Identity area
Reference code
Hay MSS
Title
Date(s)
- 1824-1834 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
1 box and 1 package
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
British traveller, antiquarian, and collector. Born, Duns Castle, Berwickshire 1799. Died, Amisfield House, East Lothian 1863. Began a career as a midshipman, and whilst employed as such, visited Alexandria in 1818. In 1819 he unexpectedly inherited the family estate of Linplum following the death of his elder brother. With resources now at his disposal he was able to indulge in his passion for travelling, and spent much time in the Middle East, visiting Egypt in 1824-8 and 1829-34. He was accompanied at various times by several eminent artists, including F. V. J. Arundale, J. Bonomi, O. B. Carter, F. Catherwood, A. Dupuy, G. A. Hoskins, E. W. Lane, and C. Laver. He published Illustrations of Cairo (1840), which contained lithographs of his own drawings and well of those artists he travelled with, but the book made a huge loss due to poor sales, which subsequently curtailed Hay's ambitions to publish more of his work.
Archival history
Not known.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Not known. Some of the mounted photographs may have come with the Somers Clarke MSS. The microfilm roll was transferred from the Sackler Library Archive Room in November 2018.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Typescript copy of Hay's journal from 24th November 1824 to 27th October 1827, photographs of drawings made by Hay in the tomb of Neferhotp (TT49) (Griffith Institute photos. 3070-7), 13 mounted photographs made from Hay's drawings of el-Kâb, Philae, and Amada, and microfilm roll with copies of the Hay MSS once in the British Museum and now in the British Library.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Kept as received.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Property of the Griffith Institute. No restrictions. Consultation only.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright British Library, London
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
The board on which the photographs are mounted is fragile. Must be handled with care.
Finding aids
Catalogue for Hay MSS 29812-60, 31054 in the British Library.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
These are copies. The originals are in Manuscript Collections, British Library, London.
Existence and location of copies
Not known.
Related units of description
Publication note
- Some of the drawings were used as the basis for lithographs for R. Hay, Illustrations of Cairo (1840).
Notes area
Note
The 13 mounted photographs were originally kept together with 9 mounted photographs made from J. Burton's MSS. Of the 13 Hay photographs there are 5 images which are either Hay or Burton but have not been marked with a identifying MSS Number. At present these 5 photographs are being kept with the Hay group.