Back, special collection

Scope and Content

  • MS 395/1;BL RICHARDSON JOHN Lecture notes, 1825 [Geology lectures given by Richardson] holograph
  • MS 395/2;BL BACK GEORGE Letter book, 1833-1835 [Arctic Land Expedition] 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 395/3;BL BACK GEORGE Journal extracts, 16 June 1819 to 19 March 1820, 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 395/4;BL BACK GEORGE Journal, 13 June 1821 to 14 July 1822 [Rough] 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 395/5/1-2;BL BACK GEORGE Journals (2), 1825-1827 [Rough] 2 volumes, holograph
  • MS 395/6;BL BACK GEORGE Journal, December 1824 to June 1826 [Probably fair copy of MS 395/5;BL] 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 395/7/1-2;BL BACK GEORGE Journals (2), 1832-1835 [rough] 2 volumes, holograph
  • MS 395/8;BL BACK GEORGE Eskimo vocabulary, 1833-1835 [Including map of coast from mouth of Thlew-ee-cho-dezeth by Eskimo] 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 395/9;BL BACK GEORGE Account book, January 1830 to January 1831, 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 395/10/1-2;BL BACK GEORGE Journals (2), 3 August 1830 to April 1832 [Tour of Continent] 2 volumes, holograph
  • MS 395/11;BL BACK GEORGE Letters written to Back, 13 May 1836 to 16 November 1837, 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 395/12;BL BACK GEORGE Journal, 20 July to 6 November 1839 [Visit to Marienbad, Germany] 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 395/13/1-3;BL BACK GEORGE Journals (3), December 1839 to March 1841 [Italy] 3 volumes, holograph
  • MS 395/14;BL BACK GEORGE Notes, 1854, 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 395/15;BL BACK GEORGE Passport, 3 October 1846 [Sir George and Lady Back] 1 volume
  • MS 395/16/1-3;BL BACK GEORGE Tables and means of needle etc. 1833-1835 [Fort Reliance] 3 volumes, holograph
  • MS 395/17;BJ BACK LADY THEODOSIA ELIZABETH (HAMMOND) Journal, 13 October 1846 to [1847] [Mainly her honeymoon in Europe] 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 395/18/1-2;BJ BACK LADY THEODOSIA ELIZABETH (HAMMOND) Journals (2), 13 October 1846 to 2 August 1847 [Kept during her honeymoon in Europe] 2 volumes, holograph
  • MS 395/19;SL [TURNER JOHN] Journal, 9 June to 1 September 1798 [Gravesend to Churchill River] 1 volume, holograph
  • MS 395/20;BL BACK GEORGE Outline autobiography, undated [Covers birth to early 1821, note form] 9 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/21/1-28;BL BACK GEORGE Certificates (28), 1808-1867 [Service, promotion and appointments] 28 leaves, holograph and printed
  • MS 395/22/1-9;BL BACK GEORGE Miscellaneous certificates (9), 1796-1854 [Birth, baptism, diplomas, knighthood etc] 9 items, holograph and printed
  • MS 395/23/1-5;BL BACK GEORGE Naval career, 1808-1833 [Statements relating to his service] 5 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/24;BL BACK GEORGE Account, undated [My opinion of following up the attempt to make the NW passage from the Atlantic to Bearing Strait] 5 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/25;BL BACK GEORGE Outline plan, 1828 [For completion of survey of north coast, America] 4 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/26;BL BACK GEORGE Remarks on Tripe de Roche, 2 May 1829 [Addressed to Captain Mangles] 2 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/27;BL BACK GEORGE Novel outline, undated [Life of fur trader named Roderick] 141 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/28/1-3;BL BACK GEORGE Burial documents, 1843-1878 [For George and Lady Back] 3 leaves
  • MS 395/29/1-3;BL BACK GEORGE Oddments, undated [Visiting card, sketch of an Indian, poem] 3 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/30;BL AUSTIN HORATIO THOMAS Letter to George Back, [8 April 1850] [Arrangements for a social engagement] holograph
  • MS 395/31/1-4;BL BACK GEORGE Correspondence (4 letters) with Admiralty, 1849-1851, 4 leaves
  • MS 395/32/1-8;BL BACK GEORGE Correspondence (8 letters) with Duke of Northumberland, 1850-1852 [Regarding Franklin search expeditions, pension etc] 12 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/33/1-7;BL BACK GEORGE Correspondence (7 letters) with royalty, 1829-1832 [Descriptions of Tripe de Roche, presentation to King, expeditions etc.] 14 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/34/1-2;BL BACK GEORGE Letters 920 to Sir George Cockburn and Sir W H Gage, 28 November 1841 [Regarding post at Admiralty] 2 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/35;BL BACK GEORGE Letter to Earl of Haddington, 28 November 1841 [Regarding post at Admiralty] holograph
