Guide to the Papers of Geoffrey C. Ingleton, 1854-1988

Summary

Collection number:

MS 9422

Creator:

Geoffrey C. Ingleton

Extent:

0.14 metres and (1 folio box)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Geoffrey C. Ingleton, National Library of Australia, MS 9422, [box number and series and/or folder number]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

The collection comprises six albums compiled by Ingleton documenting various colonial vessels and survey ships of the R.A.N. The albums include correspondence, historical notes, log entries, articles written by officers who served on the ships, illustrations and photographs, and newspaper cuttings describing the services of H.M.S. Victoria, H.M.S. Lady Nelson, H.M.A.S. Moresby, H.M.S. Paluma, H.M.A.S. Paluma, and H.M.A.S. Geranium.

There is also a copy of the publication First lady: the story of "HMS Lady Nelson" by Lorraine Paul (1982).

Biographical Note:

Geoffrey Chapman Ingleton was born in Bairnsdale, Victoria, on 14 May 1908. In 1922, at the age of 13, he entered the Royal Australian Naval College at Jervis Bay, N.S.W. He joined H.M.A.S. Adelaide and became a midshipman in 1926. Ingleton's naval training included two years in the United Kingdom, where he first developed an interest in nautical research. In 1930, after his return to Australia, he was commissioned as a lieutenant. After serving on various naval vessels, he was assigned to the hydrographic service and served on H.M.A.S. Moresby surveying waters to the north of Australia. In 1936, at the age of 27, he left the Navy. He was promoted to lieutenant commander on the retired list in 1938. In civilian life Ingleton worked as a draftsman and an artist. From December 1940 until his retirement in 1973, Ingleton was employed by the Hydrographic Office.

In private life Ingleton continued his work as an illustrator. His marine etchings and portrayals of early Sydney life were based on extensive knowledge and research. Ingleton's interest in naval architecture, which derived from ensuring the technical accuracy of his illustrations, led him into the area of constructing ship models. The major resource supporting Ingleton's artistic endeavours was an extensive private collection of books, manuscripts, maps and paintings on early Australia, compiled over a lifetime. Although he collected widely, his collection was focussed on the sea, maritime exploration and coastal development. In 1991, having already disposed of his book collection, he began to sell the hydrographic and navigational part of his library at a series of sales by the Sydney auctioneers Lawsons. His scholarly approach was reflected in the catalogue descriptions for each item.

The principal publications which Ingleton wrote, compiled or illustrated are Charting a continent (1944), a history of the surveying and mapping of Australia's coasts, Heemskerck Shoals (1949), written by Robert D. FitzGerald, True patriots all (1952), and his magnum opus, Matthew Flinders: navigator and chartmaker(1986).

Ingleton was a member of the Society for Nautical Research, the Hakluyt Society, the Australian Institute of Navigation and the Royal Institute of Navigation. He maintained copies of all their publications, to which he was a significant contributor.

Ingleton married Josephine Weekes in 1935 and Nan Furness in 1953. He died in Sydney on 28 February, 1998.

Provenance:

The papers were acquired at an auction held by Lawsons Auctioneers and Valuers in Sydney on 20 October 1993. The papers belonged to the collection of the Lieutenant-Commander Geoffrey Chapman Ingleton, R.A.N.

Indexed terms

Names:

Geoffrey C. Ingleton

Conditions Governing Access:

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn360054).

Conditions Governing Use:

Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Geoffrey C. Ingleton, National Library of Australia, MS 9422, [box number and series and/or folder number]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

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