Beke, Charles Tilstone (1800-1874), Ph.D., Abyssinian explorer

Correspondence, papers and journals of Charles Tilstone Beke, principally relating to Abyssinia and the Middle East, with papers of his wife Emily Beke (née Alston). The collection holds information on all aspects of Beke's career, from his early legal training to the search for employment and financial security of his final years. His intervening travels, geographical and biblical studies and resulting publications are documented by journals, notebooks and printed material. Correspondence includes that generated during Beke's secretaryship of the National Association for the Protection of Industry and Capital throughout the British Empire; and generally reflects a wide range of scholarly acquaintance and interests. Supplementary papers of Emily Beke record her championing of C.T. Beke's posthumous reputation, and her attempts to gain recompense for his occasional government service.

1824-1910

14 files, 11 volumes

Most of the correspondence and Beke's copy of The idol in Horeb were purchased from Hodgson's in October 1913. The provenance and date of receipt of the journals, notebooks and printed papers is not recorded. The letter from Mansfield Parkyns was purchased at Glendining's, 17 Sept. 1934.

At other repositories:

Beke's journals and diaries for the period 1840-1843, covering his early travels in Abyssinia, are in the British Library (Add. Mss. 30247-52).

Described in typescript supplements by Richard Palmer, Keith Moore, Richard Aspin and Christopher Hilton to the Library's published published manuscript catalogues.