Papers of George Combe (1788-1858), lawyer, phrenologist and educationist, and his household.
Scope and Contents
George Combe was educated at Edinburgh High School and at Edinburgh University, where he studied law; he became a Writer to the Signet in 1812. At this time he began to study the phrenological works of Franz Josef Gall and Johann Kaspar Spurzheim, and soon became a fervent advocate of that science. In 1837 he gave up his legal practice to devote himself to spreading the causes of phrenology, secular education, and criminal and prison reform, travelling widely in Europe and America. His views on practical education and moral training were pioneering, but were generally lost from view in the downfall of phrenology.
Dates
- Creation: 1804-1872, undated.
Conditions Governing Access
Normal access conditions apply.
Conditions Governing Use
Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.
Extent
189 Volumes ; Except where specially noted, the papers in each volume are of various sizes, folio and under.
Language of Materials
Undetermined
Arrangement
The papers fall naturally into nine major sections, with a small miscellany appended. The sections have been subdivided where necessary. Chronological order has been preserved within each section or subdivision, and alphabetical arrangement adopted where possible within each year.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Presented, 1950, by the Combe Trustees.
Separated Materials
For a few formal documents, see Ch.7595-7610.
- Title
- National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
- Author
- National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
- Description rules
- International Standard for Archival Description - General
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk