John Downes Rochfort Albums

JDR

1862 - 1883

This archive consists of seven photography albums assembled by John Downes Rochfort chronicling his travels in North America, Europe and Africa between 1862 and 1883. Some of the albums also contain ephemera such as newspaper clippings and prints. The albums contain landscape photography and city scenes as well as photography of war such as the Battle of Gettysburg and the Battle of Tel e Kebir. The albums reveal Rochfort's interest in both travel and death, murder, torture and war. The albums are as follows: "Canada and the United States" (1862-1867) which includes nature photography, photography of the Battle of Gettysburg, and of cities like Washington. "Log of the Leda" Vol. I (1868-1869) which has photographs of Gibralter, Cadiz, Seville and Lisbon among others. "Log of the Leda" Vol. 2 (1870-1873) includes photographs of Rotterdam, Torquay, Nice, Versailles, Rome and Monaco. "Switzerland, Bavaria, etc" (1874-1875) featuring prints and photographs of Mount Blanc, Munich, and Baden. "1876 Danube-Sevia, N. Italy. 1877, Normandy" including Lake Como and Paris. "The Loires, S.E. and S.W. France 1878-9 - 1880-1 etc" including the mausoleum of Orleans, Cannes and the village of Wai. "Algiers, Egypt, etc 1882-3" including Cairo, the Great Pyramid of Giza and the battle of Tel e Kebir. A detailed listing of these albums is available on request.

seven albums

The albums are in fair condition overall.

English

This archive was left by John Downes Rochfort's wife, Louisa Ruth Maynard Crabbe Rochfort, to the executors of her will, her son-in-law H. C. Surtees and his wife, who donated the albums to Gateshead Public Library in 1922. The National Science and Media Museum acquired the albums from Gateshead Public Library in 1988. The compilation of these albums was previously attributed to Brigadier General Herbert Conyers Surtees (1858-1933), Antiquarian and MP for Gateshead, Tyne and Wear (who owned the albums before donating them to Newcastle Library). It is now believed that the albums were actually assembled and compiled by John Downes Rochfort (1825-1885). See above and object file for further details.

National Science and Media Museum, Bradford

Access is given in accordance with the NMeM access policy. Material from this collection is available to researchers through the museum’s Insight facility

Copies may be supplied of items in the collection, provided that the copying process used does not damage the item or is not detrimental to its preservation. Copies will be supplied in accordance with the NMeM’s terms and conditions for the supply and reproduction of copies, and the provisions of any relevant copyright legislation

This archive is currently undergoing processing. This field will be updated when a system of arrangement has been established.