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Nevil Maskelyne: Personal and Family Papers, 1749 - 1950

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0180/RGO 218

Scope and Contents

A collection of papers of Nevil Maskelyne and letters relating to his family, including the extended family (by marriage) of his daughter, Margaret Story-Maskelyne.

The collection includes an account and diary of a voyage to India mentioning Nevil Maskelyne and Lord Clive, twelve memoranda books and one account book belonging to Maskelyne, and a catalogue and list of his books. There is also a set of documents relating to the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

The letters include four volumes written by Lady Margaret Clive (née Maskelyne, sister of Nevil), many of which were to Nevil's daughter Margaret and concern astronomy, a volume of further letters received by Margaret Maskelyne, and a volume of letters relating to the family of her husband Anthony Story-Maskelyne.

Items are arranged in ten series, with items previously deposited at the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre listed first (items RGO.218/1-5), followed by those previously deposited at the British Library (items RGO.218/6-10).





Dates

  • Creation: 1749 - 1950

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

From the Management Group:

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Extent

0.07 cubic metre(s) (5 archive boxes) : Paper

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Accepted in lieu of inheritance tax from the estate of Mrs Pamela Susan Arnold-Forster. The papers had been on temporary deposit with the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre (items RGO.218/1-5 - former reference WRO 1390/2A-2L, WRO 1390/3, WRO 1390/8, WRO 1390/12-13) and with the British Library (items RGO.218/6-10). They were acquired by Cambridge University Library in 2015 in two sets.

Related Materials

For related collections see RGO 4 and RGO 35. For external reading see also Howse, D. 'Nevil Maskelyne: the seaman's astronomer' (Cambridge, CUP, 1989).

General

Catalogued by Dr Emma Saunders in June 2016

Date information

DateText: mainly 1749-c.1890, with some later notes and annotations.

Originator(s)

Arnold-Foster Family

Finding aid date

2016-05-24 15:37:11+00:00

Repository Details

Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository

Contact:
Cambridge University Library
West Road
Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom