Edward John Dunn: autobiographical and geological papers
Scope and Contents
Autobiographical notes and drafts; newspaper cuttings relating to mining; offprints and publications by Dunn or given to Dunn, referencing his work; correspondence; notes.
Dates
- Creation: 1844 - 1948
Conditions Governing Access
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 rcs@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).
Biographical / Historical
Edward John Dunn was born in Bristol, Somerset, on 1 Nov. 1844. He grew up in Beechworth, Victoria, Australia and in 1860 joined the Land Survey Office in Beechworth. He worked with the Geological Survey until it was abolished in 1869. Having passed his examinations as mining surveyor, Dunn was on his way to England in 1871 when he stopped off in Cape Town and journeyed to investigate the newly discovered diamond fields in Kimberley. He was immediately employed by the Cape Government to report on copper mines and the diamond fields. He spent 15 years in South Africa, travelling extensively, excavating material and publishing papers. Dunn was elected Fellow of the Geological Survey in 1884 and returned to Australia in 1886. After some years in private practice as a consulting geologist, he was in 1904 appointed Director of the Geological Survey of Victoria, retiring in 1912. Dunn died in April 1937.
Extent
0.3 cubic metre(s) (7 archive boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Other Finding Aids
Donald H. Simpson (ed.), 'The manuscript catalogue of the library of the Royal Commonwealth Society' (1975), pp. 40-41.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Presented to the Royal Commonwealth Society Library by Miss Lilian Dunn of Melbourne, per Dr. G.F. Claringbull, Keeper of Mineralogy, British Museum, in 1960.
Bibliography
Geographic
Topical
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository
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Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom
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