49.207.210.51 at 10:41, 29 March 2022

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[[File:F.O. Oertel in Bagan (Burma).jpg|thumbnail|right|F.O. Oertel in Bagan (1892)]]
'''Friedrich Oscar Oertel''' (December 9, 1862 – February 22, 1942) was a German-born engineer, architect, and archaeologist. He is best known among Indian art historians and archaeologists for having excavated the archaeological site of [[Sarnath]] (India, Uttar Pradesh) in the winter of 1904–1905. It was here that in March 1905 he unearthed the [[Lion Capital of Ashoka]] of an [[Ashokan pillar]], which was to become the national [[emblem of India]]. However, probably because he was mainly involved as a civil engineer and architect in the [[Public Works Department]], his contributions to the fields of art history and archaeology are largely overlooked in the historiography of South Asian art and archaeology.

== Life ==

[[File:Oscar and Margaret Lechmere-Oertel, 25 July 1903.jpg|thumbnail|F.O. Oertel & his wife Margaret H. Lechmere, 25 July 1903]]
Friedrich [Frederick] Oscar Emanuel Oertel was born 9 December 1862 in [[Hannover]], Germany.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oertel-Jaeger Family Website|url=http://www.jaeger-oberursel.de/6801.html|access-date=24 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130919034559/http://jaeger-oberursel.de/6801.html|archive-date=19 September 2013|df=dmy-all}} The author of this page is thankful to Rolf Jaeger for having put to her disposal photos and letters from F.O. Oertel.</ref> He renounced his German citizenship before leaving for India as a young man and was naturalised British.<ref>http://yourdemocracy.newstatesman.com/parliament/war/HAN2250178 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927014150/http://yourdemocracy.newstatesman.com/parliament/war/HAN2250178 |date=27 September 2013 }}; http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1916/nov/15/public-works-department#S5CV0087P0_19161115_HOC_9 | Retrieved 10 July 2013.</ref> He married Margaret Haywood Lechmere (1882–1969) on 25 July 1903<ref>http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=rossbus&id=I36381 (retrieved 24 June 2013). See {{cite web |url=http://www.jaeger-oberursel.de/6801.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-04-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130919034559/http://jaeger-oberursel.de/6801.html |archive-date=19 September 2013 |df=dmy-all }} for Margaret Lechmere-Oertel date of death.</ref> with whom he had two children. Retiring around 1920, he returned to England and from 1921 added the name of his wife to his own,<ref>As would appear from the "List of members of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland" published in 1921 and the following years.</ref> thus publishing under the name of "F.O. Lechmere-Oertel". He died in [[New York (state)|New York]] on 22 February 1942.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ancestry.co.uk/cs/uk/probate.|title = Wills, probate & tax records}}</ref><ref>Confusion about his date of death is noted to this day: the Directory of British architects has him die in 1921 (''Directory'', vol. 2, pp. 27–28, with further references to 1921 publications), an evident misinterpretation probably caused by his retirement and his return to Europe. The date of 1931 is given without any further reference by Guha 2010, p. 249 (probably in that year he made a major donation to the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge). Mention of his decease, without any precise date being given, is made in the ''Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland'', October 1944, p. 213.</ref>

== India: 1883-1920 ==

Oertel left Germany for India where he studied at the [[Thomason College of Civil Engineering]] (now [[Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee]]).<ref>''The India List'' 1905, pp. 579–580.</ref> From March 1883 to March 1887 he was assistant engineer on railway and building construction for Indian Public Board, being posted to the [[North-Western Provinces]] and [[Oudh]]<ref>''Directory'' 2001, p. 27; ''The India List'' 1905, p. 580.</ref> before returning in 1887–1888 to England where he studied architecture under [[Richard Phené Spiers]].<ref>Oertel 1913, p. 378.</ref> On his way back to Europe he was nearly killed on 17 April 1887 when the [[P&O Tasmania]] ([[:de:Tasmania (1884)|de]]) which he had boarded and which was sailing from [[Bombay]] (today Mumbai) to [[Marseille]] sunk on the south-western coast of [[Corsica]].<ref>''The Times of Malta'' 16 December 1936, p. 10.</ref>

