David Scott Mitchell | |
|---|---|
 David Scott Mitchell | |
| Born | (1836-03-19)19 March 1836 Sydney |
| Died | 24 July 1907(1907-07-24) (aged 71) Sydney |
| Occupation | Book collector |
| Years active | 1866-1907 |
| Known for | Australiana Book and Manuscript Collection |
David Scott Mitchell (19 March 1836 – 24 July 1907)1 was a collector of Australian books, founder and benefactor of the Mitchell Library, at the State Library of New South Wales, Sydney.2 Mitchell was buried in Rookwood Cemetery.3
Early life
In 1836 Mitchell was born in Sydney, the son of Dr James Mitchell and his wife Augusta Maria Frederick, née Scott.3 James and Augusta are commemorated by a window in the Garrison Church.4 David Mitchell was born at Sydney Hospital,4 grew up in Cumberland Street, Sydney and in October 1852, aged 16, became one of the first seven undergraduate students in the newly established University of Sydney in 1852.5 Mitchell won scholarships in mathematics and graduated B.A. in 1856 with honours in classics, and M.A. in 1859.2
Mitchell was called to the bar, however he never practised law or any other profession.6 It was said that he declined the position of attorney-general.2 Mitchell assisted in the management of the Hunter River estates.3 Allegedly, he broke off a romance with Emily Matilda Manning, daughter of William Montagu Manning.2 Mitchell's father died in 1869. Publication of the family affairs was humiliating to a man of Mitchell's sensitive disposition.2
Book collector
In his search for books he was "largely indebted to the efforts of booksellers who knew Australiana, including George Robertson, Fred W. Wymark, William Dymock and James R. Tyrrell".7 Mitchell also purchased books from other collectors, most notably Mitchell purchased the 3,300-volume Australian collection of Alfred Lee in 1906.6
... I give and bequeath to the Trustees of the Public Library of New South Wales all my books, pictures, engravings, coins, tokens, medals and manuscripts ... upon the trust and condition that the same shall be called and known as "The Mitchell Library" and shall be permanently arranged and kept for use in a special wing or set of rooms dedicated for that purpose...
Other activities
Mitchell was the first patron of the Royal Australian Historical Society in 1901.9
Further reading
Further reading
James R. Tyrrell, David Scott Mitchell: A Reminiscence (Sydney: Sunnybrook Press, 1936)
References
References
- "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 25 July 1907. p. 6.
- G. D. Richardson, 'Mitchell, David Scott (1836–1907)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 5, Melbourne University Press, 1974, pp 260–261. Retrieved 8 October 2009.
- Serle, Percival (1949). "Mitchell, David Scott". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
- "Holy Trinity Church". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 3 January 1931. p. 7. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
- Willstead, Theresa, ed. (2007). A Grand Obsession: The DS Mitchell Story. Macquarie Street, Sydney: State Library of New South Wales (in association with the exhibition). pp. 1, 4. ISBN 978-0-7313-7177-8.
- Brunton, Paul; Ellis, Elizabeth (1 January 2007). A grand obsession : the DS Mitchell story. State Library of NSW. p. 46. ISBN 978-0731371778. OCLC 174104174.
- Geoffrey Chapman Ingleton, "Australiana", in: The Australian Encyclopedia, The Grolier Society of Australia, 1963, Vol. 1, p. 340.
- State Library of NSW (2007) p1 A Grand Obsession: the D.S. Mitchell story
- "Previous Councillors". Royal Australian Historical Society. Archived from the original on 17 June 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
External links
External links
- David Scott Mitchell at Philanthropy Wiki
- "David Scott Mitchell Library". State Library of New South Wales Blogs. State Library of New South Wales. 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
- David Scott Mitchell Memorial Fellowship – encourages the use of the Mitchell Library for study and research of Australian history
- "Mitchell, David Scott". Dictionary of Sydney. Dictionary of Sydney Trust. 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.[CC-By-SA]