Scrapbook in Memoriam: Sir Robert Williams, BT., D.L., J.P., 21 January 1860 - 25 April, 1938
AssociatedAssociated with
Sir Robert Williams
(Aberdeen, Scotland, 1860 - 1938)
Datec. 1938
Object NameScrapbook
Mediumleatherette hard bound book
ClassificationsMuseum General
Dimensions37.4 × 28 × 3.3cm
AcquisitionPresented in 2014 by National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDMS094085
Keywords
Born and educated in Aberdeen, Sir Robert Williams was a Scottish mining engineer, railroad developer and - like Livingstone - a pioneering explorer of Africa. His achievements include the discovery of vast copper deposits in Katanga Province (now Democratic Republic of Congo) and Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia); the creation of the Benguela railway through then Portuguese West Africa (now Angola); and the railway connection to Luau at the border to the Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo).
The scrapbook has over 50 pages with items attached. These are newspaper clippings which largely consist of memorials to Williams on his death, including some from foreign and African newspapers. There is also a bound typescript document in a pocket at the back of the album which includes a tribute by the Bishop of Aberdeen & Orkney, dated 28 April 1938 and the order of service from his funeral, as well as what appears to be translations of the foreign language clippings from the album.