[[File:AshokaLions.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Lion Capital of Ashoka]] on the ground at Sarnath, before 1911, probably 1904-05]]
Oertel then started upon a brilliant career in the Public Works Department, being first sent on diverse missions and then appointed in various locations. Sent by the Government of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, in the winter of 1891–92 he surveyed the monuments and archaeological sites in North and Central India before reaching [[Rangoon]] in March 1892.<ref>Oertel 1893, p. (1).</ref> Then, and in the following month, Oertel visited [[Mandalay]], [[Amarapura]] and [[Sagaing]] from where he travelled down the [[Irrawaddy river|Irrawaddy]] to [[Bagan|Pagan]] and [[Prome]] (today Pyay). Back in Rangoon, he travelled South to [[Pegu]] (today Bago), [[Moulmein]] (today Mawlamyaing), [[Martaban]] (Mottama) and [[Thaton]]. On his return, he wrote a lengthy report illustrated with original photos which was published the following year.<ref>Oertel 1893.</ref> The photos which he took during this journey also illustrated George W. Bird's book ''Wanderings in Burma'', published a few years later, along with photos by [[Felice Beato]].<ref>Bird's book is illustrated with photos by F.O. Oertel and Felice Beato. Some 28 photos are by Oertel.</ref>

In 1900 he was sent to Sri Lanka by the [[Royal Asiatic Society]] to visit the [[Abhayagiri vihāra|Abhayagiri dagoba]] and make suggestions on the best way to preserve or restore it.<ref>"Some Interesting Experiences", p. 9; ''Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland'', July 1905, p. 598. As a result of this survey, Oertel wrote a report (Oertel 1903).</ref>
As Executive Engineer in the "Buildings and Roads" branch of the Public Works Department, North-West Provinces and Oudh,<ref>Oertel 1913, p. 378.</ref> as from 1902, and as Superintending Engineer from 1908,<ref>''The India List'' 1902, p. 60; his promotion can be deduced from the "List of Members of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great-Britain and Ireland" for 1908.</ref> he was posted in various places of Uttar Pradesh :<ref>From what can be inferred from the addresses added to his name in the "List of Members of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great-Britain and Ireland". It is, however, to be noted that these addresses do not necessarily coincide with those given in other sources. For instance, the ''Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft'' for 1908 mentions Cawnpore.</ref> from 1903 to 1907, he was in [[Benares]], in 1908 he was located in [[Lucknow]], and from 1909 to 1915, in [[Cawnpore]]; he was then sent to [[Shillong]], Assam, where he remained up to 1920.<ref>Following the references in the India directories for these years, the following locations are found: 1897 Naini Tal, 1898-1899 Saharanpur, 1902-1905 Benares, 1906-1907 Agra, 1908-1909 Lucknow, 1910-1914 Allahabad. According to Margaret's writings, Oertel retired in 1918 after which they stayed on in India, but not in Assam. They spent a lot of time trekking in Kashmir. Bodleian: Ms. Eng. let. d. 481</ref> Throughout this period he was also involved in supervising or participating in the construction of numerous buildings in Uttar Pradesh (Allahabad; Agra; Lucknow; Cawnpore).<ref>Oertel 1913, p. 380.</ref> This firsthand experience helped him to formulate his opinion concerning the construction of the new capital at [[New Delhi]], which he made public with a lecture delivered before the East India Association at [[Caxton Hall]], Westminster, on 21 July 1913.<ref>Oertel 1913.</ref> Here he strongly urged that the architects of New Delhi should be inspired with a "really national Indian style".<ref>Oertel 1913, p. 384 also quoted by Metcalf 1989, p. 216 (see pp. 215–217).</ref>

He was a member of various associations: the [[Institution of Civil Engineers]] (1889),<ref>Civil Engineer Records: {{cite web |url=http://home.ancestry.co.uk/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-10-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020063425/http://home.ancestry.co.uk/ |archive-date=20 October 2013 |df=dmy-all }} retrieved 29 July 2013. See the "List of Associate Members of the Institution of Civil Engineers", 1904, p. 192.</ref> the [[Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland]] (1900),<ref>"Notes of the Quarter" 1901, p.621 where the name of his brother also appears as elected member.</ref> and the [[Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft]] (1908);<ref>"Personalnachrichten", p. LVI (he was the 1414th member).</ref> he also became Associate of the [[Royal Institute of British Architects]] in 1888 and Fellow of the same institute in 1901.<ref>''Directory'' 2001, p. 27; ''The R.I.B.A. Kalendar'' 1888–89, p. 68.</ref>
While posted at Benares, Oertel undertook several works, such as the construction of a road leading to Sarnath, construction of a shelter for the sculptures found at Sarnath, transfer of the images kept in the Queen's College to this site, and excavation of the site.<ref>Oertel 1904–1905, p. 63 ; Oertel 1908, p. 277; Vogel 1910, p. 4.</ref> Following his excavations, he was transferred to Agra – [[John Marshall (archaeologist)|John Marshall]], the then General Director of the [[Archaeological Survey of India]], taking over the Sarnath excavations – where he worked on preservation of the Agra Fort in the years 1905–1906; in the year 1909–1910, he surveyed the Rikhian caves in Uttar Pradesh.<ref>Guha 2010, p. 249. Rikhian was then located in the Banda district; it is now in the Chitrakoot district.</ref>

During the Royal Tour of 1905–1906, Oertel guided the Prince and the Princess of Wales (later [[King George V]] and [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]]) around the [[Agra Fort]] on 18 December 1905 and accompanied the Princess on her visit of the Sarnath excavations while the Prince and the Princess were in Benares from 18 to 21 February 1906.<ref>''The Times of Malta'' 19 December 1936, p. 11; ''Tour'' p. xiii. A detailed map of the tour in the Agra fort with written indications by Oertel is preserved in the Cambridge University Library, see http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0115%2FRCMS%2089%2F52%2F1 (last retrieved 15 July 2013). The visit to Sarnath probably took place on 20 February (''Tour'' , p. xxi); a photo depicting the Princess of Wales in front of the Ashoka capital preserved in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle shows her surrounded by some Europeans, one of them – one may reasonably surmise – being Oertel (see http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090426/spectrum/art.htm) (last retrieved 15 June 2013).</ref>
In August 1908, he took part to the Fifteenth International Congress of Orientalists in Copenhagen, where he presented his excavations at Sarnath.<ref>"The Fifteenth International", p. 335.</ref> In 1909, he was still on furlough in Europe where he visited glass factories in England, Germany, and Austria, publishing a short monograph on the topic in 1915, where he advocated that this industry should be developed in India.<ref>Oertel 1915; see also "India's Glass Trade"; http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1915/may/05/glass-industry-india#S5CV0071P0_19150505_HOC_145 (retrieved 10 July 2013).</ref> F.O. Oertel then became Chief Engineer and Secretary to the Public Works Department of the Government of [[Assam]] and this position provoked debate, because Oertel was German by birth and that Germany and England were then at war.<ref>http://yourdemocracy.newstatesman.com/parliament/war/HAN2250178¸ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927014150/http://yourdemocracy.newstatesman.com/parliament/war/HAN2250178 |date=27 September 2013 }} http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1916/nov/15/public-works-department#S5CV0087P0_19161115_HOC_9 ; http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1915/jul/01/assam-public-works-department#S5CV0072P0_19150701_HOC_227 (retrieved 10 July 2013).</ref>

== Contribution to Indian art and archaeology ==

Beside his report on the monuments of Burma published in 1893, Oertel is best known for the excavation of Sarnath done from December 1904 up to April 1905.<ref>Oertel 1908, p. 277.</ref> Not only did he unearth the [[Lion Capital of Ashoka|Maurya capital]] on 15 March<ref>Guha 2010, p. 249.</ref> but he also brought to light numerous major images dating from the 4th up to the 12th century.

Oertel left Sarnath for Agra where another major task awaited him: the restoration of the [[Divan|Diwan-i-Amm]] and [[Jahangiri Mahal]] in the Agra Fort and the reconstruction of the four [[minaret]]s of the south gateway of the [[Tomb of Akbar the Great|Akbar tomb in Sikandra]] in 1905–1906 while also working on the compound of the [[Taj Mahal]],<ref>Nicholls 1906, pp. 17–20. Oertel drew elevations of the Saheli Burj 1 (see Nicholls 1906, plate IV).</ref> all work undertaken under the impetus of [[George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston|Lord Curzon]] as preparation to the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales. While in Agra he also conducted a more detailed study of the Moghol architecture of the city, as can be inferred from the Annual progress report by W.H. Nicholls.

