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Sir Joseph Banks Papers, 1767-1822

Sir Joseph Banks Papers, 1767-1822

The State Library's Sir Joseph Banks papers documents the early scientific and geographic explorations and political landscape of the fledgling colony of New South Wales.

Sir Joseph Banks Papers

When Sir Joseph Banks died in 1820, he left behind a well organised archive which spanned from 1767 to 1822 and documented his influential career. It was the most comprehensive archive of its kind in Britain, perhaps the world.

 

 

A portrait of the young Joseph Banks in cloak

Background to the Sir Joseph Banks Papers

Provenance, context and arrangement of the collection.

A catalogue of kitchen garden, grass, flower, tree and shrub seeds

Transcribe the Sir Joseph Banks Papers

Help us transcribe the personal papers of Sir Joseph Banks to improve access for researchers.

Handwritten letters on two pages yellowed manuscript

Who was Sir Joseph Banks?

From the establishment of the Colony of NSW,  Banks was consulted by anyone wanting to travel to New South Wales in almost any capacity. 

Portrait of Joseph Banks

Read Joseph Banks' Endeavour Journal

Explore the the journal kept by Joseph Banks on board HMS Endeavour.

Open book

Sir Joseph Banks Website Project

The Banks project aims are to enhance discovery and access to the collection and promote the research potential in this  significant archive.