American Philosophical Society Archives

APS.Archives

Date: 1743-1990 | Size: 192.25 Linear feet
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Abstract

Founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin, the American Philosophical Society was the first learned society in the United States. For over 250 years, the Society has played an important role in American cultural and intellectual life. Until the mid-nineteenth century, the Society fulfilled the role of a national academy of science, national library and museum, and even patent office. Early members of the Society included Thomas Jefferson, David Rittenhouse, Benjamin Rush, Stephen Peter Du Ponceau, George Washington, and many other figures prominent in American history. The Archives of the American Philosophical Society consists of 192.25 linear feet of material, organized into thirteen record groups dating back to 1743. The Society's archives extensively documents not only the organization's historical development but also its role in American history and the history of science and technology.

Background note

Founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin, the American Philosophical Society was the first learned society in the United States. For over 250 years, the Society has played an important role in American cultural and intellectual life. Until the mid-nineteenth century, the Society fulfiled the role of a national academy of science, national library and museum, and even patent office. Early members in the Society included Thomas Jefferson, David Rittenhouse, Benjamin Rush, Stephen Peter Du Ponceau, George Washington, and many other figures prominent in American history.

The American Philosophical Society originated in the mid-eighteenth century, when it was felt a suitable piece of civilization had been carved into the wilderness to allow the pursuit of matters regarding natural philosophy. "Natural philosophy" at that time referred scientific and technological investigations in the broadest sense. The concept of the Society was based on scholarly societies in Europe, such as the Royal Society of London. The membership was comprised of doctors, lawyers, clergymen, artisans, tradesmen, and merchants with an interest in science. By improving methods of agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation the Society hoped to encourage America's economic independence. The Society's place among other international scholarly societies was secured in the 1760s when David Rittenhouse plotted the transit of Venus on a platform behind Independence Hall using one of his telescopes and publishing his findings in the first volume of the Society's Transactions. After a brief lapse during the American Revolution, the Society continued to elect members and became an active participant in the development of the young nation.

During the nineteenth century the Society began to collect important documents of the Colonial and Revolutionary periods under the direction of the Literary and Manuscript Committee. As the Society's membership grew and diversified, so did the Society's interests. Many members in the early 1800s (such as Jefferson, DuPonceau and Benjamin Smith Barton) were interested in the origins and ethnography of Native Americans. The Society's growing Library therefore became a repository for documents on Native American linguistics and ethnography. Based on their vast scientific knowledge, members of the Society were asked to serve as scientific advisors to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the U.S. Exploring Expedition (or Wilkes Expedition), and the Stephen Long Expedition. The Society also encouraged advances in science and technology through its awarding of the Magellanic Premium. In 1838 the Society increased its publications to include the Proceedings. During the latter half of the century, the Society's primary interests were in the fields of American paleontology, geology, astronomical and meteorological observations, and Indian ethnology.

The twentieth century's advances in transportation and communication brought a new vigor to the Society as members from outside the Philadelphia region played an increasingly active role in the Society's administration. The Society continued to support advancements in "useful knowledge," which grew to include the humanities and social sciences, through its publications and new grant program. During World War II the Society broadcast weekly radio programs on science to Europe. The Society also grew physically. During the second half of the twentieth century Library Hall was constricted to house the growing collection of manuscripts and printed material, and the purchase and renovations of Franklin Hall and Richardson Hall provided a state-of-the-art meeting facility and additional space for staff and collections. Through its annual meetings, grant programs, publications, and Library the Society continues to encourage the discussion and advancement of "useful knowledge."

Scope and content

The Archives of the American Philosophical Society consists of 192.25 linear feet of material, organized into thirteen record groups dating back to 1743. The Society's archives extensively documents not only the organization's historical development, but also its role in American history and the history of science and technology. This amassed documentation can be accredited to many of the Society's diligent secretaries who saved the Society's records and the Society's residence in the same building since 1789.

The record groups are organized around specific categories, such as minutes and bylaws (I), Officers (V), and Financial Records (IX). Within each record group, sub-groups have been created around specific types of documentation. Sub-groups can vary in size from 1 volume to 5 linear feet, with the arrangement alternating between chronological and alphabetical. Early records tend to be better cataloged than later records. To date, the archives documents the activities of the Society through the mid-1980s. Records for the late twentieth century to present still reside with the office of origination.

For the most part, the Archives documents the history of the Society and its many activities. The primary areas of interest are the Society's members and their regular meetings. Minutes and By-Laws (I), for example, is comprised of the records of early meetings and rules of the Society through the nineteenth century. Additional information on the membership can be found in Record Group IV - Members. The bulk of this record group contains records about members from the nineteenth century but does flow into the twentieth century. It includes letters of nomination, letters of acceptance, as well as biographical sketches and lists of attendance at meetings. Record Group X - Meetings - relates primarily to planning and programs for twentieth century meetings. The activities of the Society as an organization can be found in the record groups for Officers (V), Committees (VIII), and Financial Records (IX); the Society's activities as a collecting institution are documented in the materials for Curators (VI), and Library (VII).

The Archives of the Society also provides a useful source for historians of science and technology. During the early years of the Society, papers on innovations in agriculture, technology, and science were presented at the meetings. Communications (III.1) consists of letters and papers on a variety of topics sent to the APS between the 1770s and 1830s. Many of the papers were read at meetings of the Society, some were published in Transactions, and others were submitted for consideration for the premiums offered by the APS. The letters and papers are on topics such as natural history, mechanics, machinery, and engineering, to name a few. Additionally, Record Group II - "Archives" - provides insight into the Society's activities in promoting scientific expeditions and contact with sister institutions. For example, in the correspondence for the 1836 period can be found reports from certain members of the Society to the Secretary of the Navy in preparation for the United States Exploring Expedition for 1838-1842. Material from Committees (VIII.4, 5, 23, 26, 27 & 34) and Miscellaneous (XI 3 & 4) also relate to the history of science and technology.

Record Group I. Minutes and By-Laws 1758-1971 7 ln. ft.
Record Group II. "Archives" 1743-1984 28 ln. ft.
Record Group III. Communications 1748-1837 4 ln. ft.
Record Group IV. Members 1743-1973 15.25 ln. ft.
Record Group V. Officers 1769-1978 43 ln. ft.
Record Group VI. Curators 1769-1978 2.75 ln. ft.
Record Group VII. Library 1798-1977 48.75 ln. ft.
Record Group VIII. Committees 1793-1977 27.25 ln. ft.
Record Group IX. Financial Records 1866-1957 4.75 ln. ft.
Record Group X. Meetings 1901-1980 .75 ln. ft.
Record Group XI. Miscellaneous 1794-1963 6 ln. ft.
Record Group XII. History 1840-1945 .25 ln. ft.
Record Group XIII. Wistar Association 1818-1968 4.5 ln. ft.

Digital objects note

This collection contains digital materials that are available in the APS Digital Library. Links to these materials are provided with context in the inventory of this finding aid. A general listing of digital objects may also be found here.

Collection Information

Provenance

All records originated from the American Philosophical Society.

Preferred citation

Cite as: Archives, American Philosophical Society.

Processing information

Initially organized and described by Whitfield J. Bell, Jr., and Murphy D. Smith, with additional entries made by J. Stephen Catlett, and Robert S. Cox. EAD mark up by J.J. Ahern.

Other finding aids

The material in the American Philosophical Society Archive is referenced in the majority of subject guides which the Library has produced over the years. These subject guides can be accessed online at Published Guides to APS Collections.The initial guides to the Archive were published in:

Bell, Whitfield J., Jr. and Murphy D. Smith. Guide to the Archives and Manuscript Collections of the American Philosophical Society. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1966. Call No. 016.091 Am3g

Bell, Whitfield J., Jr. Catalog of Manuscripts in the American Philosophical Society Library, including the Archival Shelflist. Westport, CT: Greenwood Pub. Corp., 1970. Call No. 017Am4cm Vol. 1-10

Catlett, J. Stephen, ed. A New Guide to the Collections of the American Philosophical Society. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1987. Call No. 506.73 Am4me vol. 66s

Related material

In addition to the Archives, there are a number of manuscript collections that document the activities and history of the Society. The Library houses the papers of a number of members who were active in the Society, these include the Benjamin Smith Barton Papers (B B284), Albert Francis Blakeslee Papers (B B585), Henry Grier Bryant Papers (Ms. Coll. 38), Walter Bradford Cannon Papers (B C163.1), Hans Thacher Clarke Papers (B C55), Henry Herbert Donaldson Diaries and Papers (B D713; D713m; D713p), George William Featherstonhaugh Papers (B F31), John Fries Frazer Papers (B F865), Ebenezer Hazard Papers (B H338), John Frederick Lewis Papers (B L585), Francois Andre Michaux Papers (B M58.1), Robert Cushman Murphy Papers (B M957), George Ord Letters (B Or2), Joseph Priestley Papers (B P931), William Jacob Robbins (B R538), George Gaylord Simpson Papers (Ms. Coll. 31), and Elihu Thomson Papers (Ms. Coll. 74). Additionally, a few of the Society's officers have deposited their papers in the Library: George Washington Corner, III Papers (Ms. Coll. 11), William Ezra Lingelbach Papers(B L635), and Richard Harrison Shryock Papers (B Sh86). Material relating to the Society's Historical and Literary Committee can be found in the Peter Stephen Du Ponceau Papers (B D92p), as Du Ponceau was a driving force behind the committee's development of Native American linguistic material. The activities of the Society are also documented in the Jane Aitken Papers (B Ai9) - which were origninally part of the Archives (see II "Archives"), the John Fishbourne Mifflin Receipt Book (B M585), Samuel Rush's "Occasional Glimpses at the World, 1824" (B R895.o) - in which he comments on the Society and the Wistar Association, and in the Kane Miscellaneous Collection (B K13).

Three other items that might be of interest include Alexander Graham Bell's address on "Aerial Locomotion" which was delivered before the Society on May 7, 1909 (533.6 B41a); James Bryce's personal reminiscences of Charles Darwin and of the reception of the Origin of Species given before the APS on April 23, 1909 (B D25b); and Randolph Shipley Klein's 1965 master's thesis from Brown University, "The American Philosophical Society and the American Revolution" (506.73 Am4xk).

Bibliography

Bell, Whitfield J. Patriot-Improvers: Members of the American Philosophical Society, Volume One: 1743-1768. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1997. Call. No. 506.73 Am4me v.226

Bell, Whitfield J. Patriot-Improvers: Members of the American Philosophical Society, Volume Two: 1768. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1999. Call. No. 506.73 Am4me v.227

Carter, Edward Carlos II."One Grand Pursuit" : A Brief History of the American Philosophical Society's First 250 Years, 1743-1993 Philadelphia : American Philosophical Society, 1993. Call. No. 506.73 Am4xc

Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen. An Historical Account of the Origin and Formation of the American Philosophical Society. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1914. Call. No. 506.73 Am43

Smith, Murphy D. Oak from an Acorn: A History of the American Philosophical Society Library, 1770-1803. Wilmington, DE.: Scholarly Resources, Inc., 1976. Call. No. 506.73 Am4xsm

Vaughan, John. "An Account of the American Philosophical Society (1841)." Philadelphia: Friends of the Library, American Philosophical Society, 1972. Call. No. 506.73 Am4x no. 41

Additional information on the history and activities of the Society can be found in its publications: Proceedings, Transactions, and Year Book.

Naval History Note

Naval historians may find the following items of interest:

