Collection QE 22 B45 A4 - Robert Bell Collection

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Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Robert Bell Collection

General material designation

  • Textual record

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Collection

Reference code

QE 22 B45 A4

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Physical description area

Physical description

6.4 cm of textual records; 59 items.

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1841-1917)

Biographical history

Robert Bell (1841-1917) was a scientist, professor, civil servant, and Acting Director for the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC), who, most notably, named over 3,000 geographical features in Canada. Dr Bell earned a civil engineering degree from McGill University in 1861, and later, while working working for the GSC, earned a medical degree from McGill University in 1878. Between the years of 1863 and1867, Bell was a chemistry and natural sciences professor at Queen's College, now Queen's University, but continued to do fieldwork for the GSC during the summers, as he had done since 1856. In 1867, he began to work full time for the GSC and became its Acting Director in 1901. Altogether, Bell worked for the GSC for 52 years until his retirement in 1908.
More information on Robert Bell can be found in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography.

Custodial history

Scope and content

The collection contains correspondence, field notes, and receipts that pertain to Robert Bell. This collection is organized into two series. The correspondence in Series 1 are arranged by name of correspondent. Most correspondence are incoming letters to Dr Bell sent to the Geological survey headquarters in Montreal, Quebec, from locations across Canada. The field notes in Series 2 are arranged chronologically.

Notes area

Physical condition

Good condition. Some items have mild to moderate damage and discolouration along edges and folds.

Immediate source of acquisition

Purchased by Bruce Peel Special Collections from Aquila Books in two tranches (2016 and 2017).
The collection was originally put on the market by the Bell estate.

Arrangement

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Location of originals

The Robert Bell collection is housed in Bruce Peel Special Collections, located in the Rutherford South building on the University of Alberta North Campus in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Bruce Peel Special Collections is part of the University of Alberta Libraries.

Availability of other formats

Restrictions on access

The materials in this collection are held in Bruce Peel Special Collections. We strongly recommend that researchers refer to https://bpsc.library.ualberta.ca/ for our hours of operation, and be attentive to periods of limited services. To request an appointment, please email us at bpsc@ualberta.ca well in advance, listing the requested materials, and we will accommodate your request accordingly.

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General note

William Edmond Logan was the first director of the Geological Survey, appointed in 1842. The spring of the same year he established the Survey's headquarters in Montreal. More information on the Survey can be found in the Canadian Encyclopedia.

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AEU

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Finding aid written by Robin Chorzempa, 2016-2017.

Language of description

  • English

Script of description

  • Latin

Sources

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