John Rae - Book containing shipboard diary, poems and notes, 1839-1872, together with transcription of shipboard diary made by David Rae in 2001

MLMSS 7185/Box 1X

fonds

1839-1872, 2001

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Drawings

421648

Microfilm : CY 4407, frames 1-295 (MLMSS 7185)

0.16 metres of textual material (1 outsize box)
Textual Records
Drawings
Textual Records - (typescript)

John Rae came to Australia in 1839 to take up a position with the North British Australasian Loan and Investment Company. From 1843 to 1857 he was the first full-time town clerk of Sydney. He produced the letterpress for John Skinner Prout's 'Sydney Illustrated' and published books of poetry. Rae was also an artist and photographer.

Rae's shipboard diary describes his trip from Aberdeen to London, then from London to Sydney on the Kinnear, 8 June to 8 Dec. 1839, and his first days in Sydney to 31 Dec. 1839. He lists books read on the voyage and describes Cape Town. The remainder of the book includes poems by Rae, extensive notes on photography, and notes on mathematics, navigation and oil colours. Most of the notes on photographic processes are copied from publications, with some observations by Rae. Processes include daguerreotype, Talbotype and collodion. The book includes pen and ink sketches of photographic processes and geometry.

A diary, 27 Mar. - 31 Dec. 1879, kept by John Rae during an overseas journey, is located at ML MSS 4472/1-3 (microfilm copy at CY 4171: 555 frames)