Barron, James, 1769-1851.
  1. Barron, James. Concerning the ventilation of ships to prevent the rotting of timbers. 1825 January 7. Manuscript. 5 pages.
  2. Barron, James. Letter to James Mease. 1825 April 11. Sends to the American Philosophical Society a model of Charles D. Brodie's plan for repairing ships under the surface of the water. 1 page.
Byrd, Richard Evelyn, 1888-1957.
  1. Byrd, Richard Evelyn. Letter to Francis H. Dercum, President of the American Philosophical Society. 1930 July 15. Letter acknowledging election to the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.
  2. Byrd, Richard Evelyn. Letter to American Philosophical Society. 1936 May 10. Expresses appreciation for aid rendered for the second Antarctic Expedition. 1 page.
Du Pont, Samuel Francis, 1803-1865.
  1. Du Pont, Samuel Francis. Letter to Benjamin Gerhard. 1861 November 13. Presents an Atlas of the state of South Carolina by Robert Mills to the American Philosophical Society. 5 pages.
  2. Du Pont, Samuel Francis. Letter to J. P. Lesley. 1862 May 8. Letter acknowledging election to the American Philosophical Society. 2 pages.
Galvin, John.
  1. Galvin, John. An improved capstan for ships of war. 1811 February 15. Manuscript. 1 page.
Humphreys, Joshua, 1751-1838.
  1. Humphreys, Joshua. Letter to David Rittenhouse. 1789 January 3. Concerning the regulation of a pendulum. 2 pages.
  2. Humphreys, Joshua. Letter to Benjamin Franklin. 1789 February 16. Concerning scale beams. 2 pages.
  3. American Philosophical Society. Report of Committee upon the plan of an improvement for a windless, presented by Americanus, Navy Yard. 1796 May 12. Report. 1 page.
  4. American Philsophical Society. Report of the committee to whom was referred a model of a temporary rudder...by Captain William Mugford, of Salem. 1805 February 13. Report. 5 pages.
  5. Fothergill, Anthony. Remarks on Mugford's rudder and the proposed notice of it by the American Philosophical Society. 1805 February 15. Manuscript. 3 pages.
  6. Humphreys, Joshua. Letter to John Vaughan. 1814 March 25. Concerning a circular cylinder pump. 3 pages.
  7. American Philosophical Society. Report of committee on Joshua Humphrey's paper on a pump. 1814 April 15. Report. 1 page.
  8. American Philosophical Society. Report of the committee charged with the consideration of the letter of Robert McWilliam on the dry rot. 1820 May 5. Report. 6 pages.
  9. Humphreys, Joshua. Attitude of George Washington toward the construction of a United States Navy. 1837 December 23. Manuscript. 8 pages.
Humphreys, Samuel, 1778-1846.
  1. Humphreys, Samuel. Letter to W. P. C. Barton. 1822 January 17. Short note accompanying description to the "peacing of ships masts." 1 page.
  2. Humphreys, Samuel. Concerning placing masts in ships. 1822 January 18. Manuscript. 2 pages.
  3. American Philosophical Society. Report of the committee to whom was referred the paper submitted by Mr. Samuel Humphreys on a new principle of placing masts in ships. 1822 March 1. Report. 5 pages.
  4. Humphreys, Samuel. Letter to James Mease. 1825 May 4. Cost of repairing a ship. 1 page.
  5. Barton, William P. C. Letter to the American Philosophical Society. 1825 October 14. Letter on nomination for membership of Samuel Humphreys, "Naval Constructor, in the service of the U. S. Navy Department at the Philadelphia Navy Yard." Filed under "Humphreys, Samuel." 1 page.
  6. Humphreys, Samuel. Letter to George Ord. 1826 January 31. Acknowledges his election to membership in the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.
  7. Humphreys, Samuel. Letter to George Ord. 1842 November 28. Testimonial in favor of Mr. Lenthall. 1 page.
  8. Lenthall, John. Letter to Charles B. Trego, Secretary of the American Philosophical Society. 1853 August 4. Concerning the preparation of an obituary notice for the late Samuel Humphreys. 1 page.
Lenthall, John, 1807-1882.
  1. Lenthall, John. Letter to R. Dunglison. 1843 January 23. Letter acknowledging election to the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.
  2. Lenthall, John. On the launch of the three deck ship Pennsylvania in 1837. 1843 May 27. Manuscript. 8 pages.
  3. Lenthall, John. Letter to Charles B. Trego. 1853 August 4. Concerning obituary for Samuel Humphreys. 1 page.
Longitude.
  1. Byrnes, Daniel. A method proposed which it is apprehended will be an improvement in finding the longitude at sea. 1788 June 19. A method of calculating longitude by lunar observations. 1 item.
  2. Churchman, John. Regarding support for testing theory of magnetism as method of determining longitude. 1789 March 21. Manuscript. 1 item.
  3. Brisbane, James. Letter to Benjamin Franklin. 1789 July 4. How to ascertain the true Longitude of Places East and West of any fixt Meridian. 1 item.
  4. Jourdan, W. Crowley. Concerning ascertaining longitude at sea. 1791 October 6. Concerning ascertaining longitude at sea. 1 item.
  5. Hoskins, Francis. Navigation made easy, or a Mariners complete guide. 1800 May 2. Hoskins presents an idea for a new hourglass-type timepiece and a formula for calculating the longitude without the need for an expensive timepiece. He tested it on a voyage from Philadelphia to Cork, Ireland. The log of this journey is reproduced, and a chart is given as well. Dedicated to Thomas Jefferson, this treatise was submitted to the American Philosophical Society for a Magellanic Premium award in 1800 [see "Minutes," page 299]. It was submitted anonymously, under the name of "Hiram," but a second, almost identical version (dated 1803) was received at the American Philosophical Society with Hoskin's name on it in 1839 [Misc. Ms. Coll.]. 1 volume (15 pages).
  6. Groves, Matthew C. Proposed method of ascertaining longitude. 1802. Manuscript. 1 item.
  7. Anonymous. How to ascertain the longitude. n.d. 1 item.
  8. Laurie, Robert. Some observations concerning longitude. n.d. Some observations concerning longitude. 1 item.
Mahan, A. T. (Alfred Thayer), 1840-1914.
  1. Mahan, A. T. Letter to I. M. Hays. 1897 October 19. Letter acknowledging election to the American Philosophical Society. 2 pages.
Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873.
  1. Maury, Matthew Fontaine. Letter to Charles B. Trego. 1849 December 18. Acknowledging receipt of package. 1 page.
  2. Maury, Matthew Fontaine. Letter to Charles B. Trego. 1852 November 12. Letter acknowledging election to the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.
  3. Maury, Matthew Fontaine. Letter to Secretary of the American Philosophical Society. 1854 October 21. Announcing new asteroid by James Ferguson. 2 pages.
  4. Maury, Matthew Fontaine. Letter to Robley Dunglison. 1860 March 19. Requesting delay of publication of Commodore Wullerstorf's paper. 1 page.
Melville, George W. (George Wallace), 1841-1912.
  1. Melville, George W. Letter to Isaac Minis Hays. 1897 August 30. Cannot attend Nansen meeting, refers to his ship Jeannette. 1 page.
  2. Melville, George W. Letter to Isaac Minis Hays. 1897 October 23. Hoping to attend Nansen meeting. 1 page.
  3. Melville, George W. Letter to Isaac Minis Hays. 1897 October 30. Explaining departure from Nansen meeting, refers to Angelo Heilprin. 1 page.
  4. Melville, George W. Letter to Isaac Minis Hays. 1897 November 4. Sending revised copy of his remarks at Nansen meeting. 1 page.
  5. Heilprin, Angelo. Letter to Isaac Minis Hays. 1898 January 8. Requesting permission for Geographical Society of Philadelphia to reprint George Wallace Melville's talk. 2 pages.
  6. American Philosophical Society. Letter to Angelo Heilprin. 1898 January. Response to Heilprin's letter of January 8, granting permission to reprint George Wallace Melville's talk. 2 pages.
  7. Heilprin, Angelo. Letter to Isaac Minis Hays. 1898 January 19. Thanks for George Wallace Melville's manuscript. 1 page.
Miscellaneous.
  1. A.L.O.T.A. (pseudonym). Letter to David Rittenhouse. 1795 June 19. Includes pen and ink sketches of ships pumps. 1 page.
  2. A.L.O.T.A. (pseudonym). Concerning improvements in ship pumps. 1795 June 19. Manuscript. 5 pages.
  3. Improvement (pseudonym). Description of a ship pump. 1795 June 19. Manuscript. 1 page.
  4. Humphries, James. Description of a model for steering a ship. 1809 March 2. Manuscript. 2 pages.
  5. Voigt, Henry. Concerning steam paddles for boats and mills. 1809 July 21. Includes diagram of paddles. 2 pages.
  6. Patterson, Robert M. Concerning Chapman's steam boat. 1810 July 27. Concerning Chapman's steam boat. 1 page.
  7. Chapman, Isaac A. Letter to the American Philosophical Society. 1820 March 10. Description of a new invented Steam-Boat. With sketch. 2 pages.
Paulding, James Kirke, 1778-1860.
  1. Paulding, James Kirke. Letter to A[lexander] D[allas] Bache. 1839 April 24. Acknowledges election to membership in the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.
  2. Paulding, James Kirke. Letter to Peter S. Du Ponceau. 1839 October 28. Acknowledges receipt of his diploma of membership in the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.
  3. National Institute for the Promotion of Science. Letter to Robley Dunglison, John K. Kane, Franklin Bache and Dallas Bache. 1840 November 6. Forwards constitution of institution to the American Philosophical Society, asks for aid in its establishment and development. 1 page.
Peary, Robert E. (Robert Edwin), 1856-1920.
  1. Peary, Robert E. Letter to Secretary of the American Philosophical Society [Henry Phillips]. 1886 January 18. Asking for article on Greenland. 1 page.
  2. Peary, Robert E. Letter to Secretary of the American Philosophical Society [Henry Phillips]. 1886 February 28. Asking for articles on Arctic subjects which may have appeared in the Society's publications. 1 page.
  3. Heilprin, Angelo. Letter to Isaac Minis Hays. 1897 October. Concerning arrangements for Nansen meeting, refers to Robert Edwin Peary. 4 pages.
  4. Bunce, F. M. Telegram to the American Philosophical Society. 1897 October 20. Gives Robert Edwin Peary's address. 1 page.
  5. Peary, Robert E. Telegram to J. Minis Hayes [sic]. 1897 October 22. Cannot attend the Nansen Meeting. 1 page.
Rodgers, John, 1773-1838.
  1. Rodgers, John. Letter to William Jones, Philadelphia Navy Commander's Office. 1820 January 27. Concerning canvas for sails. 1 page.
United States Exploring Expedition (1838-1842).
  1. Dickerson, Mahlon. Letter to Peter S. Du Ponceau. 1836 August 31. Asks advice as to personnel of scientific corps, and scientific objectives of the United States Exploring Expedition. 1 page.
  2. Chapman, Nathaniel. Letter to the Committee of the American Philosophical Society. 1836 October 17. Report on medicine relating to the United States Exploring Expedition. Enclosed in Committee of the American Philosophical Society to [Mahlon Dickerson]. 1 page.
  3. Committee of the American Philosophical Society. Letter to [Mahlon Dickerson]. 1836 October 17. With regard to the scientific methods and objectives of the United States Exploring Expedition, also known as the Wilkes Expedition. 9 pages.
  4. Committee of the American Philosophical Society. Letter to Mahlon Dickerson. 1836 October 17. Enclosed anonymous list of books recommended for the officers and scientific corps, United States Exploring Expedition. 1 page.
  5. Committee of the American Philosophical Society. Letter to Mahlon Dickerson. 1836 October. Regarding the scientific methods and objectives of the United States Exploring Expedition, also known as the Wilkes Expedition. 32 pages.
  6. Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen. Letter to Committee of the American Philosophical Society. 1836 October 17. Report on ethnography, relating to the United States Exploring Expedition. Enclosed in Committee of A.P.S. to [Mahlon Dickerson]. 1 page.
  7. Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen. Letter to Committee of the American Philosophical Society. 1836 October 17. Report on philology, relating to the United States Exploring Expedition. Enclosed in Committee of A.P.S. to [Mahlon Dickerson]. 6 pages.
  8. Espy, James P. Letter to Committee of the American Philosophical Society. n.d. [submitted 1836 October 17]. Report on meteorology, related to the United States Exploring Expedition. Enclosed in Committee of the American Philosophical Society to [Mahlon Dickerson]. 12 pages.
  9. Patterson, Robert M. Letter to Committee of the American Philosophical Society. n.d. [submitted 1836 October 17]. Report upon astronomical and physical observations, related to the United States Exploring Expedition. 7 pages.
  10. Peale, Titian Ramsay. Letter to Committee of the American Philosophical Society. n.d. [submitted 1836 October 17]. Report on zoology, related to the United States Exploring Expedition. 2 pages.
  11. Pickering, Charles. Letter to Committee of the American Philosophical Society. n.d. [submitted 1836 October 17]. Report upon botany, related to the United States Exploring Expedition. 1 page.
  12. Rogers, Henry D. Letter to Committee of the American Philosophical Society. n.d. [submitted 1836 October 17]. List of works which the geologists will find it useful to take with them. Related to the United States Exploring Expedition. 1 page.
  13. Rogers, Henry D. Letter to Committee of the American Philosophical Society. n.d. [submitted 1836 October 17]. Report upon geology and mineralogy, related to the United States Exploring Expedition. 5 pages.
  14. Dickerson, Mahlon. Letter to Peter S. Du Ponceau. 1836 November 19. Acknowledges receipt of communication upon the South Sea Exploring Expedition (the United States Exploring Expedition). "It will form the basis of the Instructions to the scientific corps..." 1 page.
  15. Coates, Reynell. Letter to Peter S. Du Ponceau. 1837 August 28. Transmits the thanks of the scientific corps of the United States Exploring Expedition for "the completion of the name of books required for the...Expedition." 1 page.
  16. Dickerson, Mahlon. Letter to Peter S. Du Ponceau. 1837 September 11. Returns thanks for report of the 2nd, in regards to the South Sea Exploring Expedition (the United States Exploring Expedition). 1 page.
  17. Warrington, L. Letter to Colonel J. J. Abert. 1841 October 9. Returns thanks for information furnished by John Vaughan concerning charts of the Pacific Ocean in his possession. Related to the United States Exploring Expedition. 1 page.
  18. Peale, Titian Ramsay. Letter to Alexander Dallas Bache and John Ludlow. 1843 May 8. Important part played by the American Philosophical Society regarding the organization of scientific corps of the United States Exploring Expedition. 3 pages.
  19. American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Letter to the Joint Library Committee of Congress. 1846 February 4. Requesting larger edition of scientific reports of the United States Exploring Expedition. 3 pages.
  20. Gray, Asa. Letter to the Secretary of the American Philosophical Society. 1846 February 8. Encloses copy of letter from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences to the joint library committee of Congress asking for the publication of a larger edition of the scientific reports of the United States Exploring Expedition. 2 pages.
  21. New York Historical Society. Letter to the Corresponding Secretary of the American Philosophical Society. 1847 February 26. Letter transmitting resolutions asking Congress to authorize a larger edition of the scientific volumes of the United States Exploring Expedition. 3 pages.
United States. Navy.
  1. Kennedy, John Pendleton. Letter to Robley Dunglison. 1853 January 2. Thanking American Philosophical Society resolutions approving the U.S. Navy Department's scientific exploration, and Dr. Kane's joining of the Arctic expedition. 3 pages.
  2. United States, Department of the Navy. Letter to Boies Penrose. 1899 January 25. Concerning copy of Battles and Capitulation of Santiago de Cuba for the American Philosophical Society Library. 1 page.
  3. United States, Department of the Navy. Letter to Boies Penrose. 1899 September 14. Concerning astronomical documents for the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.
  4. United States, Department of the Navy. Letter to Boies Penrose. 1899 September 20. Sends copy of Stockton's Preparation for War requested for the American Philosophical Society Library. 1 page.
United States Naval Academy.
  1. Chauvenet, William. Letter to Charles B. Trego. 1856 May 28. U.S. Naval Academy librarian inquiring as to the availability of a complete set of the American Philosophical Society Transactions. 1 page.
  2. Chauvenet, William. Letter to Charles B. Trego. 1856 July 10. Ordering a complete set of the American Philosophical Society Transactions for the U.S. Naval Academy Library. 1 page.
  3. Chauvenet, William. Letter to Charles B. Trego. 1856 September 29. Requesting the American Philosophical Society Transactions be sent to the U.S. Naval Academy Library. 1 page.
  4. Doran, Edward. Letter to Charles B. Trego. 1856 October 28. Regarding the U.S. Naval Academy's outstanding account with the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.
United States Naval Observatory.
  1. Gilliss, J. M. Letter to Charles B. Trego. 1861 December 24. Requesting Proceedings and Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. 2 pages.
  2. United States Naval Observatory. Letter to J. P. Lesley. 1862 January 21. Concerning package of books, and American Philosophical Society publications. 1 page.
  3. United States Naval Observatory. Letter to J. P. Lesley. 1862 January 21. Thanking for American Philosophical Society Proceedings and Transactions. 1 page.
  4. Sands, B. F. Letter to President of the American Philosophical Society. 1872 January 30. Concerning material to be presented to Congress to facilitate observation of the transit of Venus. 4 pages.
  5. Graham, James D. Letter to J. P. Lesley. 1872 February 29. Acknowledging receipt of memorial on the American Philosophical Society to Congress on the transit of Venus. 2 pages.
  6. United States Naval Observatory. Letter to J. P. Lesley. 1874 May 30. Forwarding the American Philosophical Society's Proceedings to Admiral Charles Wilkes. Offers pamphlet (lacking). 1 page.
  7. United States Naval Observatory. Letter to the Secretary of the American Philosophical Society. 1876 February 15. Letter to J. P. Lesley concerning the American Philosophical Society's promotion of the Polaris expedition. 2 pages.
  8. United States Naval Observatory. Letter to the Librarian of the American Philosophical Society. 1877 January 31. Forwards publications. 1 page.
  9. United States Naval Observatory. Letter to the American Philosophical Society. 1898 February 7. Cannot supply a publication to the American Philosophical Society Library, refers to hydrographic office, Boies Penrose. 1 page.
  10. United States Naval Observatory. Letter to Isaac Minis Hays. 1899 April 11. Concerning the publications of the U.S. Naval Observatory needed by the American Philsophical Society Library. 1 page.
United States. Naval War Records Office.
  1. United States, Naval War Records Office. Letter to Boies Penrose. 1898 November 9. Concerning copy of "Office Memoranda No. 8. Officers of the Confederate States Navy" requested for the American Philosophical Society Library. 1 page.
Wilkes, Charles, 1798-1877.
  1. Anonymous. List of instruments procured by Lieutenant Wilkes for the Exploring Expedition. 1837. Manuscript. 2 pages.
  2. Wilkes, Charles. Letter to Alexander Dallas Bache and John Ludlow. 1843 May 6. Hopes to attend the American Philosophical Society centennial celebration, but will not have time to prepare a paper on the United States Exploring Expedition. 3 pages.
  3. Peale, Titian Ramsay. Letter to George Ord. 1845 February 11. Inquires as to location of certain rare botanical works. "Captain Wilkes is now in Philadelphia..." 2 pages.
  4. Wilkes, Charles. Letter to George Ord. 1845 May 23. Presents a copy of his Narrative of the Exploring Expedition to the American Philosophical Society. 1 page.
  5. Wilkes, Charles. Letter to the President of the American Philosophical Society. 1857 August 22. Forwarding a publication. 1 page.

