Scope and content
12 letters to Baron, dated 1888-1907, including a letter from the naturalist, Alfred
R Wallace and two letters from the botanist, H.W.Bates; an extensive series of letters
of condolence to Baron’s widow and printed obituaries; miniature sketch book containing
cartoons of the Betsileo mission 1870-80, report in French of a geological survey
of the island, photographs, postcards and botanical drawings of Madagascar plants.
Record creators history
Richard Baron was born on 8th September 1847 in Kendal. He was educated locally and
then studied theology at Lancashire Independent College, later the Northern Congregational
College. Following an appeal to students by the Rev William Ellis he volunteered to
become a missonary in Madagascar with the London Missionary Society. Accepted by the
Society he served in Madagascar for thirty-five years from 1872 until his death on
12th October 1907. He served in a number of country provinces in Imerina and Betsilio
and was for a time Principal of the Theological College at Tananarive. He also wrote
several Bible commentaries in Malagasy and was responsible for composing a number
of very popular hymns in that language, including a translation of 'Rock of ages'.
Baron was a prolific author in both English and Malagasy and, to a lesser extent,
in French. Together with his fellow missionary in Madagascar James Sibree, he was
founder-editor of the Antananarivo Annual: a record of information on the topography
and natural productions of Madagascar and the customs, traditions, language and religious
beliefs of its people which first appeared in 1875. During 1886 and 1887 the pair
also produced, for private circulation only, Publications of the Malagasy Folk-lore
Society.
While first and foremost a missionary Baron is perhaps better known as a man of science.
He became a serious student of Madagascar's flora and during his missionary journeys
in Madagascar collected and sent to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew around 7,000
plants of which 1,000 were new species. In 1882 he was made a Fellow of the Linnean
Society. Baron was the author of a number of botanical works including a textbook
in Malagasy and a catalogue: Compendium des plantes Malgaches. Baron also studied
the geology of Madagascar, writing a number of books and articles on this subject
in English and Malagasy. He also liaised in geological matters with the French authorities,
following the French annexation of Madagascar as a colony in 1896. At the personal
invitation of General Gallieni who held supreme military and political power in Madagascar,
Baron took part in a geological and mining survey of the North and North West of Madagascar.
Baron was also nominated one of the first members of the Academie Malgache which Gallieni
instituted in 1902. He declined the offer of government service under the French administration
preferring to remain a missionary.
In May 1907 Baron came on furlough to England, became ill with malarial fever and
died very suddenly of heart failure at Morecambe on 12th October. He is buried at
Kendal. Baron married four times. His first wife, Catherine Willey, and his second
wife, Mary Selina Jenkinson, died shortly after their arrivals in Madagascar, in 1873
and in 1878 respectively. In 1882 Baron married Annie Pumphrey of the Society of Friend's
mission in Madagascar but she died in 1898. In the following year Baron married Edith
Condie. She retired from missionary work in 1907, following her husband's death. Baron
left four children.
Archival history
The papers remained in the custody of members of Baron's family until their donation
to the Library.
Source of acquisition
Donated to the Library by a descendant of Richard Baron.
System of arrangement
The papers are arranged in the following series: letters to Baron, letters of condolence
and obituaries, notebooks and Baron's publications, photographs, drawings and miscelleaneous.
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Rights to access and re-use digital objects:
Unknown
For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library
in the first instance
Other finding aids
Related material
Baron's official papers as missionary are held in the archive of the London Missionary
Society in SOAS Library.
Baron's correspondence with the Botanic Gardens at Kew can be found in Director's
Correspondence Vols 187 and 188 held int he Library and Archives, Royal Botanic Gardens
Kew.
Barons's correspondence with the geologist, Sir Archibald Geikie is held in Edinburgh
University Library.
Extent
5 boxes, 1 folder
Keywords
Subjects:
Academic teaching personnel
Naturalists
Botanists
Botany
Missionaries
Missionary work
Geology
Travel abroad
Geographic names:
Eastern Africa
Madagascar, Africa
Language of the material
English
French Malagasy
Record creator
Content provider
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Archives, University of London