Collection search - John Jeremiah Bigsby fonds [graphic material, cartographic material]

Record information – Brief
1
John Jeremiah Bigsby fonds [graphic material, cartographic material]

Hierarchical level:

Fonds

Date:

1818-1850.

Reference:

R11205-0-6-E

Type of material:

Art, Maps and cartographic material

Found in:

Archives / Collections and Fonds

Item ID number:

212462

Context of this record:

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John Jeremiah Bigsby fonds
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Record information – Details
Fonds includes:

124 lower level description(s)
View lower level description(s)

Date(s):

1818-1850.

Place:

London, England:

Place of creation:

Ontario

Publisher:

Chapman & Hall,

Extent:

9 drawings.
8 prints : engravings.
2 published volumes : with added and tipped-in drawings, printed maps, prints as well as ink annotations and emendations and additional texts.
Volume 1: contains 15 drawings, 15 prints (engravings and lithographs), 4 maps or diagrams in pen and ink, and 2 printed maps.
Volume 2: contains 63 drawings, 11 prints, 9 maps or diagrams in pen and ink, and 3 printed maps.

Language of material:

English
Accession:

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John J. Bigsby collection [graphic material]

John J. Bigsby collection [graphic material]
Scope and content:

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The 9 separate drawings - as well as the drawings, prints, and maps, inserted in the two grangerized volumes of Bigsby's The Shoe and Canoe - document John Jeremiah Bigsby's career in Canada. As an assistant surgeon who had trained at the University of Edinburgh, he joined the British Army in 1816, and was posted to Canada in 1818. While stationed here, he developed an interest in geology, and undertook a number of sketching and geological excursions in Lower and Upper Canada. He subsequently became a member of the US-Britain Boundary Commission delineating the Canadian-American boundaries agreed upon in the Treaty of Ghent in 1814. As a result of his membership in this commission, he undertook further journeys to Lake Huron in 1820, to Lakes St. Clair and Erie in the summer of 1821, and to the north shore of the St. Lawrence in the fall of 1821. In 1822, he visited Niagara Falls, and in 1823, as part of the Boundary Commission, helped explore and map the region between Fort William on Lake Superior, and the Lake of the Woods. The astronomer and mapmaker for the Commission (some of whose work appears in this fonds) was David Thompson. Bigsby remained in Canada until late 1826 or 1827, when he returned to England.

Most of the drawings and maps relate to specific sites and show his interest in the geology of the regions he visited. However, there are also some excellent images of fur trade posts and native settlements. In addition to work by Bigsby, the work of a number of other individuals is included in the volumes: maps by David Thompson, a print after Daniel Wadsworth, sketches by Lieutenants Skene, Shaw, and C.R. Robe, and one after a sketch by American Army Major Long. In the text of the book, mention is also made of sketching expeditions with Colonel Forrest (to the Falls of St. Feriole) and Captain Vivian (to Niagara Falls).

Provenance:

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Bigsby, John J. (John Jeremiah), 1792-1881
Additional name(s):

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Skene, Andrew Motz, 1796-1849

Thompson, David, 1770-1857

Peter Robinson & Co., London, England
Biography/Administrative history:

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Bigsby, John J. (John Jeremiah), 1792-1881 : John Jeremiah Bigsby (1792-1881), medical officer with the British Army, geologist.

Military.

Finding aid:

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(Paper) A paper list of all the drawings is found in the LAC artist's file 705-302. A further list (available in wordperfect) was made by Jim Burant in November 2004 and is also found in the file. (90: Open)

Additional information:

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Custodial history:

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The 9 drawings were formerly inserted into the first volume of the grangerized publication written by John J. Bigsby, entitled The Shoe and Canoe (London: 1850). They were removed and framed separately sometime between 1850 and 1938. Their acquisition is documented in RG 37, Vol. 342, file 1938-176.

The 2 volumes - which appear to be the author's copy - were reviewed and corrected by Bigsby. He added more information, and also inserted numerous maps, plans, sketches, and prints. The 2 volumes were acquired by the Public Archives Library in 1939 for 40 British pounds sterling. They received Central Registry No. 1939-447, and were catalogued as Rare F5018 B5.

The 9 separate sketches and 65 other drawings or pages of drawings were copied in black and white shortly after their acquisition (see negative numbers C-011622 to C-011695).

In April 1995, the two volumes were transferred to the National Library of Canada Rare Book Collection, where they were re-catalogued as F5019 B5 C.4 (Reserve). The volumes were subsequently transferred back to the Archives to the Art and Photography section. They are found in container 2001243733.

Related material:

Reference to the Boundary Commission's work can be found in MG 18 H25 and RG 8 I (C series).

20 drawings which were acquired from the dealer Warda Drummond and which were accessioned as 1974-52-1 to 1974-52-20 are copies after original drawings by John J. Bigsby. Of the twenty, 18 correspond to the published engravings, but 2 (1974-52-8 and 1974-52-9) do not; rather they are copied after original drawings by Bigsby which were in his annotated volumes (acc. no. 1939-447 PIC). Archivist Lydia Foy concluded that these twenty drawings are actually preparatory drawings commissioned by the publisher for the use of the engraver when the engraver was preparing the plates.

Source:

Private

Related control no.:

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120-080233-0
1938-025 PIC
1938-026 PIC
1938-027 PIC
1938-028 PIC
1938-029 PIC
1938-030 PIC
1938-031 PIC
1938-032 PIC
1938-033 PIC
1992-593 X DAP

Other accession no.:

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1938-025 PIC
1938-026 PIC
1938-027 PIC
1938-028 PIC
1938-029 PIC
1938-031 PIC
1938-032 PIC
1938-033 PIC
1938-030 PIC
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Date modified:: 2024-04-09