In 1909–1910, Oertel documented the sculptures of [[Yogini]]s at Rikhian (Rikhiyan) in Banda, now Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh<ref>Above note 26; for the photos taken during this short survey, see ''Annual Progress Report…1910'', pp. 23–24 (and http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/indiaofficeselect/JointEnqList.asp?txtPlace=Rikhian&strCat=1); on Rikhiyan, read Dehejia 1986, pp. 118–121. Guha 2010, p. 250 mentions the existence of an unpublished paper on the topic.</ref> and also took an interest in the monuments located at Garhwa in the Allahabad district.<ref>Vogel 1910, pp. 5–6; Guha 2010, p. 250.</ref>

== After India ==
[[File:F.O.Oertel, September 1930.jpg|thumbnail|right|F.O. Oertel, September 1930]]
He apparently returned to the United Kingdom in 1921, having retired from the Public Works Department; till around 1928, he lived in [[Teddington]] naming his house "Sarnath",<ref>Guha 2010, p. 250.</ref> and gave lectures on India.<ref>The slides used in these lectures are preserved in the British Library: http://prodigi.bl.uk/iosm/PhotoShowDescs.asp?CollID=470 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927055527/http://prodigi.bl.uk/iosm/PhotoShowDescs.asp?CollID=470 |date=27 September 2013 }} (last retrieved 24 June 2013).</ref> In 1930, i.e. probably before departing for [[Ethiopia|Abyssinia]],<ref>He still resided in Teddington in 1930 but no longer appeared in the ''Phone Book'' for 1931 (in 1930, his wife was domiciled at another address): see {{cite web |url=http://home.ancestry.co.uk/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-10-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020063425/http://home.ancestry.co.uk/ |archive-date=20 October 2013 |df=dmy-all }} retrieved 29 July 2013.</ref> he donated to the [[Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Cambridge]] numerous artefacts which he had collected as well as a large collection of gelatine photos which he had made while posted in India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://maa.cam.ac.uk/maa/category/collections-2/catalogue/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-02-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221002512/http://maa.cam.ac.uk/maa/category/collections-2/catalogue/ |archive-date=21 February 2015 |df=dmy-all }} (retrieved 15 July 2013).</ref>

Dr. C.W. Martin,<ref>18.5.1839–8.4.1942, see http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/records.aspx?cat=059-lpj7_2353-5199&cid=1-1-1-158#1-1-1-158 (retrieved 25 June 2013); Oertel wrote a paper on him in the ''Times of Malta'', 27 December 1936.</ref> minister to the emperor [[Haile Selassie]], whom he must have met in London, invited him to Abyssinia, where he lived from 1930 to 1932.<ref>''The Times of Malta'' 16 December 1936, pp. 9–10.</ref> In January 1933 he travelled to India where he spent three months with his daughter, showing her the country where he had lived; the journey concluded with a visit to his brother, Charles (Carl) Hermann Oertel, who was barrister-at-law in [[Lahore]]<ref>See {{cite web |url=http://www.jaeger-oberursel.de/6801.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-04-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130919034559/http://jaeger-oberursel.de/6801.html |archive-date=19 September 2013 |df=dmy-all }} for a short biography.</ref> where both Oertel and his daughter stayed one full month before returning to Cyprus, where he settled in July 1933. In the winter of 1935–1936 he travelled to Japan, staying in Nara.<ref>The ''Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland'' gives for address "Nara Hotel, Nara" in 1935 and 1936. This list of travels can also be obtained from the information about Oertel included in the "list of members" published in the successive issues of the ''Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland''.</ref> He then went to South America, probably visiting his daughter Joan, married to a Dr. R.L. Cheverton, whom she had met in Cyprus and who lived in the Falkland Islands.<ref>"Some Interesting Experiences", p. 9; Cheverton in The Times of Malta,20 December 1936, pp. 8–9</ref>
In December 1936 and January 1937, Oertel resided in Malta where a lengthy biographical paper was devoted to him by the ''[[Times of Malta]]'' in its issue of 16 December. While he was there he also delivered a lecture on Abyssinia at the University.<ref>Announcement : "Personal experience in Abyssinia", in: ''Times of Malta'', 31 December 1936, p. 11, 3 January 1937, p. 27, 7 January 1937, p. 11. A detailed summary "Lecture on Abyssinia at University" was published in the same newspaper, 8 January 1937, p. 11.</ref>

