Ronald Campbell Gunn - papers, ca. 1833-1854

A 316

fonds

ca. 1833-1834, 1838-1846, 1849-1850, 1854

423600

Microfilm : CY 1014 (frame 1-299)

1 volume - 0.05 Meters
Textual Records - (manuscript)

Ronald Campbell Gunn, botanist and public servant, emigrated to Tasmania in 1830. He held several government positions including superintendent of convict prisons, police magistrate, and private secretary to Sir John Franklin. Gunn collected plant specimens for scientist such as William Jackson Hooker and was instrumental in forming the Launceston Horticultural Society. His friendship with Sir John and Lady Franklin resulted in several tours, their patronage of the Society, and support in Gunn's efforts to establish a Botanical Garden in northern Tasmania. -- Reference: Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol.1, 1788-1850. Carlton, Vic.: Melbourne University Press, 1966

Accounts of collecting expeditions, lists, notes, and correspondence relating to botanical specimens
Accounts
[Narrative of an excursion into the interior of Van Diemen's Land from Launceston, Jan. 1833]. Includes descriptions of vegetation, the terrain, emus, and kangaroo hunting. (27 pages)
Cruise with the Franklins along the north coast of D'Entrecasteaux Channel, Dec 10-21, 1838
Account of collecting trips for Mar. & Oct. 1844. and descriptions of plants with botanical names in Latin
Correspondence
Correspondents include Gunn, W.J. Hooker (Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew), Joseph Milligan, J. Allport, Will Auhuss? [W. Archer Jnr], and discussion of legal matters relating to colonial property [possibly from Lady Franklin]. Many letters commence with "My Dear Gunn" but are unsigned. One letter contains sketches of orchids
Lists and notes
List of plants, seeds, etc. in the Botanic Garden Melbourne
Catalogue of plants received from Miss Readknight, Mr R. Burke, and Mr J.G. Robertson
List of duplicates sent to Hooker, 1846

D.S. Mitchell bookplate inside front cover