Discovering the Forsters: locating and mapping the evidence from John Street to the Pacific

Paper will discuss complex issues regarding Forster archival collections

The RSA archive contains interesting evidence for J. R. Forster's activities in England before he and his son George Forster accompanied James Cook on his second circumnavigation of the world in the Resolution, 1772-1775. The collections created on their voyage, and other collections they made after returning to Europe, contain important source material on a wide range of topics but especially relating to Pacific Studies and natural history. This material, including archival documents, letters, printed books, drawings, paintings, cultural objects and natural historical specimens, is widely scattered in collections across the world. The collections are dispersed not only geographically but also across different categories of holding institution, including libraries, archives, museums and galleries. How can this important evidence be brought together? How can the material in the RSA's archive be placed in its wider context? This paper will set out to explain the complex issues surrounding Forster collections and will suggest ways in which innovative methods might help us to navigate through the complexity.

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