Robert Smith BSc, Department of Botany, University College, Dundee

• Reference:GB 254 UR-SF 4
• Dates of Creation:1896-1900
• Name of Creator:
  Robert Smith
• Physical Description:
  1 box (0.13 linear metres).

• Scope and Content

  Obituary of Robert Smith; text of paper and slides of talk given in 1997 about Smith; atlas and Ordnance Survey maps coloured and annotated by Smith. The collection also includes a map possibly compiled by Marcel Hardy, lecturer in the Department of Botany. The Ordnance Survey maps may be regarded as working drafts for the proposed publications of the Botanical Survey of Scotland. In one of his many articles, Smith writes "excellent maps on which scientific observations may be recorded are furnished by Ordnance Surveys". The botanical features depicted in the Botanical Survey of Scotland Midlothian sheet (published by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society in June to August 1900, just before Smith's death) correlate closely with those detailed in Ordnance Survey maps in this collection.

• Administrative / Biographical History

  A native of Dundee, Robert Smith graduated BSc from Dundee University College in 1896 and in the same year was appointed to the botanical department of the college under Professor Patrick Geddes. During the winter session of 1896-1897 he studied at the University of Montpellier, under Professor Flahault, one of the leading European authorities on plant distribution at the time, and it was upon returning to Scotland after this study that he began to carry out his scheme for a botanical survey of this country, based upon the new continental methods he had learned. After Smith's premature death in August 1900, his brother William G Smith carried on his work and two further Botanical Survey of Scotland maps were published in 1905, Robert Smith being posthumously credited with collaboration in these efforts.

• Arrangement

  Usually chronological within series.

• 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.

• Note

  A native of Dundee, Robert Smith graduated BSc from Dundee University College in 1896 and in the same year was appointed to the botanical department of the college under Professor Patrick Geddes. During the winter session of 1896-1897 he studied at the University of Montpellier, under Professor Flahault, one of the leading European authorities on plant distribution at the time, and it was upon returning to Scotland after this study that he began to carry out his scheme for a botanical survey of this country, based upon the new continental methods he had learned. After Smith's premature death in August 1900, his brother William G Smith carried on his work and two further Botanical Survey of Scotland maps were published in 1905, Robert Smith being posthumously credited with collaboration in these efforts.

  This collection was previously catalogued as Recs C/4.

• 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 slide transparencies.

• Archivist's Note

  Description compiled by Keren Guthrie, 2009

• 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

  UR-SF 4