Guide to the Papers of Thomas Griffith Taylor, 1880-1963

Summary

Collection number:

MS 1003

Creator:

Thomas Griffith Taylor and Taylor, Thomas Griffith

Extent:

16.53 metres and (1 ms box + 59 archives boxes + 2 large folio boxes + 6 small folio boxes + 1 small phase box + 2 medium phase boxes + 1 large phase box + 12 map folios + 1 volume + 2 folio packets)

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Thomas Griffith Taylor, National Library of Australia, MS 1003, [series and/or file number]'.

Availability:

Available

Access conditions:

Available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

Comprises correspondence, 1880-1963, relating to Thomas Griffith Taylor's travels and publications and some personal correspondence; manuscripts, published and unpublished, in typescript, handwritten and proof form; annotated printed material, including serials, books, pamphlets and reprints covering a wide range of subjects; and, miscellaneous material including press clippings, maps, medals, scrapbooks. Throughout his life Taylor kept copies of his letters and these form a journal-like account of his life and career on which he based his autobiography, Journeyman Taylor. The collection includes papers on Taylor's early years, 1880-1910; Antarctica, 1910-1912; Canberra and surrounding district, 1910, 1912-1928; Chicago University, 1929-1935; Toronto University, 1935-1951; Australian Institute of Geographers; Australian Academy of Science; and A.N.Z.A.A.S.

Biographical Note:

Thomas Griffith Taylor was born at Walthamstow, Essex, England on 1 December 1880, and came to Australia with his family in 1893. He attended Sydney Grammar School and later the King's School. In 1904 he graduated as Bachelor of Science from Sydney University, accepting in 1905 a position as a Demonstrator in Geology under Edgeworth David who was to have a profound effect on his career. In the same year he was awarded a Bachelor of Engineering and in 1907 was awarded the 1851 Travelling Scholarship to Cambridge where he conducted research on Archaeocyathinae, gaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1909. From 1911 to 1912 he worked in Antarctica as Senior Geologist with the British (Terra Nova) Antarctic Expedition. There he led two western expeditions of the continent and made extensive studies of the processes of glaciation. From 1910 to 1920 Taylor held the position of Physiographer with the Commonwealth Weather Service and from 1912 to 1913 helped complete a survey of the Federal Capital Site. In 1914, after again visiting England, he married Doris Priestley, sister of (Sir) Raymond Priestley who was also a geologist with the Scott Expedition. In 1916 he was awarded a Doctor of Science from Sydney University and became Associate Professor of Geography in 1920. Taylor took up the position of Senior Professor of Geography at the University of Chicago in1929, and from 1935 to 1951 he was head of the Department of Geography at the University of Toronto. After his retirement in 1951, when he helped found the Australian Institute of Geographers, he was also active as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and of ANZAAS. Throughout his life he travelled extensively in most parts of the world. He died at Manly, Sydney on 5 November 1963.

Immediate Source of Acquisition:

The bulk of the collection was donated to the Library in a succession of instalments between 1954-64, initially by Thomas Griffith Taylor, and added to by other family members and associates of the geographer.

Arrangement:

The papers are sorted into a basically chronological sequence following the main events in Taylor's career. The manuscripts and publications have been extracted from this sequence and made into separate series.

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Geography

Conditions Governing Access:

Please refer to the collection's catalogue record for the access conditions (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2961870).

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 Thomas Griffith Taylor, National Library of Australia, MS 1003, [series and/or file number]'.

Location of this collection:

National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia

Contact:

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