Outlook Tower - Biological Room, c 1890-c 1910
Scope and Contents
This is the entrance to the Camera Obscura on the fifth floor of the Outlook Tower. This roof-top pavilion was constructed in 1850 to the design of Maria Thérèsa Short (fl. 1827-1869) to house her Victorian optical instrument, and was originally called "Short's Observatory." After her death in 1869, her husband continued to run the attraction until Geddes bought the whole building in 1892 and changed its name to "The Outlook Tower". The "Biological Room" appears to have been formed by covering the roof-top terrace with a temporary cover to protect the plants, of which some are shown here. Handwritten title by Mabel Barker.
Dates
- Creation: c 1890-c 1910
Creator
- From the Sub-Series: Geddes, Alasdair, 1891-1917 (geographer and sociologist) (Person)
Language of Materials
English
French
Hebrew
Latin
Dutch
Flemish
Full Extent
1 glass plate negative ; 4 1/4" x 3 1/4"
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Blind cracks; piece missing; conserved 2018, sink matted, stored in larger box to core series of glass plate negatives
Stock Check (2016-2020)
Located 2017
Previous numbering
PSE/X/2
Geographic
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk