Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1886 - 1909 (Creation)
Level of description
Manuscript Collection
Extent and medium
2 boxes (.3 metres)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Joseph de Brettes (1861-1934) was a French explorer, surveyor, and author, as well as a businessman and delegate. De Brettes made two geographical explorations to the interior regions of Gran Chaco in South America, first in 1886, and again in 1888. From 1892 to 1893 he was exploring Colombia and making sociological and ethnographical observations of the Arhuaco and the Ahuaco-Kagaba Indigenous peoples (Kogi People)in the Sierra Nevada region. After a sojourn in France, he returned for further exploration in Colombia from 1895 to 1898.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Contains archival materials pertaining to French explorer Joseph de Brettes’ (1861-1934) expeditions to South America including two to Gran Chaco. Collection includes a steel cranial measuring device; a steel archaeological specimen; two offprint accounts written and illustrated by De Brettes describing his expeditions and scientific work in South America; and an offprint bibliographical outline of De Brettes’ extensive explorations in South America and elsewhere as well as his naval and army service.
Also includes album of autographs collected while in South America; 3 photographic identification cards; his personal library bookplate; an offprint poem signed and dedicated by French poet Jehan Rictus; as well as correspondence connected with his efforts as Vice-President of a Portuguese railway company, in particular dealing with a meeting with the King, including 3 manuscript telegrams sent from Lisbon September 1905 and 2 manuscript letters dated 1905.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
No restrictions on access.
Material may be requested in person at the Fisher Library Reference Desk, or in advance using our online stack retrieval request form: https://aeon.library.utoronto.ca.