Frank Cundall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frank Cundall OBE FSA FRHS
Frank Cundall
Born	(1858-01-17)17 January 1858 London, England
Died	15 November 1937(1937-11-15) (aged 79)
Occupation	Art historian, author, librarian
Known for	Founded the West India Reference Library
Parent(s)	Joseph Cundall

Frank Cundall (born January 17, 1858 – died November 15, 1937) was an English expert on art, a writer, and an editor. He was the son of Joseph Cundall, a famous writer and publisher. Frank Cundall helped organize big international exhibitions in London during the 1880s. He also helped create a catalog for the art library at the South Kensington Museum, which is now the Victoria and Albert Museum.

In 1891, Frank Cundall moved to Kingston, Jamaica. There, he became the secretary and librarian for the Institute of Jamaica. He wrote many books and articles about Jamaica's history. In 1894, he started the West India Reference Library. This library later became the main part of the National Library of Jamaica when it was created in 1979.

Frank Cundall's Early Life

Frank Cundall was born in London, England, on January 17, 1858. His father was Joseph Cundall, a well-known writer, photographer, and publisher. His mother's name was Sarah.

Frank went to private schools when he was young. After that, he was accepted into King's College London. He left the college in 1875.

Frank Cundall got married two times. He had a son and a daughter. His son, Joseph Leslie Cundall, later became the Attorney General of Jamaica. His daughter, Frances, married Guy Weihen, who worked at Munro College in Jamaica.

Frank Cundall's Early Career

From 1876 to 1882, Cundall worked as an assistant editor. He helped with a new version of Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers. At the same time, from 1877 to 1890, he worked with his father. They were joint editors for a series of 38 books called Illustrated Biographies of the Great Artists. From 1879 to 1885, he also wrote for The Great Historic Galleries of England.

Frank Cundall's father, Joseph, knew Henry Cole. Henry Cole was the first director of the South Kensington Museum. This museum is now known as the Victoria and Albert Museum. Because of this connection, Frank Cundall worked there from 1880 to 1882. He helped create a catalog for the National Art Library.

Cundall also helped with several large exhibitions. In 1883, he was an assistant secretary for the International Fisheries Exhibition. In 1884, he helped with the International Health Exhibition. In 1885, he worked on the International Inventions Exhibition. He also helped edit the catalogs and handbooks for these events. His father had been involved in the 1862 International Exhibition. In 1886, Frank Cundall edited a report for the Colonial and Indian Exhibition. In 1889, he prepared the catalog and awards for the British part of the Paris Exposition Universelle. In 1890, he created the catalog and guide for the Royal Military Exhibition.

Frank Cundall's Work in Jamaica

In 1890, Frank Cundall was chosen to be the secretary and librarian for the Institute of Jamaica. Many important people wrote letters to support his application. These included people he had met while working on the exhibitions, like Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen. Cundall arrived in Kingston in February 1891.

He started the West India Reference Library in 1894. This library became the main part of the National Library of Jamaica when it was created in 1979. Cundall used his knowledge of art and exhibitions to create an art gallery at the Institute. In 1914, he published a catalog of the portraits in this gallery.

Frank Cundall wrote many books about the history of Jamaica. He also created important lists of books about Jamaica and the wider West Indies. From 1907, he was a joint editor of the Handbook of Jamaica. He became the only editor from 1920. He planned to write a big history of Jamaica's governors. However, only the first two volumes were published before he passed away.

Awards and Later Life

Frank Cundall received an award called the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1929. He was also a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA). This means he was recognized for his knowledge of old things and history. He was also a fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHS), which is for people who are experts in history.

Frank Cundall died on November 15, 1937.

Frank Cundall's Publications

Here are some of the books and articles Frank Cundall wrote or helped with:

1880s

• Reminiscences of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition (1886). (He was the editor).
• D'Anvers, N. The Student's Handbook of Art; An Elementary History of Art. Painting. (1889). (He revised and added to this book).

1890s

• The Landscape and Pastoral Painters of Holland: Ruisdael Hobbema Cuijp Potter (1891).
• The Story of the Life of Columbus and the Discovery of Jamaica (1894).
• Jamaica in 1895; A Handbook of Information for Intending Settlers and Others (He wrote several versions of this book, with slightly different titles, up to 1928).
• Jamaica Cartography: Chronological List of the Maps of Jamaica in the Library of the Institute of Jamaica &c. (1897).

1900s

• Studies in Jamaica History (1900).
• Bibliographia Jamaicensis; A list of Jamaica books and pamphlets, magazine articles, newspapers, and maps, most of which are in the library of the Institute of Jamaica. (1902, with a supplement in 1908).
• Biographical Annals of Jamaica: A brief history of the colony, arranged as a guide to the Jamaica portrait gallery: with chronological outlines of Jamaica history. (1904).
• A Brief Guide to an Exhibition of Maps of the Sixteenth Century Illustrative of the Discovery of America (1906).
• Political and Social Disturbances in the West Indies. A brief account and bibliography (1906).
• Lady Nugent's Journal: Jamaica One Hundred Years Ago. (1907). (He was the editor).
• Bibliography of the West Indies (Excluding Jamaica). (1909).
• Jamaica Place-names (1909).

1910s

• Catalogue of the Portraits in the Jamaica History Gallery of the Institute of Jamaica (1914).
• Historic Jamaica. (1915).
• The Press and Printers of Jamaica Prior to 1820 (1916).
• "The Migration from Surinam to Jamaica", Timehri: The Journal of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society of British Guiana (1919).

1920s

• The Life of Enos Nuttall, Archbishop of the West Indies (1922).
• Jamaica's Part in the Great War 1914-1918 (1925).
• "Tortoiseshell Carving in Jamaica", The Connoisseur (1925).
• Chronological Outlines of Jamaica History 1492–1926 (1927).
• "The Taxing of the Jews in Jamaica in The Seventeenth Century", Publications of the American Jewish Historical Society (1928).
• A Brief account of King's House, Spanish Town, Jamaica (1929).

1930s

• A Brief History of the Parish Church of St. Andrew Jamaica (1931).
• "A Supplementary Bibliography of Richard Hill", The American Book Collector (1933).
• A History of Printing in Jamaica from 1717 to 1834. (1935).
• The Governors of Jamaica in the Seventeenth Century (1936).
• The Governors of Jamaica in the First Half of the Eighteenth Century (1937).