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ultima thule

@thethousandthpart.com

C18-19 British/Irish history | RN/polar exploration | Photographer; librarian; independent researcher of life and career of Capt. Francis Crozier. www.thethousandthpart.com

776 Posts1811 Follower419 Folgt
ultima thule@thethousandthpart.com · 6d ago

Andrew Lambert’s “That nothing could be found did not prove that nothing was left; it only proved that nothing could be found” is arguably a more valuable point for Franklin Expedition researchers than his book, yet often gets completely ignored by them. (I do like the book, but the above stands).

ultima thule@thethousandthpart.com · 2w ago

Here's [the future] Lord Castlereagh's grandfather disposing of some leftover money "for the use of the brave Corsicans" in June 1769. Excuse me, Sir, do you even know whom you're casually sponsoring there? #C18

A half-faded snippet from the Belfast Newsletter announcing that "Alexander Stewart, Esq., of Newtown-Ards, has remitted the sum of one hundred pounds British, for the use of the brave Corsicans." The year is 1769.
ultima thule@thethousandthpart.com · 2w ago

Splendid name alert - made even better by the fact that the Page part was a later [non-frivolous] addition. Someone had already expressed regret over his not having been an MP for Reading, so you don’t have to.

A screenshot from Wikipedia of Pompeo Batoni’s portrait of Sir Gregory Page-Turner, an eighteenth-century politician and apparently an avid book collector. There is alas no known connection between his name and an idiom for a particularly exciting book.
ultima thule@thethousandthpart.com · 4w ago

Some great tips re. reading handwriting in the comments. My personal nightmares are atrocious hand and non-obvs abbreviations - but surprised to see spelling as very annoying. It was certainly not consistent, but prob miles better compared to what a lot of us wd produce w/out spellcheckers.

Chris Cantwell@cdc29.bsky.social · 4w ago

I am a modern American historian about to conduct some research into materials from the early Republic. Anyone have any advice on how to read or go through papers with handwriting from the early 1800s? I will miss my ability to skim printed records... 🗃️

ultima thule@thethousandthpart.com · 4w ago

We've reached a stage where even positive news from the GLAM sector (new Museum of Aberdeenshire) is grim due to unholy mess caused by decades of neglect and hope that skeleton staff combined with "history buffs out there" will magically sort it all out soon. www.aberdeenlive.news/news/aberdee...

Aberdeenshire Council's museum service at 'major risk' amid race to record missing items

Members of the council were told that just 10% of the region’s items have been recorded, while some had incorrect location data and no regular stocktakes were being carried out.

aberdeenlive.news

ultima thule@thethousandthpart.com · last mo.

Why letting volunteers near an archive’s official blog is a bad decision (I hope/pray this wasn’t authored by a member of staff): 1 paragraph, several errors and purple passages that have no bearing on either the FE or said archive’s holdings. Also, what's an 'aide-de-cape' when they're at home?

A screenshot from an archive's blog post that tries - and fails - to explain the provenance of one of their collections. At 7 lines long, it is a perfect recipe for a word salad, containing a variety of simple and interpretational errors, irrelevant gossip, bizarre conclusions and misplaced sense of significance that does nothing to either highlight the collection's importance or outline its scope. It does make the reader laugh and the historian, cry.
ultima thule@thethousandthpart.com · last mo.

In case anyone needs to cool down, we are having a glorious day of smirr here varied by heavier rain. I’m drenched as it’s still too warm for waterproof trews, but not complaining at all. Posting of ‘wish I was there’ pics, interrupted by the glorious wet, will resume next week.

A boring view of the main lake on the Haddo estate, surrounded by many shades of green with a heavy sky above, promising at least a few hours of rain.
Alison@finger-post.blog · last mo.

Calling historians (pro or am) of Ireland: I've got some questions about how Irish victims of very serious crime were treated in the mid-late 19thC, particularly if the crime happened on colonised land outwith Ireland. Any pointers to a reliable book/paper/specialist will be gratefully received!

ultima thule@thethousandthpart.com · 2mo ago

Greetings fm Donegal (not your usual polar hotspot) where HMS Terror paid a visit almost 189 years ago, on her return from George Back’s expedition to Hudson Bay. "Crazy, broken, and leaky," she was bound for Stromness when it became clear to Back that a nearer harbour was needed desperately. 🧵 1/9

A seascape with some hills in the distance and gentle waves in the foreground, in a very lovely part of Ireland.
ultima thule@thethousandthpart.com · 2mo ago

Exited my favouritest archive on a high note today, by inadvertently giving no less than 12 members of staff the task of decision making and moving the desks to support a 3x2 metre map of estates, and then shifting it edgeways so I cd take pictures. Finally to put something on my research CV.

ultima thule@thethousandthpart.com · 2mo ago

Biographer: his near-drowning experience did not in the least stop him from taking his boat out again and again. Relation: he used to love the sea till this dreadful accident, which had completely put him off it. (Biographer may not have had access to all papers, but assuming things rarely works).

ultima thule@thethousandthpart.com · 3mo ago

Not only am I going to buy this because it sounds interesting, but also because the thought of Wellington doing semi-furtive historical research is sending me into fits of mirth from which this is clearly the only way to recover. #NapoleonicHistory #HistBookChat

William Robinson@williamdouro.bsky.social · 3mo ago

My book is now available to pre order from Pen and Sword, doing so will save you £5. If you do order it, thankyou. I hope you enjoy or find it interesting www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Wellington-o...

ultima thule@thethousandthpart.com · 3mo ago

An old favourite reminder that with historical handwriting, beautiful does not equal readable. James Clark Ross, everyone! (It would still totally make for a stunning silk scarf design)

A square image of a cross-written section from a letter by James Clark Ross to Edward Sabine, with the original colours changed to gold on black background to emphasise the meticulous, flowing lines.