He went back to England when his son married in 1938, meeting his wife for the last time before going to Portugal, the West Indies and Kingston, Jamaica and New York, where he arrived in June 1940.<ref>His name is found in the list of passengers of a Pan American flight from Lisbon to New York in June 1940 ({{cite web |url=http://home.ancestry.co.uk/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-10-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020063425/http://home.ancestry.co.uk/ |archive-date=20 October 2013 |df=dmy-all }} retrieved 29 July 2013); he must have travelled to Central America subsequently since his name is found in a list of passengers travelling on the [[USS Mizar (AF-12)|S.S. Quirigua]] from Kingston to New York in the fall of 1940 ({{cite web |url=http://home.ancestry.co.uk/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2013-10-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020063425/http://home.ancestry.co.uk/ |archive-date=20 October 2013 |df=dmy-all }} retrieved 29 July 2013).</ref>

== Bibliography of Oertel's publications (chronological) ==
* ''A Tour in Burma in March and April 1892'', Rangoon: Supt. Of Govt. Printing, Burma, 1893, (reprint:) White Orchid Press, Bangkok, 1995.
* ''Report on the Restoration of Ancient Monuments of Anuradhapura, Ceylon'', Colombo: George Justin Athelstan (GJA) Skeen, 1903. (13 pages), republished in: S. M. Burrows & F.O. Oertel, ''Reports on archaeological work in Anuradhapura and Pollonnaruwa 1886–1903'', Colombo: G.J.A. Skeen, n.d.
* "Excavations at Sarnath", ''Archaeological Survey of India Annual Report for the Year 1904–1905'', pp. 59–104 (with the note on sculptures and inscriptions mainly due to J.Ph. Vogel as mentioned in footnote 1 p. 78). Separately reprinted as: ''Buddhist Ruins of Sarnath near Benares'', Calcutta: Supdt Govt Press, 1908 (1908b).
* Nicholls, W.H., "(1) Conservation of Muhammadan buildings in the United Provinces and Panjab and at Ajmer", ''Annual Progress Report of the Archaeological Surveyor, Northern Circle, for the year ending 31st March 1906'', pp. 17–28. Includes long quotes from Oertel's report on his work at the Fort of Agra.
* "Some remarks on the excavations at Sarnath carried out in the year 1904-5", ''[[The Indian Antiquary]]'', vol. 37, 1908, pp. 277–280. A paper read at the Fifteenth International Congress of Orientalists in Copenhagen, August 1908.
* "Indian architecture and its suitability for modern requirements: a paper read before the East India Association with discussion", ''The Asiatic Quarterly Review, New Series'', vol. II/3 & 4, July–October 1913, pp. 376–406. A paper read at the East India Association at Caxton Hall, Westminster, on July 21, 1913.
* ''Notes on the glass industry in Europe made in the course of some tours through the glassmaking districts of England, Germany and Austria'', Allahabad: Luker, 1915.
* "The Story of an Ethiopian, Azaj Wargneh C. Martin", ''The Times of Malta'', 27 December 1936, pp. 9–10.

