Unwin, Prof. R

•Mount Victoria expedition, Burma, March-April 1926 – Field Notes, Report and correspondence (mainly with William Wright Smith, some William Edgar Evans) 1926-1929:
GB 235 UNW/01 10 single sided typed sheets with pen annotations, 210x330mm, from Prof. R. Unwin to ?, dated 13 April 1926 to 23 April 1926, regarding expedition to Mt. Victoria, Burma with Plant list Nos 3001-3123
GB 235 UNW/02 4 single sides in pencil, 200x320mm, from Prof. R. Unwin to ?, undated, Flora of Burma, Plant list Nos 3004-3112, with Latin names.
GB 235 UNW/03 2 sets of carbon copies, 2 single sides typed, 210x330mm, from Prof. R. Unwin to ?, undated, Plant list Nos 3001-3123 with Latin names.
GB 235 UNW/04 2 single sides typed 210x330mm, from Prof. R. Unwin to ?, 1924, Plant list Nos 3001-3123 with Latin names.
GB 235 UNW/05 2 single sides typed 210x330mm, from Prof. R. Unwin to ?, 1924, Plant list Nos 3001-3123 with Latin names.
GB 235 UNW/06 2 handwritten pages, both sides 190x230mm + 2 typewritten copies of same dated 07/02/1926, from Prof. R. Unwin to Prof. Smith, RBGE regarding trip to Mt. Victoria, Chin Hills. Propose ascending Mt. Victoria in March. University will pay expenses and present RBGE with a collection of the plants. Will have 10 days in mid-May on the mountain proper. Please give guidance on collecting. Will have to collect for the Forestry Dept too. Will need you to provide a complete list of identified plants in due course. Do you want seeds?
GB 235 UNW/07 2 typewritten pages, three sides. 190x240mm, dated 01/03/1926, from Prof. Smith to Prof. Unwin regarding advice on collecting. Thanks for letter of 07/02/1926. Very keen on proposed expedition and offer of specimens free of charge. Will gladly pay postage costs. Will prepare identifying list of all when received. Enclosed a booklet on collecting. Please supply your field notes related to each numbered specimen. Students here, destined for Indian or Malay Service would welcome examples of flower and fruit of forest trees. Best drying paper is Chinese and brownish: better than blotting paper. Would gladly contribute financially to a further trip.
GB 235 UNW/08 2 pages typed single sided 190x240mm dated 28/04/1926 from Prof. Smith? To Prof. Unwin regarding shipping specimens. Agreed method for finance. Ship specimens via Cook and Sons. Forrest is returned from a 2 year trip to China and Burma.
GB 235 UNW/09 2 pages typed single sided 200x320mm dated 01/04/1926 from Prof. Unwin to Prof. Smith regarding finance. Refers to letter No. 8 above; outline for proposed methods for finance. The actual trip is quite arduous and in wet season too.
GB 235 UNW/10 2 single sided handwritten pages 190x230mm dated 12/04/1926 from Prof. Unwin to Prof. Smith; 1st report from camp on Mt. Victoria. Regret that all forest samples collected by Forestry students here have to be sent to Oxford, so none available for Edinburgh. Hope to reach summit of mountain in 3 days. Weather vile.
GB 235 UNW/11 4 single sided handwritten pages. 190x230mm dated 20/04/1926 from Prof Unwin in camp to Prof Smith; 2nd report from camp. Wife ill; few plants at summit. Wife ill and return to Kanpetlet where there is a doctor. Have found assistant superintendent, Burma Frontier Service, R.T. O’Conner-Mitchell willing to be a plant collector [with training] and unofficially be paid expenses by you. He is in this area all year round. Will be able to mail first lot of plant samples when they are dry. Weather very wet.
GB 235 UNW/12 2 single sided handwritten pages. 190x320mm dated 18/05/1926, from Prof. Unwin in Maymyo to Prof. Smith; Outline of trip. Have reported to Rangoon University; 120 specimens, gentians, primulas, anemones, etc. will be mailed to UK. with notebooks. Have been unwell. Temperature in Mandalay 114 F.
