David Livingstone Birthplace

Publication of Livingstone’s Missionary Travels Manuscript (1857): A Critical Edition - Update

September 2019

Critical Ed
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Livingstone Online, a digital museum and library, exploring the legacy of Victorian traveler David Livingstone have announced the first edition of Livingstone’s Missionary Travels Manuscript (1857): A Critical Edition.

Livingstone's Missionary Travels Manuscript (1857)

Justin D. Livingstone and Adrian S. Wisnicki are delighted to announce, at long last, the publication of the first edition of Livingstone’s Missionary Travels Manuscript (1857): A Critical Edition (http://www.livingstoneonline.org/in-his-own-words/missionary-travels-manuscript/livingstones-missionary-travels-manuscript-1857).

The Missionary Travels manuscript is now fully annotated with critical notes. These critical notes are also provided as a glossary of key terms, which includes over 750 entries on the many individuals; African ethnic groups; organisations and collectives; settlements; regions; and geographical features cited in Livingstone's manuscript. The five critical essays are now fully illustrated – and, last but not least, the edition now includes a detailed project history that traces the edition's development over a 6-year period.

This project was generously supported by several funders, including the National Trust for Scotland’s “David Livingstone 200" initiative, the Marc Fitch Fund, the Strathmartine Trust, and the Modern Humanities Research Association. Thanks to all these agencies for making the project possible. We are also very grateful for the contribution of the National Library of Scotland, which provided digitised images of over 1,100 pages of the Missionary Travels manuscript. The project simply couldn’t have taken place without the collaboration of the NLS archives and the support of the library staff. Likewise, we’re very grateful to David Livingstone Birthplace and the Brenthurst Library, who also contributed key portions of manuscript.

The Missionary Travels Manuscript edition is Livingstone Online’s longest running initiative. The publication of the first edition brings to close a development period of six years that was itself preceded by two years of planning and discussion. We hope you all enjoy the edition!

We recommend you visit www.livingstoneonline.org to view the manuscript in full.

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We are very grateful to our key funders the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland and the Scottish Government for their support in helping us deliver the Birthplace Project.

National Lottery Heritage Fund
Scottish Government
Historic Environment Scotland
Note: Please note that David Livingstone Birthplace (and the David Livingstone Trust) is no longer part of National Trust Scotland (NTS). NTS members will therefore no longer receive discounted/free entry to the Birthplace Museum.

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