== Bibliography ==

* ''Annual Progress report of the Superintendent of the Archaeological Survey, Northern Circle for the year ending 31st March 1910'', Lahore: Punjab Economical Press.
* Bird, George W., ''Wanderings in Burma, With Illustrations and Maps'', Bournemouth/London: F.J. Bright & Son/Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Ltd., 1897.
* Cheverton, R.L. (Mrs), "From Friedrichshafen to Rio de Janeiro, A Trip By The 'Graf Zeppelin'", ''The Times of Malta'',20 December 1936, pp. 8–9.
* Dehejia, Vidya, ''Yogini Cult and Temples, A Tantric Tradition'', New Delhi: National Museum, Janpath, 1986.
* ''Directory of British Architects 1834–1914'', volume 2: L-Z, London: Continuum (Royal Institute of British Architects), 2001, pp. 27–28.
* "India's Glass Trade", ''The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Adviser'', 14 June 1915, p. 7 (https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/singfreepressb19150614-1.2.46.aspx).
* Guha, Sudeshna (ed.) 2010, ''The Marshall Albums, Photography and Archaeology'', London/New Delhi/Ocean Township, NJ: The Alkazi Collection of Photography in association with Mapin Publishing, 2010.
* ''List of Associate Members of the Institution of Civil Engineers'', London: Institution of Civil Engineers, 1904 (https://web.archive.org/web/20131020063425/http://home.ancestry.co.uk/).
* "List of Members of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland": included in the 1903 to 1938 issues of ''The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland''.
* Metcalf, Thomas R., ''An imperial vision. Indian architecture and Britain's Raj'', Berkeley: University of California Press, 1989.
* ''National Probate Calendar for 1942'' (http://www.ancestry.co.uk/cs/uk/probate).
* "Notes of the Quarter (April, May, June, 1901)", ''Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland'', July 1901, pp. 619–644.
* "Some Interesting Experiences, Mr. F.O. Lechmere-Oertel", ''Times of Malta'' nr 414, 16 December 1936, pp. 9–10, and "Conducting Royalty Round", ''Times of Malta'', 19 December 1936, p. 11.
* "Suitability of Indian Architecture for the New Delhi", ''The Building News and Engineering Journal'', vol. 105, No 3055, July 25, 1913, p. 106.
* "The Fifteenth International Congress of Orientalists at Copenhagen, August 14–20, 1908", T''he Imperial and Asiatic Quarterly Review and Oriental and Colonial Record, third series'', volume XXVI, Nos 51 & 52, July–October 1908, Woking: The Oriental Institute, pp. 335–338.
* ''The India List and India Office List for 1902, compiled from official records by direction of the secretary of state for India in council'', London: Harrison and Sons, 1902. (https://archive.org/stream/indialistandind00offigoog#page/n14/mode/2up) (retrieved on 22 July 2013).
* ''The India List and India Office List for 1905, compiled from official records by direction of the secretary of state for India in council 1905'', London: Harrison and Sons, 1905.
* ''The R.I.B.A. Kalendar 1888–89'', London: The Royal Institute of British Architects, 1888 (http://www.theoriginalrecord.com/ retrieved 23 July 2013).
* "Personalnachrichten", ''Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft'', volume 62, 1908, p. LVI.
* ''Tour of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, India, 1905–1906'', Calcutta: Thacker, Spink and Co., n.d.
* Vogel, J.Ph., "Part I. Departmental Notes", ''Annual Progress Report of the Superintendent of the Archaeological Survey, Northern Circle for the Year ending 31st March 1910'', Lahore: Punjab Economical Press, pp. 1–6.

== Documentation ==
* The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology of the University of Cambridge lists some 564 photos and 307 objects donated in 1931 by Oertel (http://maa.cam.ac.uk/maa/).
* 880 lantern slides having belonged to him are preserved since 1967 in the British Library, London (http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/indiaofficeselect/PhotoShowDescs.asp?CollID=470).
* Papers from Margaret Heywood Lechmere-Oertel are kept in the Bodleian Library, Oxford since 1967 (http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/wmss/online/modern/oertel/oertel.html).

== References ==
{{Reflist|24em}}

== External links ==
* http://www.jaeger-oberursel.de/

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oertel, F.O.}}
[[Category:1862 births]]
[[Category:1942 deaths]]
[[Category:Archaeologists from Lower Saxony]]
[[Category:People of British India]]
[[Category:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Archaeology of India]]
[[Category:German emigrants to England]]
[[Category:British archaeologists]]
[[Category:British civil engineers]]
[[Category:Architects from Hanover]]

F. O. Oertel - Revision history

49.207.210.51 at 10:41, 29 March 2022