GB 235 UNW/13 5 single sided typed pages 215x340mm dated 28/5/26, from Campbell, registrar at Rangoon University to Prof. Smith; Official report on botanic trip to Mt. Victoria by Prof Unwin. Detailed description on conditions on mountain. Problems of access, transport, water supply and victualing. Thorough listings of tree identification and flowers. Samples brought back for preservation and propagation.
GB 235 UNW/14 1 single sided typewritten 120x180mm dated 31/05/1926, from Prof. Unwin to Prof. Smith; Plant/ seed list, 3 items
GB 235 UNW/15 Single page typed both sides. 190x240mm dated 16/06/1926, from Prof. Smith to Prof. Unwin acknowledging letters 11&13 above. Packets of seeds received and planted. Thanks for information about O’Conner-Mitchell; very willing to pay him for collections. Look forward to official report. Agree that the weather can be awful.
GB 235 UNW/16 3 single sided pages typed + invoice . 180x230mm dated 12/06/1926 from Prof. Unwin to Prof. Smith; Forestry specimens. Sending forestry samples for dissecting. List of expenses for packing and mailing samples. Could collect orchids later on if you would like. Can you send me mounting and drying paper; it is impossible to obtain here.
GB 235 UNW/17 Single page typed both sides. 190x240mm dated 16/07/1926, from Prof. Smith to Prof. Unwin; Received samples in good condition, 4 parcels of forest specimens received, also Mount Victoria flower specimens. Orchids would be welcome. Am sending packages of mounting and drying paper. Thank you for all you have sent.
GB 235 UNW/18 Memo typed 160x200mm dated 26/06/1926, with ink note added later on 13/07/1926 [by W.E.E.?] from Prof. Smith to William E. Evans, regarding Unwin’s trip to Mt. Victoria. Take charge of Unwin correspondence. Ink note refers to receipt of 120 specimens of flowers and ferns. Identification will proceed shortly.
GB 235 UNW/19 Single side typed 190x240mm dated 16/07/1926, from Prof. of Botany Edinburgh University [William Wright Smith] to the Registrar of the University of Rangoon regarding Prof. Unwin’s trip. Acknowledges receipt of specimens presented to Edinburgh University and sends grateful thanks.
GB 235 UNW/20 Handwritten note 140x220mm dated 20/07/1926, from William E. Evans, RBGE, to Prof. Smith regarding package for Prof. Unwin; packages of mounting and drying paper being posted to Prof. Unwin in Rangoon.
GB 235 UNW/21 Single sided typed 190x240mm dated 21/07/1926, from RBGE to Prof. Unwin in Rangoon regarding package of mounting and drying paper. Confirmation of packages being posted to Prof. Unwin, also £2 postal order to Mr. Sloss [Principal of Rangoon University]
GB 235 UNW/22 Single side typed 190x240mm dated 21/07/1926, from Prof. Smith to Mr. Sloss regarding payment for tropical trees samples. Enclosed £2 money order to cover post of samples and acknowledgement of receipt with thanks.
GB 235 UNW/23 Single side typed 140x230mm dated 30/08/1926 from Prof. Unwin to Prof. Smith regarding orchids. Received packets of mounting paper. Have asked Botanic Garden at Maymyo about orchids. Will collect more material ready for next year.
GB 235 UNW/24 Single side typed 180x230mm dated 30/09/1926 from Prof. Unwin to Prof. Smith regarding orchids. Enclosed copy of letter from Superintendent of Maymyo with list of their orchids for you to select for mailing in December.
GB 235 UNW/25 2 single sided typed pages Each 200x320mm dated 27/09/1926 from Superintendent of Maymyo Botanic Garden to unknown regarding orchids. List of orchids.
GB 235 UNW/26 2 single sided typed pages, each 190x240mm dated 27/10/1926 from Prof. Smith to Prof. Unwin regarding orchids. Enclosed list of plants we would like. Horticultural trade not interested in importing orchids. Pack samples loosely in dried grass. We will pay any transit costs. We are proceeding with identifying the plants you sent earlier from Mt. Victoria.