African American History Note

The APS archives does not contain a tremendous amount of African American history materials. Nevertheless, the following letter is significant:

Dearborn, Benjamin. Letter to the American Philosophical Society. 1803 February 4. Suggestions on the abolition of slavery.

Early American History Note

The APS Archives contain a wide range of material on early American history.

Indexing Terms


Genre(s)

  • Institutional Records
  • Miscellaneous
  • Native American Materials
  • Pencil works
  • Scientific Correspondence

Personal Name(s)

  • Bache, A. D. (Alexander Dallas), 1806-1867
  • Bache, Franklin, 1792-1864
  • Barton, Benjamin Smith, 1766-1815
  • Bartram, Moses, d. 1791
  • Bell, Whitfield J., Jr., 1914-2009
  • Brown, Samuel, 1768-1805
  • Churchman, John, 1753-1805
  • Conklin, Edwin Grant, 1863-1952
  • Dercum, Francis X. (Francis Xavier), 1856-1931
  • Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen, 1760-1844
  • Du Pont de Nemours, Pierre Samuel, 1739-1817
  • Dunbar, William, 1749-1810
  • Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820
  • Evans , Oliver, 1755-1819
  • Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790
  • Hanson, Laura E.
  • Harlan, Richard, 1796-1843
  • Hassler, F. R. (Ferdinand Rudolph), 1770-1843
  • Hays, I. Minis (Isaac Minis), 1847-1925
  • Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
  • Keen, William W. (William Williams)
  • Latrobe, Benjamin Henry, 1764-1820
  • Legaux, Peter, 1748-1827
  • Lingelbach , William E. (William Ezra), 1871-1962
  • Logan, George, 1753-1821
  • Long, Stephen Harriman, 1784-1864
  • Matlack, Timothy, 1736-1829
  • Morris, Roland Sletor, 1874-19
  • Nicola, Lewis, 1717-1807
  • Page, John, 1744-1808
  • Patterson, Robert M. (Robert Maskell), 1787-1854
  • Patterson, Robert, 1743-1824
  • Poinsett, Joel Roberts, 1779-1851
  • Priestly, Joseph R.
  • Rittenhouse, David, 1732-1796
  • Rumsey, James
  • Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813
  • Say, Thomas, 1787-1834
  • Shryock, Richard Harrison, 1893-1972
  • Silliman, Benjamin, 1779-1864
  • Thornton, William (1759-1828)
  • Varlé, Charles
  • Vaughan, John, 1756-1841
  • Vautravers, Jean-Rodolphe
  • Warden, David Baillie, 1772-18
  • Williamson, Hugh, 1735-1819
  • Wistar, Caspar, 1761-1818
  • Wood, George Bacon, 1797-1879

Subject(s)

  • Abolition, emancipation, freedom
  • African American
  • American Philosophical Society
  • Anishinaabe
  • Astronomy -- 18th century
  • Colonial Politics
  • Early National Politics
  • Education
  • History of science and technology.
  • Indians of North America -- Northwest Coast
  • Native America
  • Natural history
  • Natural history -- 18th century
  • Natural history -- 19th century
  • Ojibwe people
  • Pennsylvania History
  • Philadelphia History
  • Science and technology
  • Slaves, slavery, slave trade
  • United States History.

Collection overview

I Minutes and By-Laws
1758-1971 7 Linear feet

The Archives contains minutes of both the American Society and the American Philosophical Society, which united in 1769 to form the American Philosophical Society, held at Philadelphia, for Promoting Useful Knowledge. The records of the first-named give its title variously as American Society for Promoting and Propagating Useful Knowledge, held at Philadelphia; and American Society held at Philadelphia for Promoting Useful Knowledge. For convenience, it is referred to here as the American Society. In addition, the Archives has minutes of a predecessor of the American Society, which was sometimes called the "Young Junto," but is here identified by the binder's title as the "Junto."

II.1 "Archives"
1743-1988, Undated 28 Linear feet

This record group contains every sort of material relating to the business of the Society, such as drafts of minutes, committee reports, letters of officers and others, memoranda, scientific papers and proposals, orders, receipts, and other material. The papers from 1797-1844 may be of particular interest to scholars of American Indian ethnology, history, and linguistics.

Due to the size of the "Archives" record group, the content has been divided into multiple inventories. Please follow the links below to browse the contents.

APS Archives. Record Group IIa 1743-18061.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IIb 1807-18251.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IIc 1826-18361.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IId 1837-18441.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IIe 1845-18651.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IIf 1866-18861.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IIg 1887-18911.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IIh 1892-18961.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IIi 18971.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IIj 1898-1988, Undated1.0 section

Native American Images note : Four folders containing up to 275 pencil and ink sketches, from 1816-1840, of Cherokee, Choctaw, Adena, and Aztec native culture. Primarily of burial mounds located in Lexington, Kentucky; Grave Creek, West Virginia; and Washington, Mississippi. Of particular note, a printed pictograph of Boturini Codex depicting the Aztec journey from Aztlan to the Valley of Mexico. Also known as Tira de la Peregrinacion, it contains 22 pages in black ink on one sheet folded accordion style. Each folder is noted in APS Freeman Guide to manuscripts relating to the American Indian.

III Communications
1748-1837 4 Linear feet
III.1 Manuscript communications
1748-1837 3.5 Linear feet

A portion of the APS Archives, the Manuscript Communications (III.1) consists of letters and papers on a variety of topics sent to the APS between the 1770s and 1830s. Many of the papers were read at meetings of the Society, some were published in the APS Transactions, and others were submitted for consideration for the premiums offered by the APS for best paper on the topic of education.

Once part of the general APS Archives, the Manuscript Communications were separated at an early date, arranged in chronological order, and bound into volumes under seven topical series:

  1. Mechanics, Machinery, and Engineering
  2. Trade, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Economics
  3. Medicine, Anatomy, Physiology
  4. Natural History
  5. Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics
  6. Natural Philosophy
  7. Mathematics and Astronomy
III.2 Verbal communications
1801-1807 1 volume(s) 34 pp.

Notes of observations, discoveries, publications, and other facts communicated to the Society by members. Among them are reports by Robert Patterson, Benjamin H. Latrobe (on bilious and noxious gas in wells), Caspar Wistar, John Wister (on tree growth), Thomas Gilpin (on placing rafters), Johnathan Williams, and Benjamin S. Barton; also extracts from letters to Barton from Sir Joseph Banks, Peter Curtis, and Richard P. Barton; and extracts from letters from James Winthrop to Francis Nichols, from Thomas Cooper to John Vaughan, and from John Clifford to Caspar Wistar; and also James Wright's description of the Mastodon, copied from Philadelphia Medical and Physical Journal1, (1804): p. 154.

V Officers
1769-1978 43 Linear feet

Contains records for various officers of the Society (president, secretary, executive officer, treasurer, and officers and council). This record group does not contain the records for all the Society's presidents and officers. However, it does provide an account of the operation of the Society to the early twentieth century.