  • MS 395/36/1-17;BL BACK GEORGE Miscellaneous correspondence (17 letters), 1830-1841 [Personal news, introductions etc] 21 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/36;BL BACK GEORGE Miscellaneous correspondence
  • MS 395/37;BL BARROW JOHN JR Letters (5) to George Back, 1849-1855 [Regarding meeting with Sir Edward Parry and F W Beechey, ships fitting out for Bering Strait, Sherard Osborn and general news] 6 leaves
  • MS 395/38/1-3;BL BEAUFORT FRANCIS ADMIRAL SIR Letters (3) to George Back, 1838-1852 [Regarding knighthood, Arctic charts and Horatio Austin] 3 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/39;BL FITZROY ROBERT Letter to George Back, 15 November 1853 [Regarding letter from Robert McClure to Back] holograph
  • MS 395/40;D FRANKLIN JANE, LADY Letter to George Back, 1 January 1849 [Discusses the Franklin search] holograph
  • MS 395/41/1-20;BL FRANKLIN JOHN Letters (20) to George Back, 1828-1839 [Regarding expeditions, personal news, James Clark Ross, general news] 20 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/42;BL GORDON JAMES ALEXANDER Letter to George Back, 31 December 1837 [General news] holograph
  • MS 395/43;BL GREEN GEORGE Letter to George Back, 21 March 1838 [Requesting recommendation for Hudson's Bay Company] holograph
  • MS 395/44;BL GRIFFITHS EDWARD Letter to the Earl of Auckland, 23 October 1848 [Request for promotion to Commander] holograph
  • MS 395/45;BL HAMILTON WILLIAM J Letter to George Back, 8 April 1849 [Regarding Royal Geographical Society] holograph
  • MS 395/46;BL KELLETT HENRY Letter to George Back, undated [General news] holograph
  • MS 395/47;BL KING RICHARD Letter to George Back, 14 January 1833 [Wishing to join expedition in search of John Ross] holograph
  • MS 395/48/1-2;BL LLOYD J A Letters (2) to George Back, 1823 [Invitation to visit in Chester, re book] 2 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/49/1-4;BL McCLURE ROBERT JOHN Le MESURIER Letters (4) to George Back, 1848 to 1853 [Regarding British Naval Franklin Search Expedition, 1848-1852] 4 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/50;BL McCORMICK ROBERT Letter to George Back, 26 January 1852 [Including plan for boat and sledge search for Sir John Franklin] 3 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/51;BL McLEOD ALEXANDER R Letter to George Back, 10 May 1838 [Regarding fur trading activities] holograph
  • MS 395/52;BL McLEOD JOHN M Letter to George Back, 16 March 1827 [Regarding John Franklin and British Naval Exploring Expedition, 1825-1827] holograph
  • MS 395/53/1-4;BL MACONOCHIE ALEXANDER Miscellaneous papers sent to George Back, undated [Including press cuttings, letters, articles] 6 leaves, holograph and printed
  • MS 395/54/1-2;BL MACONOCHIE MARY Letters (2) to George Back, 1839 [Regarding Back's knighthood, Van Diemen's Land] 4 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/55;BL McVICAR ROBERT Letter to John Franklin, 1 March 1827 [Regarding overland expedition] holograph
  • MS 395/56/1-3;BL MURRAY JOHN Correspondence with George Back, 1835 to 1836 [Regarding narrative of 1833 to 1835 expedition] 3 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/57/1-7;BL PARRY WILLIAM EDWARD Letters (7) to George Back, 1823 to 1851 [Regarding agents, Arctic expeditions] 7 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/58;BL PIM BEDFORD Letter to George Back, 20 April 1852 [Letter of thanks] holograph
  • MS 395/59/1-3;BL RAE DR JOHN Letters (3) to George Back. 1848 to 1878 [Regarding Arctic exploration, Hudson's Bay Company] 3 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/60/1-11;BL RICHARDSON JOHN Letters (11) to George Back, 1821 to 1838 [Regarding Arctic exploration, botanical and zoological collections made during expeditions] 5 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/61;BL ROSS JAMES A Prayer composed for Public Worship for the Officers and Crews of the ships on Discovery, undated holograph
  • MS 395/62/1-5;BL ROSS JAMES CLARK Letters (5) to George Back, 1833 to 1848 [Regarding the British Northwest passage expedition (Canadian, arctic archipelago), 1829-1833 (leader John Ross), the British Expedition in search of Ross (Canada, Mackenzie, Keewitn districts), 1833-1835 (leader George Back) the British Naval Exploring Expedition (Canada Arctic Archipelago), 1836-1837 (leader George Back) and requesting information on McClure] 6 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/63/1-4;BL ROSS JOHN Letters (4) to George Back, 1833 to 1836 [Regarding Arctic exploration] 4 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/64;BL ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY Letter to George Back, 6 October 1837 [Congratulations on his return from the British Arctic Expedition] holograph
