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Mary Thomas: 'Letters from South Australia'

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/RCMS 289

Scope and Contents

Typescript copies of letters comprising: 13 letters from Mrs Mary Thomas in Adelaide, South Australia, to her brother George Harris in England; one letter from Mary Thomas to Mrs Harris; two letters from Robert Thomas to Mrs Harris. The original letters were deposited in the Public Library of South Australia [State Library of South Australia] in 1909 by George Harris's son, and were used by Evans Kyffin Thomas in the publication of 'The dairy and letters of Mary Thomas' (1915). The typescript copies appear to contain the full content of Mary's letters, with original punctuation and and a number passages omitted by Evans Kyffin Thomas. Former RCS Librarian Donald Simpson annotated the volume to indicate passages which had been omitted in the published edition. 135pp.

Dates

  • Creation: 1838 - 1842

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 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).

Biographical / Historical

Mary Thomas emigrated to South Australia with her husband, Robert Thomas, their second son and three daughters, in the 'Africaine' in 1836. The 'Africaine' was one of nine ships in the first fleet of European settlers which arrived in South Austrlia. She died in Adelaide on 10th February 1875. She was a prolific letter writer, diarist and published poet.

Extent

1 volume(s)

Language of Materials

English

Other Finding Aids

Donald H. Simpson, ed., 'The manuscript catalogue of the library of the Royal Commonwealth Society' (London, 1975), p. 160.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Provenance information unrecorded.

Bibliography

Beth Duncan, 'Mary Thomas, Founding Mother, The life and times of a South Australian pioneer' (2007).

Cultural context

Geographic

Topical

Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository

Contact:
Cambridge University Library
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Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom