The Natural History Museum of Pretoria, South Africa, established 1895. Image used under Wikimedia Commons
Now in his 60’s Thomas was not this year engaged on any new geological projects. However, his settled status as an expert in his field and the provision of his display of fossils at Palé resulted in interest and contacts which reached beyond the British Isles. It is often not clear how these international links were established.
On July 6th Thomas received a box of specimens from the ‘Curator of Pretoria’ Mr. Tweddill; ‘magnetic iron ore, semi opal, gold ore, nephrite, staurolite, serpentine, scheelite, mostly from Swaziland. Also fossil gum, garnets, iron pyrites and specimen rocks from De Beer’s mines in Kimberley, also a beautiful stone hatchet made from a variety of jade which took a high polish. Sent via Mr Barr, a friend in the mining business all is specimens labelled with locality and date.’ Import and export conditions obviously didn’t apply at this date. Unfortunately, I have no idea where these specimens may have gone after Thomas’ death.
On Wednesday the 15th July there was a visit from Mrs and Miss Wheelwright, mother and daughter, to see the fossils. …. The young lady is a fair geologist and has been working up the Oolite at Bath, where they live. Miss W. has been reading for Bala birds, but all was new to her. ….. I gave her a few [birds eggs] I had, much to her delight. She is also a good botanist. Throughout the Journals it is interesting to see how many women geologists Thomas encountered, including encouraging the Robertson daughters from Palé Hall in the pursuit. It is encouraging to note that Thomas regarded them with an admirable degree of equality and seriousness, perhaps not always present in some scientific circles of the time.
On Monday the 3rd August Sir Henry asked Thomas to show the fossils to his guests Sir James and Lady Sawyer. Thomas and Sir James discussed at length the South African rock samples recently arrived. Sir James Sawyer (1844-1919) was a prominent Physician, knighted in 1885 for his medical work. He also had interest in agriculture and politics.
On October 31st ‘Lieutenant Vaughan Wynn of Rûg was here; he wished to see the fossils, because he said my name was quoted at the military school when he was going through a course of geology. He was delighted to see the collection and could see the value of it, for he has given the subject matter study.’
On Saturday the 21st. Mr Cope, President of the Liverpool Geological Society gave me a call when passing in the afternoon. Mr Cope is working at the Greenstone and ash rocks of the district; petrology is his chief work, so that he is not much skilled in fossils. He was much pleased to see my collection, and was surprised at the extent of it and the perfection of the specimens.
Meanwhile, the family heard the sad news of the death of Thomas’ brother in law William Pamplin Williams at the end of July, at the early age of 54. In May the whole family were vaccinated against smallpox as there were cases in the village. The vaccination made Thomas ill with severe flu like symptoms and a sore arm slow to heal.
Henry, the eldest son by Thomas’ second marriage received his degree in maths from Aberystwyth and began studies at Jesus College Oxford. In December Thomas received news that Henry rowed for his college and was successful.
Thomas Ruddy (1842-1912) 