Abstract
Despite the modern celebrity of the fossil collector Mary Anning (1799–1847) of Lyme Regis and her frequent use as an icon in scientific education and popularization, there are few accounts of her life by her contemporaries. We report here a previously unpublished anonymous manuscript memoir of Anning’s life, in the Special Collections of the University of Bristol Library. Evidence from textual analysis and handwriting corroborates its attribution to George Roberts (bap. 1804–60) of Lyme Regis, schoolmaster and historian. He wrote it at some time during 1837–47, perhaps 1839–47, by adapting a passage in his 1834 history of Lyme Regis. It was apparently intended for a new book, but was altered into an obituary after Anning’s death. Evidence is presented that Roberts wrote the obituary of Anning in the Athenæum, which was widely republished in newspapers. Henry De la Beche (1796–1855) published another obituary in the Proceedings of the Geological Society. Roberts helped him to obtain information from Anning’s family, but did not use this new information in his manuscript. Benjamin J.M. Donne (1831–1928), a former pupil of Roberts, painted the Society’s portrait of Anning. A claim that it was commissioned by a group, mostly Fellows of the Society, remains unconfirmed.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | jgs2022-053 |
| Journal | Journal of the Geological Society |
| Volume | 180 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 11 Jan 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 3 Mar 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Acknowledgements We are most grateful to the University of Bristol Library Special Collections for permission to publish the text and images of the subject manuscript, and to the Geological Society of London, Heather Britton and Lyme Regis Museum for the provision of images and permission for their use. We thank Ian Coates and Hannah Lowery (University of Bristol Library), Richard Bull and Richard Wells (Lyme Regis Museum), Cindy Howells (Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum of Wales) and Caroline Lam (Geological Society) for the provision of archival material and information, Claudia Hildebrandt (University of Bristol) for photographing the manuscript, and Richard Bull and Tom Sharpe for discussion. We thank Leslie F. Noè and Renee M. Clary for their careful and helpful refereeing. MAT acknowledges the support of the libraries and staff of National Museums Scotland and the University of Leicester.
Funding Information:
We are most grateful to the University of Bristol Library Special Collections for permission to publish the text and images of the subject manuscript, and to the Geological Society of London, Heather Britton and Lyme Regis Museum for the provision of images and permission for their use. We thank Ian Coates and Hannah Lowery (University of Bristol Library), Richard Bull and Richard Wells (Lyme Regis Museum), Cindy Howells (Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum of Wales) and Caroline Lam (Geological Society) for the provision of archival material and information, Claudia Hildebrandt (University of Bristol) for photographing the manuscript, and Richard Bull and Tom Sharpe for discussion. We thank Leslie F. Noèand Renee M. Clary for their careful and helpful refereeing. MAT acknowledges the support of the libraries and staff of National Museums Scotland and the University of Leicester.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s).