  • MS 395/65;BL SAUNDERS JAMES Letter to George Back, 3 May 1849 [From HMS North Star] holograph
  • MS 395/66;BL SMITH WILLIAM Letter to Angus Bethune, Hudson's Bay House, 22 October 1833 [Enclosing letters for George Back advising him of return of John Ross] holograph
  • MS 395/67;BL SOCIT DE GOGRAPHIE (Paris) Letter to George Back, 15 August 1838 [Regarding Narrative of an expedition in HMS Terror] holograph
  • MS 395/68;BL WELD &LES RICHARD Letter to George Back, 6 May 1850 [Regarding Captain Forsyth's Franklin search expedition] holograph
  • MS 395/69/1-2;BL BACK GEORGE Notes, 1813-1824 [Naval prisoners of War on their parole at Verdun, 1813, voyage of Superb, 1823-1824, St Vincent's, 1824, visit to volcano] 23 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/70/1-5;BL FRANKLIN JOHN Letters (5) to George Back, 1819-1822 [Written during the British Naval Exploring Expedition, 1819-1822] 7 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/71/1-2;BL BACK GEORGE Miscellaneous notes, 1822 [Poems, quotes from Ovid] 3 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/72;BL PARRY WILLIAM EDWARD Signals agreed upon between Franklin and ships of the expedition [In case the land expedition of Franklin should meet the ships]
  • MS 395/73/1-3;BL BARROW JOHN SR Letters (3) to George back, 1824-1826 [Regarding Franklin's second overland expedition, possible delay of promotion] holograph
  • MS 395/74/1-28;BL FRANKLIN JOHN Correspondence (28 letters and memoranda) with George Back, 1825-1827 [Regarding the British Naval Exploring Expedition, 1825-1827] 34 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/75;BL BACK GEORGE Miscellaneous papers, 1825-1827 [Notes, wages, references, lists of food etc] 9 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/76/1-3;BL BACK GEORGE Poem extracts, 1825-1827 [By Back and Shakespeare] 20 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/77;BL BACK GEORGE Correspondence (3 letters), 1835-1836 [Regarding the killing of three Eskimos during the Arctic Land Expedition, 1833-1835] 5 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/78/1-3;BL HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY Correspondence (3 letters) regarding British Expedition in search of Ross, 1833-1835 (leader George Back), 1833 [William Smith and George Simpson to Back] 3 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/79/1-3;BL BACK GEORGE Instructions, 1833-1835, 3 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/80/1-3;BL BACK GEORGE Published notes, 1833-1835 [An account of the route and appearance of the Country through which the Arctic Land Expedition passes, Great Slave Lake to the Polar Sea, Meteorological Table from the registers kept at Fort Reliance, on the Aurora Borealis] 37 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/81/1-8;BL BACK GEORGE Miscellaneous correspondence (8 letters), 1832-1836 [Arctic Land Expedition, 1833-1835] 10 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/82/1-3;BL BACK GEORGE Miscellaneous items (3), 1833-1835 [Estimated expenses, scientific observations, proposed route] 6 leaves, holograph and printed
  • MS 395/83;BL BACK GEORGE Notebook, 1833-1835 [Lists of provisions, equipment] 46 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/84;BL BACK GEORGE Journal extracts, 1836-1837 [Terror to Hudson Bay] 38 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/85;BL BACK GEORGE Notes, 1836-1837 [Including winter observations] 34 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/86;BL GREAT BRITAIN ADMIRALTY, Instructions for George Back, 12 June 1836 [Regarding the British Naval Exploring expedition, 1836-1837 to Hudson Bay in HMS Terror] holograph
  • MS 395/87/1-79;BL GREAT BRITAIN ADMIRALTY, Letters (79) to George Back, 12 May 1836 to 11 June 1838 [Mainly official letters regarding the appointment of officers and men, preparation of the ship and repair after its return to Lough Swilly] holograph and printed
