Guide to the Papers of Otto Boettger, 1886-1900

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Summary

Collection number:
MS 10590
Creator:
Boettger, Otto
Extent:
0.45 metres and (1 medium folio box)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Otto Boettger, National Library of Australia, MS 10590, [class/series/file/item number(s)]'.
Availability:
Available
Access conditions:
Available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:
The collection comprises two detailed manuscript ledgers from Otto Boettger's practice as an optician (1886-1894), together with one volume of approximately 275 bound invoices, chronologically arranged, covering importations for his extensive engineering, surveying, optical and scientific instruments business (1892-1900). It presents a collection of unique records documenting a specialised profession in colonial Australia. The first ledger (20 October 1886 -15 July 1892), contains 21 pages of index and 102 pages of the ledger proper. Each page is designed to record the details of nine patients and the last entry is numbered 916. The second ledger (16 July 1892- 19 December 1894), contains 39 pages of index and 298 pages of the ledger proper, with each page containing details of seven patients (approximately 2086 individual records). The ledgers contain the name of the patient, often the address, the date of the consultation, the referring doctor, the prescription for the lens for each eye, and more often than not, specific details of the spectacle lenses or frames e.g. pale blue periscopic lenses / gold frame / twisted curled sides; Gold Pince-nez, Canadian; pantoscopic frame; and extra small children's frame made to order.

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8612410).
Conditions Governing Use:
Conditions for copying and publishing of this collection may apply, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn8612410).
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Otto Boettger, National Library of Australia, MS 10590, [class/series/file/item number(s)]'.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact:
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