Fonds WC - Papers of William Cullen

Identity area

Reference code

GB 891 WC

Title

Papers of William Cullen

Date(s)

  • 1843 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

1 archival folder handwritten

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Major General William Cullen (17 May 1785–1 October 1862) was a British Army Officer with the Madras Artillery Regiment, and from 1840 to 1860, Resident in the Kingdom of Travancore and Cochin. During his stay in India, he took a scholarly interest in the region and contributed to journals on geology, plants and the culture of the region. He was instrumental in establishing the Napier Museum in Trivandrum. He died at Allepey in Kerala, where a road is named after him.

Archival history

This Memorandum appears to be written by Major General William Cullen. It is probable that he sent it to the Royal Asiatic Society.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

It is unknown how the manuscript was acquired by the Society but it is probable that is was sent by Cullen to be read at one of the Society's General Meetings.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

These Papers consist of the handwritten manuscript by William Cullen of his "Memorandum by Major-General Cullen addressed to the Madras Government, on the 5th December 1843." In this memorandum Cullen sets out his ideas for district museums to house rock specimens and other details of the areas of interest to science and agriculture. He also lays out his suggestions that all engineers should carry barometers with them and make use of them for assessing altitudes, which can help in decisions regarding navigation, irrigation and transport communication. The memorandum consists of 30 foolscap written sides and a further endpaper with identifying label, all tied with green ribbon.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open. Please contact the archivist using the email address given here. The archive is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 10-5, and Thursdays 2-5. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone or email. Please bring photo ID.

Conditions governing reproduction

Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Language and script notes

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    Finding aids

    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    Existence and location of copies

    Related units of description

    The Memorandum was published by the Government Press in 1949. A copy of the publication is held at the British Library.

    Related descriptions

    Notes area

    Alternative identifier(s)

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    Description control area

    Description identifier

    gb891-wc

    Institution identifier

    Rules and/or conventions used

    Status

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    Dates of creation revision deletion

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        Sources

        Archivist's note

        These papers were catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2019.

        Accession area