  • MS 395/88/1-16;BL BACK GEORGE Letters (16) to officers of HMS Terror, 25 September 1836 to 21 September 1837 [Including replies from officers] 20 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/89;BL BACK GEORGE Notebook, 21 September 1836 to 2 September 1837 [Instructions to officers of the watch] 56 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/90;BL BACK GEORGE Manuscript, 1838 [Narrative of an expedition in HMS Terror in the years 1836-1837] 500 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/91;BL BACK GEORGE Letter to Francis Beaufont, 21 June 1837 [Report on the expedition to Hudson Bay] 2 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/92/1-2;D STANLEY OWEN Maps 92), 1836-1837 [North coast of Southampton Osland, Hudson's Strait, tracks of HMS Terror] 2 sheets
  • MS 395/93/1-8;BL BACK GEORGE Miscellaneous papers 98), 1836-1837 [Regarding the damage to HMS Terror during the expedition] 8 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/94;BL BACK GEORGE Geological and natural history notes, 1836-1837 [Sites visited and natural history of Wager River] 18 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/95;BL BACK GEORGE Poem, undated [Composed about the expedition] holograph
  • MS 395/96;BL BACK GEORGE Miscellaneous correspondence (19 letters), 1848-1856 [Regarding Franklin searches] 25 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/97;BL BACK GEORGE Correspondence (9 letters), 1851 [Regarding Arctic Committee] 12 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/98;BL BACK GEORGE Notes, 1856 [Review of Sherard Osborn's Discovery of the North-West Passage] 3 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/99;BL BACK GEORGE Menus, [1876] [Honour of British Arctic Expedition, 1875-1876, leader George Strong Nares] 5 leaves
  • MS 395/100;BL BACK GEORGE Miscellaneous notes, undated [Equipment required for expeditions] 10 leaves, holograph and printed
  • MS 395/101;BL BACK GEORGE Correspondence (31 letters), undated [Regarding magnetic observations during expeditions] 31 leaves, holograph
  • MS 395/102;BL BEAUFORT FRANCIS ADMIRAL SIR Letter to Francis from unknown source, 13 August 1838 [Regarding map of the Arctic regions] holograph
  • MS 395/103;BL BACK CHARLES Miscellaneous papers, 1817-1833 [poems, certificates (30)] 1 volume, 30 leaves
  • MS 395/104;BL BACK GEORGE Anecdote, 19 May 1837 [Story of incident regarding Lieutenant Archibald McMurdo in 1830] holograph
  • MS 395/105;BL BACK GEORGE Published maps (2), British Naval Expedition (Arctic) 1819-1822
  • MS 395/106;BL BACK GEORGE Published map British Naval Expedition (Arctic) 1825-1827
  • MS 395/107;BL BACK GEORGE Publications (4) and press cuttings regarding expedition 1833-1835
  • MS 395/108;BL BACK GEORGE Publications and press cuttings (8) regarding Terror expedition, 1836-1837
  • MS 395/109;BL BACK GEORGE Published instructions for scientific collecting and observing
  • MS 395/110;BL BACK GEORGE Fragments from The Arctic Blue Books 1849 to 1851
  • MS 395/111;BL BACK GEORGE Miscellaneous publications and cuttings
  • MS 582/3;D BACK GEORGE Letter to Charles Tomlinson, 8 February 1846 [Regarding voyage of the Terror] holograph
  • MS 869;BJ BACK GEORGE Sketch book, 1833 [Uttowa to the Thlew-ee-cho-deezeth, 60 sketches] 124 leaves
  • MS 907;MJ BACK GEORGE Journal, 16 June 1819 to 30 October 1820 [Crossing Atlantic, overland journey north to Fort Enterprise, start of winter journey] microfilm
  • MS 907;MJ BACK GEORGE Journal, 31 October 1820 to 14 July 1822 [Including winter journey] microfilm
  • MS 907;MJ BACK GEORGE Letter book, 12 April 1833 to 28 April 1834 [Arctic Land Expedition] microfilm
  • MS 907;MJ BACK GEORGE Letter to Charles Back (brother), 15 June 1826 [Describes forthcoming boat journey, Mackenzie river] microfilm
  • MS 907;MJ BACK GEORGE Observations, 17 October 1933 to 8 February 1835 [Aurora borealis] microfilm
  • MS 919;D BACK GEORGE Last will and testament, 25 June 1872 [Codicil signed 11 October 1875, proved 27 August 1878] 5 leaves (Xerox) copy
  • MS 1316;boxed BACK GEORGE Diaries (25), 1844-1878, 25 volumes, holograph
  • MS 1401/1;D BACK GEORGE Letter to [Robert McVicar], 16 July 1822 [Regarding Arctic Land Expedition, 1819-1822] 3 leaves, copy
  • MS 1401/2;D BACK GEORGE Letter to Sir John Richardson, 5 June 1849 [Best wishes] 3 leaves, holograph (copy)
  • MS 1401/3;D BACK GEORGE Notes, undated [Travel in Hudson's Bay Company territory] 11 leaves, holograph (Copy)
  • MS 1401/4/1-4;D BACK GEORGE Letters (4) to George Back, 1835-1876 [Various matters] 7 leaves, holograph (Copy)

Administrative / Biographical History

The collection comprises of material held by the Institute by or relating to George Back. This material consists of journals and notebooks, personal papers, correspondence, expedition papers, miscellaneous documents (including papers by his brother Charles) and publications (newspaper clippings, pamphlets etc)

Arrangement

As deposited with the Institute.