Roger Meyenberg

Are there any plans to publish the Journals?

Not in the letters but in the Journals quite often. They always accompanied the Tyndall to Belalp as servants. There is a amusing episode when Annie got lost at the train station in Paris. Luckily they had found her before the train left.

I've identified most of the locals Tyndall had contact with (Klingele, Bammatter, Franz Tichelli, Joseph Imhoff, Anton Walden, Moritz Salzmann etc.). There are two of his English servants - Rebecca and Annie - mentioned in the Journals. Do we know more about them?

Yes, I've heard of him. However, my focus is not so much Tyndall's mountaineering (that ground has been covered many times) but rather his activities at Belalp (his writing and experiments) and interaction with the locals.

Sorry I had to chop that up. Apparently Bluesky does not allow longer messages.

I currently work on book that would focus on Belalp as an essential centre in the lives of both John and Louisa Tyndall. Other than Roland I don’t have many contacts in the Tyndall community. There’s Erin but I only sent her the letters I edited for the project. So I'm glad I got in touch with you.

I still remember how excited Roland was and we last corresponded just before Christmas. You can imagine my shock when I heard of his death in January. It still hasn't really sunk in yet.

I also discovered two new letters Tyndall wrote to Bennen in 1861. The owner is an elderly lady whose father was Bennen’s nephew.

Since 2014 I have been on and off in contact originally with Jamie Elwick and then more regularly with Roland Jackson over some Tyndall letters, especially the ones relating more specifically to Belalp and the people in that area. I basically helped with the transcription and annotation.

Have you been there? I live fairly close by and should you ever be in the area, let me know.
I contacted you via Facebook messenger but maybe you haven't seen it.

Yes, the ‘Alp Lusgen’ chalet is the one on the right (with the four chimneys). Further down is the Anglican chapel on the left, completed in 1884, and the hotel on the right.

Thanks for the clarification.

In July 1866 the weather in the Alps was so bad that Tyndall, together with Arthur Girdlestone, ventured over the Simplon to visit the Italian lakes (Hours of Exercise, 263ff). Is the letter signed by Girdlestone? The handwriting looks like Tyndall's.

That's what I thought too.

Is this by John Tyndall?

John Tyndall (1820-93) found them "very useful".

John Tyndall (1820-93) found them "very useful".

“… in recognition of it's [sic!] … tattoo shops” — Seriously?