Townley Archive

Acquisition at auction of the Townley Archive which consists primarily of the papers of Charles Townley (1737-1805), antiquarian, trustee and benefactor of the British Museum. This archive original formed part of the Townley family archive but was separated and subsequently purchased by the British Museum in 1992. This archive of over 5,000 documents includes records of Charles Townley's antiquities collection bequeathed to the Museum, annotated sale catalogues and inventories of this London residence, travel diaries compiled during his tour of France and Italy, financial records, correspondence with a wide range of distinguished personalities, together with papers created after his death and by other family members.