GB 235 UNW/27 2 single sided typed pages each 190x240mm dated 08/11/1926 from Prof. Smith to Prof. Unwin regarding agapetes. The material from Mt. Victoria included a new species of agapetes which we propose to call Unwinii. Enclosed is William E. Evans’s description of it and we would like to publish it.
GB 235 UNW/28 1 page handwritten both sides. 180x230mm dated 04/12/1926 from Prof. Unwin to Prof. Smith regarding agapetes. Glad you have found some interesting stuff from Mt. Victoria. Please publish the information about agapetes. Have sent your list of orchids to Maymyo Botanic Garden and hope to dispatch the plants shortly.
GB 235 UNW/29 Typed internal memo, 180x120mm dated 24/02/1927 from Lawrence Baxter Stewart, RBGE to Prof. Smith regarding orchids. Box received from Rangoon. Only 25 labels and no plants. Rats?
GB 235 UNW/30 Single typed page, 180x240mm dated 28/02/1927 from Prof. Smith to Prof. Unwin in Rangoon regarding orchids. The shipping box was invaded by vermin who entered via ventilation holes. Suggests next shipment ventilation holes be covered with fine wire mesh.
GB 235 UNW/31 Single typed page, 210x280mm dated 21/02/1927 from T. Cook & Son to Prof. Smith regarding shipping account for orchids. One crate of orchids arrived Glasgow. Charge £2/5/5.
GB 235 UNW/32 Single typed page, 180x240mm dated 25/02/1927 from Prof. Smith to T. Cook & Son regarding shipping account for orchids. Contents eaten by vermin. Cannot pay until matter of insurance is resolved.
GB 235 UNW/33 Single typed page, 210x280mm dated 25/02/1927 from T. Cook & Son to Prof. Smith regarding shipping account for orchids. Charge not recoverable. Shipping Company not responsible for damage by vermin. We are writing to insurance company.
GB 235 UNW/34 Single typed page, 180x240mm dated 28/02/1927 from Prof. Smith to T. Cook & Son regarding shipping account for orchids. Passing account for payment.
GB 235 UNW/35 Single sided typed, 210x280mm dated 02/03/1927, from T. Cook & Son to Prof. Smith regarding shipping account for orchids. Damage by vermin not covered. Taking up matter with insurance company.
GB 235 UNW/36 Single sided typed, 210x280mm dated 05/03/1927 from T. Cook & Son to Prof. Smith regarding shipping account for orchids. Steamship company not responsible. Nothing further to be done.
GB 235 UNW/37 Single sided typed, 120x190mm dated 07/03/1927 from Prof. Smith to T. Cook & Son regarding shipping account for orchids. Understands that shipping company is not responsible for damage.
GB 235 UNW/38 Single sided typed, 210x320mm dated 28/03/1927 from Prof. Unwin, Rangoon to Prof. Smith regarding shipping account for orchids. Upset about damage to orchids. Had asked that box should not go in hold. Wife is bringing some herbarium specimens.
GB 235 UNW/39 Hand written note, 140x220mm dated 16/05/1927 from William E. Evans, RBGE, to Prof. Smith. Cover note regarding Mrs. Unwin; 69 specimens received in good order collected by Rangoon students. Passing selected seed to Mr. Stewart. Will choose some for herbarium. Give Mr. J.L. Smith what we don’t need?
GB 235 UNW/40 Single sided handwritten letter, 200x250mm dated 13/05/1927 from Mrs. Unwin to Prof. Smith regarding specimens via Mrs. Unwin. Sent from Cornwall. Sorry about orchids. Maymyo will have duplicates and will send more in autumn.
GB 235 UNW/41 Single sided typewritten, 190x240mm dated 16/05/1927, from Prof. Smith to Mrs. Unwin; Thanks for specimens. Look forward to seeing Unwin when he is in UK on leave.
GB 235 UNW/42 Single sided typed receipt, 129x190mm dated 18/05/1927 from RBGE to Prof. Unwin; 2 seeds from Rangoon.

Collection is open to researchers by appointment, see (right click, open link in new tab:) https://www.rbge.org.uk/science-and-conservation/library-and-archives/visiting-the-library/

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