Library of the Royal Geographical Society of South Australia
The Royal Geographical Society of South Australia has a unique collection of over 30,000 volumes - the largest non-government specialist geographical collection in Australia.
Subject specialities are world exploration and discovery, travel and colonial history with particular relevance to Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
The Library of the Society is located in the Mortlock Wing of the State Library of South Australia.
The society has published a list of some of its manuscripts.
Subject specialities are world
exploration and discovery, travel and colonial history with particular relevance
to Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Public enquiries are
welcome. Hours:
Tuesday to Friday 10 am to 1
pm
Librarians:
Kevin Griffin, Phyl Twigg, Michael Dover and David Wald.
Phone:
08 82077266 Fax: 08
82077225 Email: library@rgssa.org.au
Location:
The Library and the Society’s office are located on level 2 of the
Mortlock Wing of the State Library of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide.
(PO Box 419 Adelaide, 5001)
(Directions:
Enter the main State Library entrance, cross the walkway to the old building and
proceed to the far (southern) end of the display hall. The RGSSA Library and
Office are located at the top of the stairs.)
By prior arrangement Library material can be made available
for reading in the State Library’s Somerville Reading Room.
Catalogues
Most of
the Library’s Australiana collection and rare books (‘specials’) are
catalogued on the State Library’s website; (http://www.catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au/screens/opacmenu.html)
If you type in the words 'York Gate Australia' in a key word
search at this site a listing of many of the Society's Australiana rare books
are obtained, or 'York and Gate' will list most of the rare volumes
RGSSA
books are indicated by the following location information in the catalogue
record:
*
RGS Australiana collection These
books are housed in the Library. Most books in this category published after
1900 are available for loan to members.
* RGS Special Collections. Housed
in the Library.
Using
the Library follow this link
RGSSA
periodical
collection is at this link.
Contact the library at library@rgssa.org.au
Special Features
A range of up-to-date reference books including atlases, gazeteers and nomenclatures.
Rare books: including a 1598 world atlas by Abraham Ortelius with 119 hand coloured illustrations, accounts of early sea voyages to Australia and the history ofnland exploration and settlement of our continent.
Over 200 manuscripts: including Sir Joseph Banks' Newfoundland Journals and John MacDouall Stuart's diary of his expedition across the Australian continent in 1860-61.
Over 800 maps: which provide a record of discovery, exploration and settlement particularly with reference to South Australia and Australia.
Periodicals: currently 100 titles are received including National Geographic, Geo and Australian Geographic.
Contact the library at library@rgssa.org.au
Pictorial Collection: photographs, paintings and drawings.
Genealogical information: a bibliography of these items is available.
The Society's library is based on four private collections that have given it a broad base in historical geography, colonial history, anthropology and travel.
The York Gate Colonial and Geographical Library
In 1905 the Society purchased the York Gate Library of S.W. Silver, a London shipping merchant. This collection is largely made up of explorers' accounts, colonial histories and handbooks, and rare atlases, including Abraham Ortelius's world atlas of 1598 and Arnold Colum's Zee-atlas of c.1650.
The York Gate Library also includes Sir Joseph Banks' manuscript diary of his expedition to Newfoundland in 1766 and original watercolours by George French Angas.
The Library is available for reference by the general public.
Contact the library at library@rgssa.org.au
New books continue to be purchased for the library, with some books and periodicals being obtained by gift and exchange. In addition to the books and periodicals there are over 800 maps and some 250
manuscripts.
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