John Scott Keltie collection

The collection comprises of correspondence by Keltie primarily as secretary of the Royal Geographical Society. The correspondence relates to the Antarctic expeditions of William Speirs Bruce, Robert Falcon Scott, Ernest Henry Shackleton, Road Amundsen and John Lachlan Cope, there is some mention of other polar explorers and matters relating to the Royal Geographical Society.

John Scott Keltie was born in Dundee in 1840. He was educated at St. Andrews University but left before completing his degree to study in Edinburgh for the United Presbyterian Church. In 1861, he joined the publishing firm of Messrs. W&R Chambers, working on publications including Chamber's Encyclopaedia and A History of the Scottish Highlands, Highland Clans and Highland Regiments (1874).

In 1871, he joined the editorial staff of Messrs Macmillan in London, becoming sub-editor of Nature in 1873 and editor of The Statesman's Yearbook in 1884.

Keltie's long association with the Royal Geographical Society began in 1884 when he was appointed inspector of geographical education, publishing an extensive report on the subject in 1886. In 1885, he was appointed librarian of the society, and assistant secretary in 1892. The new monthly Geographical Journal appeared in 1893 and was under Keltie's editorship until 1915, and joint editorship until 1917.

He resigned as secretary of the Royal Geographical Society in 1915, was elected to the council in 1917 and became vice-president of the society in 1921. He was knighted in 1918 and died in London in 1927.

The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by recipient.

By appointment.

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The term holograph is used when the item is wholly in the handwriting of the author. The term autograph is used when the author has signed the item.

Descriptions compiled by N. Boneham, Assistant Archivist with assistance from R. Stancombe and reference to Robert Keith Headland Antarctic Chronology, unpublished corrected revision of Chronological list of Antarctic expeditions and related historical events, (1 December 2001) Cambridge University Press (1989) ISBN 0521309034 and Dictionary of National Biography, 1922-1930, with an index covering the years 1901-1930 in one alphabetical series, Oxford University Press, London (1937)

Clive Holland Manuscripts in the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, England - a catalogue, Garland Publishing New York and London (1982) ISBN 0824093941.

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