Reverend William Ridley papers, 1824- 1891

DLMSQ 165

fonds

1824 - 1891

Textual Records, Clippings

943318

Microfilm : CY 3386

1 box of textual material - 32 cm.

William Ridley (1819-1878) came to Australia in 1849, worked as classics master at the Australian College, Sydney, was ordained by the Presbyterian Synod and appointed to Balmain, 1850; Dungog, 1851; New England, 1852. He made preaching tours of the Liverpool Plains - Darling Downs area, studying aboriginal languages and customs - especially the Kamilaroi language. 1861-1874, edited the Evening News and was assistant editor of Empire. In 1875 he became theology tutor at St. Andrews College, Sydney University and started to learn Chinese. Ridley died in 1878. He published works on Australian Aborigines and Aboriginal languages

Item 01: Notebook titled ' Hartford End. Family Scenes at Hartford End, Felstead, Essex, England', 1858, 1824 being reminiscences of Ridley's childhood and youth.

Item 02: Notebook: 'The Moreton Bay Aborigines' Friends Society. Journal of Missionary Labours', 1855-56, 1864 and 'Narrative of Labours among the Aborigines of Australia', 1853-1855, mostly concerned with preaching tours of the east coast and districts between Sydney and Moreton Bay. Also includes 'Eight Months on the Manning River', 1859 comprising a list of Baptisms, 1858-1860, a list of families visited by Ridley and some anecdotes about them.

Item 03: 'The Aborigines of Australia. A Lecture by Wm. Ridley M.A.', 14 September 1864.

Item 04: 'Kamilaroi Grammar and Vocabulary', 1855.

Item 05: 'The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Saints at Colossae. A Translation and Commentary', ca. 1864, and 'The Revelation of Jesus Christ (new Translation: begun 22 April 1866)'.

Item 06: Sermon Notes, 1875-1876, mainly in shorthand and Greek.

Item 07: Miscellaneous notes, 1868-1876 including 'Questions proposed by the Directors of the London Missionary Society with William Ridley's answers'.

Item 08 & Item 09: Chinese language notebooks, 1877-1878. Include first sentences, translations, word comparisons and grammar. Chiese characters with short hand equivalents.

Item 10: Ridley's degrees and certificates: B.A., University of London, 1839; Certificate of Honour in Classics, University of London, 1839; Certificate of Ordination as a Presbyterian Minister, 1850; M.A., University of Sydney, 1864.

Item 11: Notebook containing population statistics of the Australian colonies and New Zealand, 1871-1891, compiled by Ridley's son, William Ridley.

Item 12: Newscuttings found loose in Item 11, 1888-1890, undated.

English, Chinese, Greek, Modern (1453- ), Australian languages, Gamilaraay / Gamilaroi / Kamilaroi language D23

Contents list available in the Mitchell Library Reading Room -

Information transferred from Dixson Manuscript Card Catalogue as part of the eRecords Project, 2011-2012.

AIATSIS language, code and map grid reference:
Gamilaraay / Gamilaroi / Kamilaroi language (D23) (NSW SH55-12)
(accessed February 2014)