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Fonds

The Lefroy bequest: Papers of Lady Jane Franklin, Sir John Franklin and Sophia Cracroft

Catalogue reference: MS 248

What’s it about?

This record is about the The Lefroy bequest: Papers of Lady Jane Franklin, Sir John Franklin and Sophia Cracroft dating from 1800 to 1890.

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Full description and record details

Reference
MS 248
Title
The Lefroy bequest: Papers of Lady Jane Franklin, Sir John Franklin and Sophia Cracroft
Date
1800 to 1890
Description

Jane Franklin (nee Griffin) was a prolific diary and letter writer and the collection includes papers relating to her many travels with Sophia around the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe, Russia, North Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, Hawaii, India and Japan as well as her time in Tasmania with John and Sophia. Many of Jane and Sophia's papers also relate to the various Arctic expeditions in search of the Northwest passage and the subsequent Franklin searches after the disappearance of the British Naval Northwest passage expedition 1845-48 (HMS Erebus and HMS Terror) commanded by Sir John Franklin. Sir John Franklin's papers relate to his naval career, early Arctic expeditions and his appointment to Governor of Van Deimans land (Tasmania),1836-43.

Note

for a full catalogue contact archives@spri.cam.ac.uk

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in four distinct sections based on their creators. Lady Franklin's papers (MS 248/1-227), Sophia Cracrofts papers (MS 248/228-267), Sir John Franklin's papers (MS 248/268-330) and correspondence sent to the Franklins and Miss Cracroft (MS 248/330-498). Within these sections items are first grouped together by type (e.g. journals, correspondence etc) and then generally listed chronologically (journals) or alphabetically by correspondent/organisation (letters).

Items with a Lefroy bequest stamp can sometimes be found in the Institute's working files. Historically they were added to the end of the catalogue but they are now arranged by type: MS 248/D - Documents; MS 248/MSM - Maps; MS 248/BPC - Press cuttings.

Held by
Cambridge University: Scott Polar Research Institute
Legal status
Not Public Record(s)
Language
english
Creator(s)
  • Franklin, John
  • Franklin, Jane (nee Griffin)
  • Cracroft, Sophia
Physical description
507 parts (5.5 linear meters consiting of 232 volumes, 7 boxes of papers, 14 pieces of outsized manuscript material and 4 maps)
Access conditions

Access to our collections is by prior appointment. See our web site for details https://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/archives/

Immediate source of acquisition
bequest
Unpublished finding aids
  • Published finding aid
  • Manuscripts in the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, England by Clive Holland
  • London and New York, Garland Publishing, ISBN 0 8240 9394 1
Administrative / biographical background

Papers of Lady Jane Franklin, Sir John Franklin and Sophia Cracroft

Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/3eab8052-329a-4d31-bbcf-5c70d33025e1/

Catalogue hierarchy

238 records

You are currently looking at the fonds: MS 248

The Lefroy bequest: Papers of Lady Jane Franklin, Sir John Franklin and Sophia Cracroft