horse; a group photograph of Trelew Football Club; a group photograph of a wedding party in Trelew, Chubut, Patagonia; group photograph of Captain Webb and officers of HMS 'Amethyst' at Chubut, 1910; and a view of HMS 'Amethyst' under sail, 1909.

Two newspaper cuttings inside the volume relate to the later story of HMS 'Amethyst' in the Yangtse River under Chinese bombardment. One, from Sunday Empire News, 7 August 1949, gives a full account of the action. The other is a letter, undated and from an unidentified publication, apparently written by a sailor who had served on HMS 'Amethyst' in the Dardanelles in 1916.

The collection comprises a notebook, inscribed in gold lettering on the cover 'S.N.Y.C. Visitors Book', with columns printed to enable the entry of dates, names, addresses, and those introducing the visitors. A commercial label inside the front cover identifies the supplier as J. & J. Vice, of Peter Gate, Nottingham, but no other evidence of an association with Nottingham has been identified in the content of the volume.

The volume has in fact been used partly as a journal and partly as a scrapbook. The writer or compiler is not named, but several references to a T.W. Armitage, commonly only identified by initials, suggest a possible identification. The content of the manuscript notes in the volume indicate that its purpose may have been primarily to record information about sheep farming estates in Argentina. It is not clear whether the notes relate to a single visit or a longer association with the area, but the inclusion of a photograph from 1910 suggests residency in the area.

There seems also to be a naval interest, extending in time beyond the South American period. A photograph of the Royal Merchant Ship 'Highland Corrie', 1914 is present, with names of the crew noted on the reverse. There are references to HMS 'Amethyst' and its presence under Captain Webb at Port Madryn, Patagonia in 1909. Inserted in the volume are later cuttings describing the escape of HMS 'Amethyst' from Chinese guns on the Yangtse River in 1949.

No archival arrangement has been necessary.

ACCESS: Accessible to all registered readers.

LANGUAGE: English

• This description is the only finding aid available for the collection. Copyright on the description belongs to the University of Nottingham.

REPROGRAPHIC: Reprographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only, depending on access status and the condition of the documents.

COPYRIGHT: Identification of copyright holders of unpublished material is often difficult. Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk).

The early ownership of the volume is not known. It was acquired by the University of Nottingham's Department of Geology and transferred to the Library in September 1965.