January 29, 2020, by Angela Shearsmith

On trial: Wiley Digital Archives: Royal Geographical Society collection

We are pleased to announce a month’s trial for the Wiley Digital Archives: Royal Geographical Society collection. This resource includes materials from the Society’s library, hundreds of thousands of manuscript maps with fieldnotes, correspondence, and other manuscript material.

The Society was founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences, and this collection sheds light on the impact of this pursuit on history, exploration, colonisation and diplomatic policies, as well as natural resources, cultural studies, anthropology and ethnography. This collection creates new pathways for interdisciplinary research and education.

Highlights include:

• Colonialism in Africa

This collection includes maps of Africa created by explorers which were used for missionary activity, imperial schemes, and government department plans. It also has detailed information about the explorations of David Livingstone, including his search for the source of the Nile.

• Women Explorers

The late 19th century was difficult time to be a woman in science as women were barred from professional and academic institutions. This collection includes expedition reports, phots and correspondence of Gertrude Bell (aka Queen of the Desert) who travelled extensively through the Middle East’s deserts and cities.

• Polar Exploration

Antarctica, one of the most remote places on Earth, was the last continent to be explored. The Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration began at the end of the 19th century and closed with Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition in 1917. This collection includes expedition reports, maps, photographs, and personal items of the explorers.

• Everest Expeditions

There were various expeditions to reach the summit of Everest, the highest mountain on Earth, between 1921 and 1953. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay finally reached their goal on 29 May 1953, and this collection includes their reports, photos, and personal items, as well as other expedition material.

British Antarctic Expedition 1910-13

The trial runs from Wednesday 29^th January until the 1^st March

Do let us know what you think. Please send your feedback to the Libraries Collections team: collections@nottingham.ac.uk

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Google+
• Share on LinkedIn