The Langley Kitching Manuscript Collection

Collection

Identifier: SCM 404

Staff Only

Content Description

1 box containing 5 volumes of handwritten diary narrative; loose black and white photos, letters, maps, drawings and newspaper clippings tipped in. Chronicles travel of Langley Kitching and two other men through Sub-Saharan Africa and Madasgar in the late 1800s. Contains first hand accounts of missionary life, uprisings and voilence, social and economic conditions of sub-Saharan Africa, interaction with tribal and colonial leaders. In the box are the bookseller's original notes on the journals. Provides an excellent and detailed synopsis of each journal.

Dates

1877-11-01 - 1880-01-26

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

There are no special restrictions to access of this collection. It may be examined by library patrons under the normal rules and conditions of Special Collections.

Biographical / Historical

Langley Kitching was born in Leeds in 1835 and studied in York. He married Elizabeth Shackleton in Leeds in 1875. Two years later, he would be traveling in South Africa and Madagascar with his friends Isaac Sharpe and Theodore Harris. Kitching, along with Sharpe and Harris, was a member of the Society of Friends and on their trip, they visited a number of missionary settlements from November 1877 to January 1880. After his travels, Langley Kitching was elected mayor of Bewdley twice between 1890 and 1900. Kitching was a botanist who contributed his sketches made during his Madagascar trip to the study of African flora.

Extent

5 Volumes (1 box) : dark blue soft binding, some covered with brown paper ; 22 cm, 720 p

Additional Description

Abstract

The travel journals of Langley Kitching, English gentleman and botanist, during his visit of missionary settlements in South Africa, Madagascar and Mauritius.