David Scott Mitchell
Encyclopedia
David Scott Mitchell was a collector of Australia
n books, founder and benefactor of The Mitchell Library
, Sydney
, Australia
.
. James Mitchell afterwards became the owner of 50,000 acres (200 km²) in the Hunter River valley which included rich coal-bearing land. David Mitchell grew up in Cumberland Street, Sydney and in October 1852, aged 16, became one of the first undergraduate students in the inaugural year of the University of Sydney
. Mitchell won scholarships in mathematics and graduated B.A. in 1856 with honours in classics, and M.A. in 1859.
Mitchell was called to the bar but did not practise, and was said to have declined the position of attorney-general. Mitchell assisted in the management of the Hunter River estates. Mitchell was a good cricket
er and dancer, a skilful whist player, and a good amateur actor. Allegedly he broke off a romance with Emily Matilda Manning, daughter of William Montagu Manning
. Mitchell was already forming a collection of books. Mitchell's father died in 1869 and there was a lawsuit over the will. Publication of the family affairs was humiliating to a man of Mitchell's sensitive disposition.
, specializing in poetry and sixteenth and seventeenth century books. In 1866, perhaps on the encouragement of George Robertson he began to collect early Australian books and manuscripts. Once a week he went the round of the bookshops, by now book collecting
had become all-consuming. Mitchell had a good memory and discrimination, but as time went on he saw that even the most obscure and apparently worthless pamphlet might throw some light on its time. Though withdrawn from society he welcomed genuine students such as Arthur Wilberforce Jose
and Bertram Stevens
, especially if they were interested in Australian problems.
, instructed the government architect to prepare designs for a library, and the work was begun early in 1906. Mitchell died on 24 July 1907 and his entire collection became the property of the state. Additionally a sum of £70,000 was bequeathed, the income from which has been spent in adding to the collection.
In 1936, the centenary of Mitchell's birth, the trustees of the public library of New South Wales published The Mitchell Library, Sydney, Historical and Descriptive Notes. Written by the librarian Miss Ida Leeson, this publication gives some idea of the wealth of original manuscripts and books that may be found in the library.
Mitchell's reclusiveness did not allow him to agree to having his portrait painted. The portrait prefixed to the centenary volume was painted from a photograph, after his death. Mitchell was buried in Rookwood Cemetery
. Mitchell would never be interviewed and his kindliness was only known to a few students who had the privilege of his association. Mitchell did not marry but was glad to think that the library would be a permanent memorial of his family.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n books, founder and benefactor of The Mitchell Library
State Library of New South Wales
The State Library of New South Wales is a large public library owned by the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Macquarie Street, Sydney near Shakespeare Place...
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Early life
Mitchell was born in Sydney, the son of Dr James Mitchell and his wife Augusta Maria Frederick, née Scott. James Mitchell came to Australia in 1821 as an army surgeon, and two years later was appointed assistant surgeon at the military hospital, Macquarie Street, SydneyMacquarie Street, Sydney
Macquarie Street is the easternmost street of Sydney's central business district. Macquarie Street extends from Hyde Park at its southern end to the Sydney Opera House at its north.-Description:...
. James Mitchell afterwards became the owner of 50,000 acres (200 km²) in the Hunter River valley which included rich coal-bearing land. David Mitchell grew up in Cumberland Street, Sydney and in October 1852, aged 16, became one of the first undergraduate students in the inaugural year of the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. Mitchell won scholarships in mathematics and graduated B.A. in 1856 with honours in classics, and M.A. in 1859.
Mitchell was called to the bar but did not practise, and was said to have declined the position of attorney-general. Mitchell assisted in the management of the Hunter River estates. Mitchell was a good cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er and dancer, a skilful whist player, and a good amateur actor. Allegedly he broke off a romance with Emily Matilda Manning, daughter of William Montagu Manning
William Montagu Manning
Sir William Montagu Manning KCMG LLD was an English-born Australian politician, judge and University of Sydney chancellor.-Early life:...
. Mitchell was already forming a collection of books. Mitchell's father died in 1869 and there was a lawsuit over the will. Publication of the family affairs was humiliating to a man of Mitchell's sensitive disposition.
Book collector
Mitchell was affected by the death of his mother greatly and began to withdraw from the world; his health was never robust. The formation of his library became his chief interest. He began to build up a fine library of English literatureEnglish literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
, specializing in poetry and sixteenth and seventeenth century books. In 1866, perhaps on the encouragement of George Robertson he began to collect early Australian books and manuscripts. Once a week he went the round of the bookshops, by now book collecting
Book collecting
Book collecting is the collecting of books, including seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining whatever books are of interest to a given individual collector. The love of books is bibliophilia, and someone who loves to read, admire, and collect...
had become all-consuming. Mitchell had a good memory and discrimination, but as time went on he saw that even the most obscure and apparently worthless pamphlet might throw some light on its time. Though withdrawn from society he welcomed genuine students such as Arthur Wilberforce Jose
Arthur Wilberforce Jose
Arthur Wilberforce Jose was an English-Australian historian and editor of the Australian Encyclopaedia.Jose was born at Bristol, South West England, eldest son of William Wilberforce Jose, , and his wife Sarah Maria, née Woodward. W. W...
and Bertram Stevens
Bertram Stevens (critic)
Bertram William Mathyson Francis Stevens was Australian journal editor literary and art critic, anthologist .Stevens was born at Inverell, New South...
, especially if they were interested in Australian problems.
Library foundation
Mitchell was anxious that the (then) colony of New South Wales might have the benefit of his collections. Eventually, after a conference with the Sydney public librarian, he informed the trustees on 17 October 1898 that he was willing to bequeath his collection to the library, if a suitable building were provided and if the books would be available to students. The offer was accepted. However there was a long delay in starting a building, and Mitchell suggested that the bequest would be cancelled if the books were not housed a year after the owner's death. In June 1905 the premier, Joseph CarruthersJoseph Carruthers
Sir Joseph Hector McNeil Carruthers KCMG was an Australian politician and Premier of New South Wales.According to Percival Serle, few premiers of New South Wales succeeded in doing so much distinguished work...
, instructed the government architect to prepare designs for a library, and the work was begun early in 1906. Mitchell died on 24 July 1907 and his entire collection became the property of the state. Additionally a sum of £70,000 was bequeathed, the income from which has been spent in adding to the collection.
In 1936, the centenary of Mitchell's birth, the trustees of the public library of New South Wales published The Mitchell Library, Sydney, Historical and Descriptive Notes. Written by the librarian Miss Ida Leeson, this publication gives some idea of the wealth of original manuscripts and books that may be found in the library.
Mitchell's reclusiveness did not allow him to agree to having his portrait painted. The portrait prefixed to the centenary volume was painted from a photograph, after his death. Mitchell was buried in Rookwood Cemetery
Rookwood Cemetery
Rookwood Cemetery is the largest multicultural necropolis in the Southern Hemisphere, located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. Mitchell would never be interviewed and his kindliness was only known to a few students who had the privilege of his association. Mitchell did not marry but was glad to think that the library would be a permanent memorial of his family.
External links
- Photographic portrait, 1864
- David Scott Mitchell at Philanthropy Wiki
- David Scott Mitchell Memorial Fellowship — encourages the use of the Mitchell Library for study and research of Australian history
