William Branwhite Clarke photographs and prints, ca. 1839-1878

PXD 1095
ON 431

fonds

ca. 1839 - 1878

Graphic Materials, Photographs, Prints

63772

1 photograph - 14 x 8 cm - stereo ambrotype
7 prints - 38.5 x 56 cm or smaller - lithographs
2 photographs - 16 x 20 cm and 13 x 13 cm - albumen photoprints

William Branwhite Clarke (1798-1878) was born in East Bergholt, Suffolk, England. He became an Anglican clergyman and travelled to NSW in 1839. From 1846-71 he was pastor at St Thomas's Church, North Sydney. He was prominent in NSW as a geologist and published his findings in British and Australian journals. In 1841 he discovered gold in the Blue Mountains and was closely involved in the subsequent development of the goldfields in NSW. In 1861 the government of NSW awarded him a grant of 3000 pounds and in 1876 the Royal Society of London made him a fellow in recognition of his work in the goldfields. Clarke also made significant contributions to the debate on the age of coal deposits in NSW and was awarded the Murchison Medal by the Geological Society of London in 1877. He was a keen publicist for science in NSW and was a founder of the Royal Society of NSW in 1867, being vice-president until 1876. In 1878 the Royal Society of NSW struck the Clarke Medal in his honour. His collection of Australian fossils and minerals, along with his scientific library was destroyed in the Garden Palace fire of 1882. Reference : Australian Dictionary of Biography / Noel B. Nairn. Melbourne : Melbourne University Press, 1976.

ON 431
Stereo ambrotype of unidentified fossils

PXD 1095
Two albumen photoprints of fossil ichthyolites, a lithographic print of fossil ichthyolites from Wianamatta and Hawkesbury rocks and a set of lithographic prints of scenes in the West Indies

Forms part of MLMSS 139

Access via appointment - Applies to ON 431

Out of copyright: Created before 1955 (photographs)
Out of copyright: Artist died before 1955 (artworks)
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Pic.Acc. Upgrade Project - Information transferred from Pic.Acc.834 as part of the eRecords Project 2011-2012