MS 433 06

MS 433 06

Wilfred P. Thesiger's diaries

Series

1930-1983

5 boxes containing 44 diaries

Wilfred Thesiger’s autograph diaries are a central series, providing a wealth of information on his life and his journeys. The entries contain specific information on the places he explored, as well the cultures he experienced. They act as a time and compass survey of his journey as well as an ethnographic study. Thesiger would regularly feed his findings back to the Geographical Society and his diaries were intended, for future use, as well as to ensure he gathered information as accurately as possible.

They are characterised by the neat handwriting and meticulous detail and often contain additional sketches of monuments and maps specific areas. A number of the volumes contain red markings, with particular pieces of information underlined.

The diaries have a very mater-of-fact tone, but were often used as the basis for his later published work. Along with the letters to his mother, they represent his earliest accounts of places which had been previously unexplored.

The diaries covering Thesiger’s crossings of the Empty Quarter are copies. The location of the originals is unknown, having been lost during Thesiger’s lifetime.