Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 21/02/1905 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 letter, 1 sheet, 4 pages
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born in Falkirk in 1873, George Forrest became one of Scotland's most prolific plant collectors, conducting seven expeditions in Yunnan province, S.W. China between 1904 and his death there in 1932.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Son of John Hutton Balfour, Isaac Bayley Balfour was Regius Keeper at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh between 1888 and 1922, specialising in Rhododendrons and Primulas and making improvements to the RBGE's teaching and laboratory facilities.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Letter from George Forrest, The Consulate General, Yunnan-fu [Kunming], S.W. China, to Isaac Bayley Balfour, 'Regius Keeper' Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, dated 21 February 1905.
Forrest writes to say he has returned disappointed from his trip south as it was the wrong time of year for seeds and plants. He asks Professor Balfour to send out seeds of flowers requested by Consul-General Wilkinson for the garden of the new consulate outside Yunnanfu. Thanks Balfour for his letter of 26 October 1904 naming the saxifrages. Forrest leaves for Dali tomorrow.
Plants referenced: Gentian; Saxifrage
Letter is very slightly fire damaged and marked with red ink.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Permission required from RBGE.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Letter is slightly fire damaged and should be handled with care.
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
It should be noted that the catalogue descriptions, summaries and letters may contain sensitive subjects and Forrest’s language, spellings and attitudes which may be deemed offensive now.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
This Forrest correspondence collection summary has been provided by library volunteer Pauline Maclean.