Correspondence and papers, 1880-1936

Component identifier:

Series 2

Content Summary:

Letters and other papers documenting Blogg's various endeavours as a chemist, woodcarver and poet, which were formerly kept by family members in presentation binders, together make up this series. Featuring amongst the items are letters Blogg exchanged with prominent individuals such as the statistician Sir George Knibbs, the poet Archibald Strong, prime minister Alfred Deakin, the businessman and art collector Sir Russell Grimwade and the writer Nettie Palmer. Blogg also wrote to George Meredith and Rudyard Kipling admiring their writings, and their replies, dated 1909 and 1914, are filed in Folder 3.

Amongst other varied documents filed in Folder 1 are instructions for the manufacture of soap, patent documentation for the polymerisation of vegetable oils, and agreements and registration documents relating to the firms Rocke Tompsitt and Company, J.K. Blogg Co. and Blogg Bros. Folder 2 contains scientific papers written by Blogg on the distillation of Australian essential oils, together with copies of his baptism certificate, and letters of introduction brought with him to Australia in 1877.

Folder 3 includes long letters written by Blogg to his wife whilst overseas in 1918, and three entries in the Victorian Centenary Poetry Competition, in which he was an unsuccessful entrant in 1934.

Blogg's scientific notebooks are filed in Series 1; other letters from Knibbs and Palmer can be found in Series 6.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers of the industrial chemist, woodcarver and poet John Kendrick Blogg (1851-1936) were donated to the National Library by his grandson, Hugh Stevenson, in 1996.

Names:

John Kendrick Blogg

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