Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
James Williamson fonds
General material designation
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
Level of description
Fonds
Repository
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
1829-1895 (Creation)
- Creator
- Williamson, James
Physical description area
Physical description
0.38 m of textual records, 1 photograph
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
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Numbering within publisher's series
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Dr. James Williamson was born in Edinburgh in 1806. He studied at Edinburgh University from 1822 to 1829, and came to Queen's University in 1842, holding the Chair of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy. Williamson remained at Queen's until his death in 1895. Williamson married first the daughter of John Gilchrist, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, by whom he had an only child, James Gilchrist Williamson. His first wife died in 1847, and subsequently Williamson married the younger sister of John A. Macdonald.
Custodial history
Scope and content
The fonds consists of fifty-two letters from Sir John A. Macdonald, ranging in dates from 1849-1891; one hundred and fifty-three letters from Hugh John Macdonald, from 1880-1895, twenty-seven letters from Lady Macdonald and Louise Macdonald and three hundred and sixty-seven letters and testimonials of a personal nature. These letters mostly concern the upbringing and education of Williamson's son, James Gilchrist Williamson and other family matters. There are a few expense accounts for the boy's education from his grandfather, John Gilchrist. There are also a number of university attendance cards, dating from Williamson's student days in Edinburgh. Also included are lectures, sketches, sermons and personal mementos. Of particular local interest is material pertaining to the Kingston Observatory.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Provenance unknown, although likely from a family member after Williamson's death.
Arrangement
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Location of originals
2259
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Open
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Public domain
Finding aids
Associated materials
Accruals
No further accruals are expected