Alexander Thoms papers

• Reference:GB 254 MS 180
• Former Reference:GB 254 MS 15/109
• Dates of Creation:Late 19th century-2021
• Name of Creator:
  Alexander Thoms
• Physical Description:
  0.10 linear metres

• Scope and Content

  Photographs of geological formations, bird colonies and Polynesia, with letter from M Forster Heddle and obituary of Thoms. Electronic copies of notes and correspondence on photographs

• Administrative / Biographical History

  Alexander Thoms, of the Thoms of Clepington family, was the son-in-law of Matthew Forster Heddle (1862-1884), Professor of Chemistry at the University of St Andrews. As a young man Thoms went to Bengal, India, where he remained engaged in estate and plantation business for about thirty years. In 1884 he moved to St Andrews and remained there until his death. He was active in local affairs and a keen supporter of St Andrews Cottage Hospital. In 1884 he was ordained an elder in St Leonard's kirk and was kirk treasurer from 1889-1921. An amateur mineralogist, Thoms presented a valuable collection of stones and minerals to University College, Dundee.

• Arrangement

  By fond, series and item level.

• Access Information

  Open for consultation subject to preservation requirements. Access must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act (2018), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, 2018) and any other relevant legislation or restrictions. Clinical information is closed for 100 years.

• Acquisition Information

  These records were transferred from Dundee University Library in 1976. They may have originally belonged to Alexander Thoms' father-in-law Matthew Forster Heddle, Professor of Chemistry at the University of St Andrews (1862-1884) and author of various papers on mineralogy.

• Note

  Alexander Thoms, of the Thoms of Clepington family, was the son-in-law of Matthew Forster Heddle (1862-1884), Professor of Chemistry at the University of St Andrews. As a young man Thoms went to Bengal, India, where he remained engaged in estate and plantation business for about thirty years. In 1884 he moved to St Andrews and remained there until his death. He was active in local affairs and a keen supporter of St Andrews Cottage Hospital. In 1884 he was ordained an elder in St Leonard's kirk and was kirk treasurer from 1889-1921. An amateur mineralogist, Thoms presented a valuable collection of stones and minerals to University College, Dundee.

• Other Finding Aids

  Descriptive list. Subject source lists and databases are also available.

• Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

  The records are on paper and include photographs. Some records are in Word Documents

• Archivist's Note

  Description compiled by Mareike Platt. Amended by Kenneth Baxter

• Conditions Governing Use

  Reproduction is available subject to preservation requirements. Charges may be made for this service, and copyright and other restrictions may apply; please check with the Duty Archivist.

• Accruals

  Not expected

• Additional Information

  Published

  Catalogued

  MS 180

• Subjects

  Environment

  Geology