Correspondence concerning the compilation of 'Memoir of Edward Forbes'
- Reference:GB 237 Coll-74/11/3
- Dates of Creation:1854-1861
- Name of Creator:
- Language of Material:English
- Physical Description:1 file None which affect the use of this material
Scope and Content
The Correspondence concerning the compilation of 'Memoir of Edward Forbes' sub-series consists of:
- pen and ink sketches by Edward Forbes (c1854)
- letters from and to contributors and collaborators (1854-1861)
- letters to and from the publisher Alexander MacMillan (1860-1861)
- letters to and from the printer Thomas Constable (1860-1861)
- list of names and addresses of recipients of presentation copies (1861)
Administrative / Biographical History
Following the death of the naturalist Edward Forbes (1815-1854) his former colleague George Wilson started to write 'Memoir of Edward Forbes' for the publisher Alexander MacMillan (1815-1896).
Unfortunately George Wilson died (1859) leaving only a few chapters completed. With the support of Jessie Aitken Wilson (George Wilson's sister) Archibald Geikie (1835-1924) was asked to complete the task. For this purpose, she transferred all the personal papers and notebooks which her brother had collected, from a number of contemporaries, to Archibald Geikie. Permission was sought for this from the individual owners of the papers.
Edward Forbes' widow, now Emily M Yelverton, contested the ownership of her former husband's papers and tried to regain control of these to prevent the memoir from being completed. Intervention from Joseph Beete Jukes (1811-1869) meant that she eventually agreed to co-operate and provided additional information herself.
Further problems arose following the publication of the memoir when Andrew Crombie Ramsay (1814-1891) felt that personal sensitive information had been published in the memoir without his consent. This led to a rift between himself and Archibald Geikie.
Archivist's Note
None
Sarah Higgins,22 December 2000
Subjects
Personal Names