Meteorological observations taken at Lewes, Delaware. "The same instrument from which the book was taken, is at No. 94. South Third street Philadelphia."

Detailed notes from Alexander Wilson's "American ornithology," including item numbers from Peale's museum. Also two loose pages in vol. 1 attributed to John Abbot; Case for 2 volumes says "George Ord -- Birds of North America. Original manuscript."

This volume begins with lecture number 23 (1826 December 13) and ends with number 59 (1827 February 21) of Silliman's lectures at Yale College.

This volume contains "solutions of the practical problems in [John] Gummere's astronomy."

This item, by an unknown author, presents an astronomical sketch of eclipses, some of which could be seen from Philadelphia and Canton, China.

A member of a family of early 19th century artists and instrument makers that included Cornelius, John, and William Fleetwood Varley, Cromwell J. Varley shared in the family interests in astronomy. The Journal of Astronomical Observations includes brief notes on telescopic observations of comets, stars, and planets conducted by Cromwell J. Varley between 1845 and 1858, accompanied by twenty ink and watercolor sketches.

These volumes contain calculations and drawings of an eclipse of the sun, 24 June 1778, and of the moon, 29 May 1779, adjusted to the meridian of Philadelphia. There is also an incomplete duplicate of the calculations for the sun, and a duplicate of the calculations for the moon. An apparently personal reference in the text suggests that Freehauff was a native of Germany.

Charles Morton's "System of Physicks" was among the most important texts in natural philosophy in early America, used to teach science and the scientific method to students at both Harvard and Yale from the late 1680s through the 1720s. This fair copy was probably transcribed at one of those institutions in about 1700, and is a fairly complete accounting of Morton's best known work.

This volume, written by an unknown author, describes general principles of physics, with numerous sketches illustrating the text. There are a few notations in Spanish by Juan Bastolleros.

During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the American Philosophical Society regularly received letters, and occasionally full blown manuscripts, from members of the public regarding their ideas on science or technology. In 1829, Edward Mulhern of Philadelphia submitted a manuscript on terrestrial magnetism that he felt had implications for navigation. Little is known about Mulhern other than that he died before 1833. Mulhern's "Dissertation on the doctrine and principles of magnetism &" is an attempt to work through some fundamental issues in terrestrial magnetism, including the relative orientation and positions of the geographic and magnetic poles, with an eye toward their impact on navigation. The APS Minutes for April 15, 1833, read: "An application from Alex Mulhern to have returned to him a paper on the 'doctrine of Magnetism' laid before the society by his deceased father, was received and the Librarian was directed to return the same.'"

This essay discusses Priestley's experiments concerning phlogiston, also called "the principle of inflammability," which was once thought to be a volatile substance that was part of all combustible matter and was released as flame in combustion.

A. Sager's brief notes provide an outline for a course of chemistry lectures, ca.1810. The notes, in Swedish, include sections on electricity and phlogiston.

Bound with this is: Union Canal Company. Report of the President and Managers to the stockholders ... 1813-1814 -- New York. Citizens. Memorial ... in favor of a canal navigation ... -- New Jersey. Legislature. Report of the Commissioners ... for ... a canal ... -- New York (State). Legislature. Report ... on the subject of the canals, from Lake Erie to the Hudson River ... -- New York (State). Canal Commissioners. Report ... on the canals from Lake Erie to the Hudson River ... -- Granger, Gideon. Speech ... on the subject of a canal from Lake Erie to Hudson's River ... -- New York (State). Laws of the state of New York, respecting navigable communications ... -- Considerations on the Great Western Canal ... -- Say, Jean Baptiste. Des Canaux de navigation ... -- Stevens, John. Documents tending to prove the superior advantages of rail-ways ... -- Annesley, William. A description of [his] new system of naval architecture ...

These are copies of letters, chiefly relating to the American Philosophical Society, from Peter S. Du Ponceau, John Vaughan, and James Mease. There are a few original letters, one to Benjamin Franklin Peale.

These items contain observations made at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The entries for January 1860-September 1865 are duplicates. One series was made under the direction of the Smithsonian Institution and is on the printed forms supplied by that institution. With this are: 2 memoranda by Michael, undated; 2 broadsides, Pennsylvania College of Gettysburg. Order of exercises; April 15, 1851; and Smithsonian institution. Registry of periodical phenomena...

One chart is addressed to Benjamin Franklin, "président de l'Etat de Pennsylvanie et président de la société phylosophique...1789." All or most of the material was sent to Thomas Jefferson as president of the United States and of the American Philosophical Society. Contains also an English translation of the above Observations... Contains also copies made by M. Legaux of tables 2-5.

This journal was kept on a voyage from the Downs to the Capes of Delaware on board the ship Three Sisters, 26 June-20 August, 1803. The volume includes "Observations on the storm glass," made on the same voyage. The storm glass, with an explanation of its use, and the journal of observations are at the American Philosophical Society.

These classroom notes, taken by an unidentified student, present the state of knowledge in natural philosophy, especially astronomy, during these years. There are mentions of many contemporary scientists, and much on Newton and Newtonian philosophy.