V.1 President
1853-1938 3 Linear feet ; 3 volume(s)
V.2 Secretary
1789-1939 34 Linear feet ; 3 volume(s)
V.3 Executive Office
1936-1997 16 Linear feet
V 3 a Conklin, Edwin Grant, 1863-1952.
Edwin G. Conklin records
1936-1943 8 Linear feet
V 3 b Luther P. Eisenhart records
1942-1959 38 Linear feet
V 3 c William J. Robbins/transitional records
1942-1961 5 Linear feet
V 3 d George W. Corner records
1946-1977 26 Linear feet
V 3 e Whitfield J. Bell, Jr. records
1977-1983 15 Linear feet
V 3 f Herman H. Goldstine records
1984-1997 
V.4 Treasurer
1772-1936 9.5 Linear feet ; 41 volume(s)
V.5 Officers and Council
1804-1926 2 volume(s)
IV Members
1743-1973 15.25 Linear feet

This record group consists of 13 sub-groups which documents the membership of the Society. It contains such items as letters of nomination (IV.2), letters acknowledging election (IV.3), membership rolls (IV.6), membership certificates (IV.11), and a photograph album (IV.12).

IV.1 Membership and Attendance lists
1792-1932 6 volume(s) ; 1 box

Contains the following lists: Lists of members, 1792, 1846, 1874, and undated, 4 vols.; List of surviving members, 1885, 1 vol.; List of resident members, 1842-1886, with record of attendance and payment of dues, 4 vols.; Roll of members present at meetings, 1845-1850, 1929-1942, 7 notebooks, 1 ledger.

IV.2 Nominations for membership
1773-1931 5.5 Linear feet

Arranged alphabetically, principally covering the period after 1815, but with a cap fro the 1891-1898 years. Nominations of persons not subsequently elected are, by Society rule, destroyed (an exception is listed below). By the middle of the nineteenth century, nominations were usually conventionally phrased; after 1888 printed forms were often used. See also the minutes of the Committee on Nominations, 1914-1940 (VIII,29).

IV.3 Letters acknowledging election
1840-1930 5 Linear feet

Mostly formal letters of acceptance, addressed to the secretary, arranged alphabetically. At one time they were arranged chronologically in six volumes.

IV.4 Membership and elections
1897- 2.5 Linear feet

Includes printed forms used to notify the membership of nominees; lists of those elected, etc. (New members are listed each year in the Year Book).

IV.5 Annual elections
ca. 1771-1931 1 box

Ballots, tabulations, certificates of outside judges authenticating the election of members to the Society.

IV.6 Rolls of members
1743-1898 2 volume(s)

One volume, containing the Act of Incorporation and obligations of 1780 on extra pages bound into a copy of APS Transactions, o.s., 1 (1771), has signatures of hundreds of members form Thomas Bond to Emlin Hutchinson in 1898; these pages were reprinted in facsimile in a volume without title, 1896. The second volume, entitled "Laws and Rules of Order of the American Philosophical Society ... followed by a Complete List of Members," prepared by William Fite, and expert calligrapher, 1837, contains similar material and also the name and style of every elected member. After 1837 members (including some elected before that date) signed this roll upon being admitted into the Society. This volume was closed in 1897, when it was superseded by a similar volume, which is still in use. Some members signed both books.

IV.7 Records of deceased members
1837 1 volume(s)

Alphabetical list of members whose dates of death have been ascertained. See the printed lists in Laws and Regulations (1860), p. 25. The record is in John Vaughan's hand.

IV.8 Memoirs of deceased members
1783-1855 1 box

Some of the memoirs, or obituaries, listed below were published in Society publications. Prior to 1838 memoirs or obituaries, when published, were done so on an ad hoc basis. After that date and until 1937 they appeared in the Proceedings, and since 1937 they have been printed in the Year Book . The volume contains the following memoirs:

  1. Frederick Beasley, by George Bacon Wood
  2. Clement C. Biddle, by George Ord
  3. Mathew Carey, by Isaac Lea
  4. Redmond Conyngham, by Alonzo Potter
  5. William H. Dillingham, by Charles B. Trego
  6. Louis Stephen Duhail, by M. Davezac
  7. William Gaston, by William H. Dillingham
  8. John Gummere, by Robert M. Patterson
  9. Justus Heinrich Christian Helmuth, by his son
  10. Joseph Hopkinson, by John Kintzing Kane
  11. Isaac Rand Jackson, by John Kintzing Kane
  12. William Stephen Jacobs, by William E. Horner
  13. Severin Lorich, by F. S. Lorich, with a note by Condy Raguet
  14. William McIlvaine, by George Ord
  15. Christian Mayer, by J. M. Buthe
  16. Joseph Nicholas Nicollet, by John J. Abert
  17. William Peter, by Job R. Tyson
  18. Philip Syng Physick, by William E. Horner
  19. Joseph Priestley, by Joseph Priestly Jr.
  20. Christian Rask, by George B. Depping
  21. Henry Reed, by John F. Frazer
  22. Benjamin Wood Richards, by John Kintzing Kane
  23. John Sanderson, by John Seely Hart
  24. Francisco Borja Caracao Stockler, by José Maria Dantas Pereira
  25. William Strickland by John Kintzing Kane
  26. Lardner Vanuxem, by Isaac Lea
  27. Daniel Webster, by Henry A. Boardman
  28. John Price Wetherill, by John Kintzing Kane
  29. William White, by William Heathcote DeLancey
  30. Caspar Wistar, by José Francesco Corrêa da Serra
IV.9 Autographs of members
ca. 1876-1880 1 volume(s) approximately 65 pages

This scrapbook contains signatures of members, alphabetically arranged, clipped from return postal cards and acknowledgments of the receipt of the Society's publications.

IV.10 Members book
1808-1896 1 volume(s) ca. 702 pp.

This was compiled between the 1840's and 1896, but is includes names of members prior to that date, as well as their date of election, death (a few obituaries are attached), and there are citations of mentions of the individual in the Proceedings.

IV.11 Membership certificates
1786-ca. 60 items

In 1786 the Society for the first time provided members with formal, engraved certificates of election. This is a collection of such certificates, issued to about 60 different members, signed by Benjamin Franklin and other presidents and officers from 1786 to the present time.

IV.12 Photograph Albums
ca. 1880-1900 5 volume(s)

These photographs of members, collected in the late nineteenth century, include some photographs of paintings. A few are autographed. The images are in no order, but each volume is indexed. There is a separate collection of loose photographs of members which is added to on a more consistent basis presently.

IV.13 Biographical Register
ca. 1800-1973 2.5 Linear feet

This register was compiled by Dr. Marion Elderton during the period 1964-1968 and 1970-1974. It includes members elected since 1800 and deceased as of 1968, with a few entries to 1973.

IV.13 APS Member Interviews
  50 item(s) 50 compact discs.
VI Curators
1769-1978 2.75 Linear feet

Documents donations to the Society's cabinet of curiosity, as well as other artifacts.

VII Library
1798-1977 48.75 Linear feet

Consists of 14 sub-groups which document through correspondence, minutes, reports, record books and catalogues the development and routine business of the Society's Library and its collections. Additionally, there are records which relate to the building of Library Hall in the late 1950s.

VII.1 Librarian
1862-1977 81.5 Linear feet ; 1 box
VII.2 Collections
1798-1954 59 volume(s) ; 24.5 Linear feet
VII.3 Library. General correspondence and records
1942-ca. 44 ln. ft.

Files of selected professionals in the Library (e.g. Gertrude D. Hess, Carolyn Milligan) who were involved in administrative duties relating to the operation of the Library, and who had contacts outside of the Library.

VII.4 Library Committee
1897-1967 2 volume(s) ; 2 Linear feet
VII.5 Library Administration
  
Request Series
VII.6 Conservation Department
  
Request Series
VII.7 Manuscript Department
  
Request Series
VII.8 Printed Materials Department
  
Request
VII.9 Building and facilities
  
VII.10 Exhibits
  
Request Series
VII.11 Conferences
  
Request Series
VII.12 Publications
  
Request Series
VII.13 Friends of the Library
  
Request Series
VII.14 Financial Records
  
Request
VII.15 Miscellaneous Records
  6 Linear feet
Request Series
VII.16 Center for Native American and Indigenous Research (CNAIR)
  
VIII Committees
1793-1977 27.25 Linear feet

Consists of 36 sub-groups which document the activities of various committees formed over the Society's history to handle specific topics ranging from finance and grants to the Franklin Bicentenary and the construction of Library Hall.

IX Financial Records
1866-1957 4.75 Linear feet

Documents the Society's efforts from the mid-nineteenth through early twentieth centuries to raise funds in order to construct a new building in Philadelphia.

X Meetings
1901-1980 0.75 Linear feet

Contains records relating to the Society's annual meetings during the twentieth century.

X.1 Records
  
X.2 Meetings Videos
2003-2012 
XI Miscellaneous
1794-1963 6 Linear feet

This record group consists of items which document the activities of the Society, but do not readily fall into one of the other record groups, and includes such items as the Society's weekly broadcasts during World War II, a register of visitors, and architectural plans of the Society's halls.

XII History
1840-1945 0.25 Linear feet

Consists of four accounts on the early history of the Society.

XIII Wistar Association
1818-1968 4.5 Linear feet

Composed originally of eight members of the APS, the Wistar Association was organized in 1818 to continue the agreeable social entertainments which the Society's late President Caspar Wistar had held regularly for many years for members and distinguished visitors to the city. The Association suspended meetings during the Civil War, and did not meet after 1866. In 1884 the Fortnightly Club was formed for purposes similar to those of the old Wistar Association, although not all of its members were also members of the APS. When the Fortnightly sought to change its name to the Wistar Club, two ancient survivors of the older group revived the association, elected new members, and absorbed the upstart. In 1898, membership in APS was restored as a prerequisite for election. The Association has met regularly since 1886. Its membership is now over twenty, and modern transportation has made it feasible to include persons not residents of Philadelphia.

XIV American Philosophical Society Museum
2000-present 


Detailed Inventory

I Minutes and By-Laws
1758-1971 7 Linear feet

The Archives contains minutes of both the American Society and the American Philosophical Society, which united in 1769 to form the American Philosophical Society, held at Philadelphia, for Promoting Useful Knowledge. The records of the first-named give its title variously as American Society for Promoting and Propagating Useful Knowledge, held at Philadelphia; and American Society held at Philadelphia for Promoting Useful Knowledge. For convenience, it is referred to here as the American Society. In addition, the Archives has minutes of a predecessor of the American Society, which was sometimes called the "Young Junto," but is here identified by the binder's title as the "Junto."

I.1 Junto. Minutes
1758-1762 1 volume(s) 101 pp.
I.2 American Society. Minutes
1758-1768 1 volume(s) 163 pp.
 Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824.
Proposals for enlarging this Society in order that it may the better answer the End for which it was instituted, namely, the promoting and propagating useful knowledge
January 1, 1768 10 page(s) page 61-70

Document. Printed, with slightly different wording, in APS Transactions, vol. I, o.s, Preface. General physical description: 13x8-1/2

I.3 American Society, Held at Philadelphia for Promoting Useful Knowledge.
Rules & statutes . . . together with a list of the fellows & corresponding members
ca. 1768 1 volume(s) 11 pp.

Cover title: Rules of American society. Signature book, 1768. Film copy from photostat in the Historical society of Pennsylvania. General physical description: 8" x 13"

I.4 American Philosophical Society. Minutes
1768 1 volume(s) 38 pp.

Contains the signatures of members under each of the six standing committees.

I.5 American Philosophical Society, Held at Philadelphia, for Promoting Useful Knowledge. Minutes
1769- 19 volume(s)

Volumes to 1932 are in the Library. The minutes of 1768-1837 have been abstracted by Henry Phillips, Jr., in "Early proceedings of the American Philosophical Society ... 1744 to 1838," in APS Proceedings 22, 3 (1885). Beginning in 1838 abstracts were printed in the current APS Proceedings until 1937, since which date they have appeared in the Year Book.

 Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826.
Letter to the American Philosophical Society
February 10, 1797 1 page(s) volume 1793-1798

[Read]. Resumé of letter. Printed in part in the APS Minutes: APS Proceedings, v. 22, pt. 3, 248. FILM 199 FRAME 188

 American Philosophical Society. Minutes, 1769-1774
  

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes
1774-1787 

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes
1787-1793 1 volume(s)

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes
1793-1798 1 volume(s)

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes
1799-1804 

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes
1805-1814 

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes
1815-1825 

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes
1825-1828 

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes
1829-1833 

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes
1834-1839 

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes
1840-1842 

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes
1842-1846 

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes, 1846-1852
  

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes, 1853-1865
  

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes, 1865-1878
  

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes, 1869
  

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes, 1879-1892
  

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes, 1905-1915
  

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 American Philosophical Society. Minutes, 1916-1932
  

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I.6 American Philosophical Society, Held at Philadelphia, for Promoting Useful Knowledge. Rough minutes
1771-1804, 1819-1927 40 volume(s)

In particular instances the rough minutes are fuller than the minutes as finally transcribed. After about 1900 the principal articles in the minutes were prepared in advance of meetings. The first volume contains a few original reports of committees appointed to examine certain scientific undertakings proposed by individuals to the Society.

I.7 American Philosophical Society, Held at Philadelphia, for Promoting Useful Knowledge. Laws and regulations
1804 1 volume(s) 42 pp.

A formal record, required by the by-laws of 1804, of the Fundamental Laws of 1769; the Act of Incorporation of 1780; the Act of Assembly of 1785, with supplements, granting the Society a piece of State-House Square; the conditions of the award of the Magellanic Premium; and the by-laws adopted May 4, 1804. Also included is a list of members of various committees.

I.8 American Philosophical Society, Held at Philadelphia, for Promoting Useful Knowledge. Amendments to Laws
1928-1971 11 item(s)
I.9 American Philosophical Society, Held at Philadelphia, for Promoting Useful Knowledge. Standing orders
1885-1925 1 volume(s) 57 pp.

A compilation from the minutes of orders, or procedures covering the operations of the Society.

I.10 American Philosophical Society, Held at Philadelphia, for Promoting Useful Knowledge. Minutes
1838-1871Index. ca. 3500 cards

Card file index prepared by Associate Librarian Murphy D. Smith during the 1960s.

General physical description: Index. ca. 3500 cards

I.11 American Philosophical Society, Held at Philadelphia, for Promoting Useful Knowledge. Charter of the American Philosophical Society, ...
1780 2 item(s)

A copy of the act for incorporation the Society. There is also a printed version included

II.1 "Archives"
1743-1988, Undated 28 Linear feet

This record group contains every sort of material relating to the business of the Society, such as drafts of minutes, committee reports, letters of officers and others, memoranda, scientific papers and proposals, orders, receipts, and other material. The papers from 1797-1844 may be of particular interest to scholars of American Indian ethnology, history, and linguistics.

Due to the size of the "Archives" record group, the content has been divided into multiple inventories. Please follow the links below to browse the contents.

APS Archives. Record Group IIa 1743-18061.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IIb 1807-18251.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IIc 1826-18361.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IId 1837-18441.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IIe 1845-18651.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IIf 1866-18861.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IIg 1887-18911.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IIh 1892-18961.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IIi 18971.0 section
APS Archives. Record Group IIj 1898-1988, Undated1.0 section

Native American Images note : Four folders containing up to 275 pencil and ink sketches, from 1816-1840, of Cherokee, Choctaw, Adena, and Aztec native culture. Primarily of burial mounds located in Lexington, Kentucky; Grave Creek, West Virginia; and Washington, Mississippi. Of particular note, a printed pictograph of Boturini Codex depicting the Aztec journey from Aztlan to the Valley of Mexico. Also known as Tira de la Peregrinacion, it contains 22 pages in black ink on one sheet folded accordion style. Each folder is noted in APS Freeman Guide to manuscripts relating to the American Indian.


Geographic Name(s): Grave Creek Mound (Marshall County, West Virginia)

Subject(s): Adena culture -- West Virginia; Aztecs.; Cherokee Indians; Choctaw Indians; Eastern Woodlands Indians; Indians of Mexico; Indians of North America -- Kentucky; Indians of North America -- Mississippi; Indians of North America -- West Virginia; Mound builders; Plains Indians; Southeast Indians

III Communications
1748-1837 4 Linear feet
III.1 Manuscript communications
1748-1837 3.5 Linear feet

A portion of the APS Archives, the Manuscript Communications (III.1) consists of letters and papers on a variety of topics sent to the APS between the 1770s and 1830s. Many of the papers were read at meetings of the Society, some were published in the APS Transactions, and others were submitted for consideration for the premiums offered by the APS for best paper on the topic of education.

Once part of the general APS Archives, the Manuscript Communications were separated at an early date, arranged in chronological order, and bound into volumes under seven topical series:

  1. Mechanics, Machinery, and Engineering
  2. Trade, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Economics
  3. Medicine, Anatomy, Physiology
  4. Natural History
  5. Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics
  6. Natural Philosophy
  7. Mathematics and Astronomy

 Academicus.
ALS to Thomas Jefferson
1797 Jan. 13 1 item(s) Box 1

A.L.S. 1p. and add., end. Enc. Concerning education. For enclosure, see Academicus: Plan for the education of youth [circa Jan. 1797]. FILM199, FRAME 374  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Academicus.
Plan for the education of youth
ca.1797 Jan. 1 item(s) Box 1

D. 29p. and end. Enclosed originally in letter from Academicus to [T. Jefferson]; January 13, 1797. FILM199, FRAME 374  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Account of two parhelia (rainbows)
1756 Dec. 21 1 item(s) Box OS

[presented by George Logan] May 20, 1816. D.S. 1p. and end. (see Ms.Comm. to the APS. Natural philosophy, vol. 1, no. 52.)For account of this phenomenon, see APS Archives, III, 1, Hugh Williamson, 'Concerning parhelia rainbows,' 1816 May 20  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Acosta, Joaquin, 1800-1852.
ALS to the American Philosophical Society. Secretary
1832 May 24 1 item(s) Box 1

Philadelphia, 3p. and end. In French. Forwards memoir by Boussingault. Cf. Minutes, p. 626. For enclosure, see Jean Boussingault, Researches on the cause of goiter, 1830 Oct. General physical description: 12x8  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Adrain, Robert, 1775-1843.
ALS to John Vaughan
1810 June 12 1 item(s) Box 1

New Brunswick, 1p. and end. Refers to the "widow Bache." General physical description: 12-1/2x7-1/2  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Alden, Timothy.
Concerning a plan for exciting ambition in schools
1813 Jan. 1 1 item(s) Box 1

New York, ADS, 11p. and add.: Burgiss Allison, end. Cf. Minutes, p.439. General physical description: 10x8  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

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 Alison, Francis, 1705-1779.
Hints for the American Philosophical Society
1773 April 2 1 item(s) Box 1

3p. and end. Regarding fences and a 'diligent attention to husbandry' and agriculture Printed: Phila. Soc. For Promoting Agriculture Memoirs 6, 127ff. Cf. Minutes p. 79. General physical description: 12-1/2 x 7-1/2  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Allison, Burgiss, 1753-1827.
Concerning a pneumatometre rain gage and an improved anemoscope
1801 Jan. 16 3 item(s) Box 1

Read; D. 4p., end. and 2 drawings. Contains sketches of Anemoscope, Pneumatometre and Rain Gage. Cf. Minutes, p.307. General physical description: 13x8  Natural Philosophy

 A.L.O.T.A. (Pseudonym).
Concerning improvements in ship pumps
1795 June 19 5 item(s) Box 1

Read, document signed with initials. 8p. and 3 drawings, end. Offered for the premium. Enclosed originally in letter from A.L.O.T.A. to Rittenhouse; [read] June 19, 1795. Cf. Minutes, p. 232. FILM403 FRAME64. General physical description: 13x8  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 A.L.O.T.A. (Pseudonym).
ALS to David Rittenhouse
1795 June 19 1 item(s) Box 1

Read, signed with initials. 1p. and add., end. Forwards entry for the Magellenic premium. Includes pen and ink sketches of ships pumps. For enclosure, see: A.L.O.T.A. Concerning . . . ship pumps; [read] June 19, 1795. FILM403 FRAME 64. General physical description: 9-1/2x7  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
ALS to James Ewing
1780 Nov. 20 1 item(s) Box 1

Beverly: Joseph Willard, 3p. and end, by D. Rittenhouse. Concerning its formation. Concerning solar eclipse. For enclosure; see: Willard, Observations of solar eclipse...; [Nov. 20, 1780]; and, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Catalogue of officers; [Nov. 20, 1780]. General physical description: 9-1/2x8  Mathematics and Astronomy

 American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Catalogue of officers elected Aug. 30, 1780
1780 Nov. 20 1 item(s) Box 1

Document, 1p. Enclosed originally in letter from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences to James Ewing; Nov. 20, 1780. General physical description: 8x6-1/2  Mathematics and Astronomy

 American Philosophical Society.
Concerning inquiries to be made by Major Long of the Indians
ca.1819 Mar. 30 2 item(s) ; 12-1/2x7 and 9-1/2x7-1/2Box 1

Originally enclosed in Robert Walsh to John Caldwell Calhoun, 1819 March 30 4 sets of queries by Peter S. DuPonceau, Dr. Samuel Brown, Dr. R. M. Patterson, and Robert Walsh, concerning: government, family, social organization, disease, origins, mental traits, virtues and vices, traditions, warfare, language, environment, horses, general character; origins and connections, manners and customs, language; specific diseases, incidence and treatment; childbirth and attendant medical phenomena. 28 pages. Freeman and Smith 1408. Cf Minutes, p. 486  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

General physical description: 12-1/2x7 and 9-1/2x7-1/2

 American Philosophical Society.
ALS to I. Caffrey
1797 June 1 item(s) Box 1

9p. and end. Invitation to collect fossils for APS, including mention of mastodon and Megalonyx. Cf. Minutes, p. 258. General physical description: 9x7  Natural History

 American Philosophical Society.
NS to Jared Mansfield
1816 ca. Sept. 1 item(s) Box 1

1p. Will publish his communication and asks for supplement to it. General physical description: 3x6  Mathematics and Astronomy

 American Philosophical Society.
Report of Committee on Hosack's paper on the communication of contagious diseases
1812 Dec. 3 1 item(s) Box 1

Document signed: C. Wistar and Thos.T. Hewson. 1p. and end. Cf. Minutes, p.437. For paper, see. Hosack to Chisholm; July 10, 1812. General physical description: 9-1/2x8  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 American Philosophical Society.
Report of Committee on J. J. Hawkins' Plan of a City
1800 ca. Nov. 1 item(s) Box 1

Document, 2p. and end. General physical description: 12-1/2x7-1/2. For paper reported on, see Hawkins, John J., Plan for Building a City, 1800, Sept. 19.   Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

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 American Philosophical Society.
Report of Committee on Lime's Paper on Peach Trees
1800 Oct. 2 1 item(s) Box 1

Document signed: B. S. Barton, John Redmond Coxe, and C. W. Peale. 1p. Cf. Minutes, p. 303. On same sheet as: Lime, (pseud). Concerning the prevention of decay in peach trees; [read] Dec. 15, 1797. General physical description: 9-1/2x7-1/2  Natural History

 American Philosophical Society.
Report of Committee on the Preservation of Peach Trees
1798 April 4 1 item(s) Box 1

ADS; Jon. Williams. 5p., end. Refers to the essays by "Lime" and "X". See: Lime (pseud.), Concerning the Prevention of Decay in Peach Trees, 1797 Dec. 15; and X (pseud.), Concerning the Prevention of Decay in Peach Trees, 1797 Dec. 26. Cf. Minutes, p.269. General physical description: 9x7  Natural History

 American Philosophical Society.
Report of Committee on This Paper
1816 Nov. 15 1 item(s) Box 1

See "Concerning the Calculation of Surd Decimal Fractions", 1816 Oct. 18  Mathematics and Astronomy

 American Philosophical Society.
Report of Committee on Turner's paper on the prairie squirrel
1798 June 22 1 item(s) Box 1

ADS; B.S. Barton. 2p. and end. Cf. Minutes, p.273. General physical description: 8x5  Natural History

 American Philosophical Society.
Report of Committee on Varle's canal locks
1807 Mar. 20 1 item(s) Box 1

Read, document signed: C. W. Peale and Thos. T. Hewson. 1p.and add. Cf. Minutes, p.395. For additional correspondence, see: Letter from Latrobe to C. W. Peale, March 4, 1807: and, Letter from Varlé to Caspar Wistar; Nov. 20, 1806. General physical description: 1-1/2x7-1/2  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 American Philosophical Society.
Report of Committee on Vauquelin's Papers
1810 Mar. 16 1 item(s) Box 1

Document signed: S. Godon. 1p. and end. General physical description: 11x8.  See Vauquelin, A.: "Analysis of the Nicotina Latifolia" 1809 Jan 12, and "Analysis of Snuff" 1809 Sept. 15  Natural History

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 American Philosophical Society.
Report of Committee on X's Communication on Peachtrees
1800 Oct. 2 1 item(s) Box 1

Document signed: John Redmond Coxe, C. W. Peale and B. S .Barton. 1p. Cf. Minutes, p. 303. On same sheet as: X. Concerning the ... peach trees; Dec. 26, 1797. General physical description: 8-1/2x7  Natural History

 American Philosophical Society.
Report of Publications Committee on S.C. Walker's Paper on the Longitude of Philosophical Hall
1834 Aug. 6 1 item(s) Box 1

ADS, F. Bache. 1p. On same sheet as Walker, Sears Cook; Concerning the longitude of Philosophical Hall; [read] Oct. 18, 1833. General physical description: 10x8  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Americanus.
ALS to David Rittenhouse
1795 Aug. 1 item(s) Box 1

Galloway, Joseph, 1731-1803. 2p. and add., end. Encloses papers for the premium, "A pall lever to be applied to the ends of ships". For enclosure, see: Americanus. Concerning an improved windlass; [Aug. 1795]. General physical description: 9x7  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Americanus.
Concerning an Improved Windlass
1795 Sept. 18 1 item(s) Box 1

Galloway, Joseph, 1731-1803. Read, document, 1p. and drawing and end. Entered for the premium. Cf. Minutes, p. 233. Enclosed originally in letter from Americanus to Rittenhouse; Aug.1795. General physical description: 13x8  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Analysis of the saline solution examined at the request of John Vaughan
n.d. 1 item(s) Box 1

Natural Philosophy

 Anderson, Henry J. (Henry James), 1799-1875.
ALS to John Vaughan
1827 Nov. 7 1 item(s) Box OS

New York, 8p., add., end. Concerning the motion of bodies. Cf. Minutes, p. 574. General physical description: 15x9-1/2  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Archer, John, 1741-1810.
ALS to Robert Harris
1773 Dec. 2 1 item(s) Box 1

Balt[imore] County, 2 p. and., end. Presents and describes an amphibious animal. Cf. Minutes, p.87. General physical description: 12-1/2x7-1/2  Natural History

 Howell, Rednap, 1726-1787.
ALS to Isaac Bartram
1771 Nov. 15 2 item(s) Box OS

Conagocheage. 2p.and end. Concerning a vessel to sail on ice. Cf. Minutes, p.68. General physical description: 15x12 See APS Archives 1772 Nov. 23  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Arnat, Thomas.
Concerning the prevention of water leaking into houses
1805 Feb. 11 1 item(s) Box OS

D. in 3rd. P. Thomas Arnat, Benjamin Lehman, and William Lehman. 3p.and end. and drawing. Cf. Minutes, p.371. General physical description: 9x7  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Article on Warming Rooms
1791 Mar. 7 1 item(s) Box 1

Originally enclosed with Letter to David Rittenhouse, 1791, May 20.  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Austin, James.
ALS to the President of the American Philosophical Society
1816 May 9 1 item(s) Box 1

6p. and add., end. Concerning improvements in calculating surveys. Cf. Minutes, p. 465, Printed: Trans n.s., vol. I, 181 ff. General physical description: 10x7-1/2  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Austin, James.
ALS to Robert Patterson
1815 June 15 1 item(s) Box 1

1p. Concerning mathematics. Cf. Minutes, pp. 458-459. General physical description: 8x5-1/2  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Aveilhi.
ALS to John Vaughan
1796 Sept. 20 1 item(s) Box 1

Philadelphia, 4p. In French. Enclosure. Concerning a cotton machine left with APS. General physical description: 9x8  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Bache, William, 1773-1818.
ALS to the American Philosophical Society
1806 Oct. 17 1 item(s) Box 1

Philadelphia, in 3rd. P. 1p. Will present a paper. Refers to Latrobe. Cf. Minutes, p. 390. General physical description: 9x8  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Bachman, John, 1790-1874.
Concerning the Buzzard Inhabiting South Carolina
1834 Jan. 20 1 item(s) Box 1

Charleston, ADS 16p., end. An account of some experiments made on the habits of the vultures inhabiting Carolina, the turkey buzzard and the carrion crow. Cf. Minutes, p. 647. General physical description: 12-1/2x8  Natural History

 Barnes, Joseph.
ALS to John Vaughan
1792 Sept. 21 4 item(s) Box 1

Philadelphia, L. 1p., end. Enclosure of 14p. and 2 drawings. Provides plan and calculations for a mill utilizing Rumsey's invention. Illustrated. General physical description: 9x7-1/2.  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Barnwell, William, 1758-1827.
Concerning the climate of New Orleans
1817 May 22 1 item(s) Box 1

Read, document, 22p. Cf. Minutes, p. 471. General physical description: 10-1/2x8  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Barron, James, 1769-1851.
Concerning the ventilation of ships to prevent the rotting of timbers
1825 Jan. 7 1 item(s) Box 1

Read Jan. 7, 1825. Document, 5p. and end. Entered for the Magellanic premium. Cf. Minutes, pp. 535-536. For report of committee, see: APS. Report...; Feb. 4, 1825. General physical description: 12-1/2x8  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Barton, Benjamin Smith, 1766-1815.
Additional information on Phalaena tinea
1812 Dec. 16 1 item(s) Box 1

ADS, 47p. and end. Cf. Minutes, p.438-439. The Minutes give J.W. as the author. For report, see Report of Committee...; Feb.19, 1813. General physical description: 11x6  Natural History

 Barton, Benjamin Smith, 1766-1815.
Article on Animals of America
1806 1 item(s) Box 1

AD, 2p. Refers to T. Jefferson and some of his classifications of animals. Cf. APS Proc., 86:113, where title is given of which these form part: Cervus (article from Archaeologicae Americanae). Refers to his name for elk, Cervus wapiti, derived from the Shawanese. Freeman and Smith 3669. Film 199 Frame 378. General physical description: 13x8  Natural History

 Barton, Benjamin Smith, 1766-1815.
Concerning Dunbar's paper on swallows
1803 Jan. 21 1 item(s) Box 1

Natural History

 Barton, Benjamin Smith, 1766-1815.
Concerning the Genus Bartonia
1815 Dec. 15 1 item(s) Box 1

Read, document. 6p. Cf. Minutes, pp. 459, 462. General physical description: 10x8-1/2  Natural History

 Barton, Benjamin Smith, 1766-1815.
ALS to John Vaughan
1801 April 1 1 item(s) Box 1

1p. and add., end. Asks to divide his paper on insects for publication. Cf. Minutes, p. 405. General physical description: 10x8  Natural History

 Barton, William, 1754-1817.
ALS to John Vaughan
1812 May 30 1 item(s) Box 1

Philadelphia, 2p.and add. Concerning Rittenhouse. General physical description: 10x8-1/2  Natural Philosophy

 Barton, William, 1754-1817.
ALS to John Vaughan
1813 Jan. 20 1 item(s) Box 1

1p. Asks favor. General physical description: 9-1/2x7-1/2  Natural Philosophy

 Barton, William, 1754-1817.
ALS to John Vaughan
1813 Feb. 9 1 item(s) Box 1

Lancaster, 3p.and add. Concerning his work on Copernicus. General physical description: 10x8  Natural Philosophy

 Bartram, Moses, d. 1791.
Some Account of the Naked or Siberian Barley [printed broadside]
1771 July 19 1 item(s) Box 1

Natural History

 Baudry des Lozières, Louis Narcisse, 1761-1841.
Concerning Animal Cotton and the Insect Fly Carrier
1797 Jan. 3 1 item(s) Box 1

Philadelphia, DS. 9 p. Memoire sur le cotton-animal ou sur l'insecte porte-mouches. In French, with English translation. Cf. Minutes, p.254. Printed: APS Trans. o.s., vol. V, 150. General physical description: 9-1/2x7.   Natural History

 Bennett, -----.
Concerning a theorem for ascertaining a standard measure
1808 1 item(s) Box 1

[Received], Document 1p. and end. General physical description: 12x8  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Bergsten, Nicholas.
Concerning an operation on a boy; and, A singular case of chirurgo-medical operation in the Nosocomy of the University of Upsal in Sweden
1800 Mar. 7-8 2 item(s) Box 1

D. 11p. and 1 drawing and end. For report of committee, see: Report of committee...; May 2, 1800  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 James Berthoud and Co..
Directions for putting up beef for exportation
1805 1 item(s) Box 1

[Louisville], D. 3p. and end. General physical description: 12-1/2x8  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 James Berthoud and Co..
Directions for putting up beef for exportation
1805 1 item(s) Box 1

Copy in John Vaughan's hand.  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Bill of mortality of Portsmouth, New Hampshire
1803 1 item(s) Box 1

Broadside. 1p. Cf. Minutes, p. 334. Enclosed originally in letter from Lyman Spalding to John R. Coxe; Feb. 21, 1803. Pres. by Lyman Spalding; (reed.) 4 March 1803.  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Boussingault, J. B. (Jean Baptiste), 1802-1887.
Researches on the cause of goiter in the mountains of New Granada
1830 Oct. 1 item(s) Box 1

Document signed, 24p. In French. Cf. Minutes, p. 626. Enclosed originally in letter from Joaquim Acosta to the Secretary of the APS; May 24, 1832. General physical description: 12x8  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Bowditch, Nathaniel, 1773-1838.
The Comet: elements of the orbit of the comet now visible [printed circular]
1811 December 6 1 item(s) ; 18 cm x 23.5 cmBox 1

Mathematics and Astronomy. Communication submitted by this largely self-taught astronomer and mathemetician read before the American Philosophical Society on December 6, 1811. Cf. Minutes, p. 431.

Other Descriptive Information: Goodman 112

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 Bradford, William, 1719-1791.
LS Cy to American Philosophical Society
1790 Sept. 30 1 item(s) Box 1

Cantwells Bridge, Extract. 1p. and end. Concerning a giant radish. Cf. Minutes, p. 184. General physical description: 4x7-1/2  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Bridgman, E. C. (Elijah Coleman), 1801-1861.
ALS to the Journal of Commerce. Editors
1831 Feb. 10 1 item(s) Box 1

Canton, China, 2p. and add. (See Ms.comm. to the APS. Philology, literature etc., vol. 2, no. 62.) Forwards memoir and comments on moral condition of Spanish possessions in Indian archipelago. General physical description: 9x7-1/2  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Brisbane, James.
ALS to Benjamin Franklin
1789 July 4 1 item(s) Box 1

2p. and add., end. Concerning "discovery of longitude." FILM54-63 FRAME57. General physical description: 15x9-1/2  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Brooks, Ebenezer.
ALS to unidentified recipient
1784 Nov. 6 1 item(s) Box 1

Kentucky, 2p., end. Discovery of perpetual motion by Dr. McKinley of Kentucky. General physical description: 13x8  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Brown, Charles.
ALS to John Vaughan
1814 July 30 3 item(s) Box 1

Harper's Ferry, 1p. and add., end. and 2p. of drawings. Astronomical observations. General physical description: 10x8  Natural Philosophy

 Brown, Samuel, 1769-1830.
Map of the nitre caves of Kentucky
1805 Feb. 7 1 item(s) map,_37.6_x_22.9_cm Box OS

Read D. 1p. and end. (see Ms. comm. to the APS. Natural history, vol. 1, no. 33.) Cf. Minutes, p. 382. See also map of saltpetre caves by Dufour. The map was accompanied by an article by Brown published as "A description of a cave on Crooked creek, with remarks and observations on nitre and gun-powder." American Philosophical Society Transactions, vol. 6 (1809): pp. 235-247. General physical description: 9x15  Natural History.

 Browne, Peter A. (Peter Arrell), 1782-1860.
ALS to the American Philosophical Society
1830 April 16 1 item(s) Box 1

Read, 2p. and add., end. Sending curiosity: a piece of engraved marble recovered from quarry in Montgomery County. Cf. Minutes, p. 601. General physical description: 10x7-1/2  Natural History

 Browne, Peter A. (Peter Arrell), 1782-1860.
ALS to the American Philosophical Society
1830 Nov. 29 1 item(s) Box 1

Philadelphia, 4p. Concerning needed corrections on Maclure's geological map of the U.S. Cf. Minutes, p. 606. General physical description: 10x8  Natural History

 Bruce, James.
Concerning the simoom
n.d. 1 item(s) Box 1

Document, 2p. General physical description: 7-1/2x6  Natural Philosophy

 Buchanan, George, 1763-1808.
Concerning a vaccination
1808 Feb. 19 1 item(s) Box 1

Document, 1 page. Cf. Minutes, p. 404. General physical description: 12x7-1/2  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Busby, C. A. (Charles Augustin), 1786-1834.
Concerning the propelling of vessels by siphon
1819 Aug. 16 2 folders Box 1

New York, ADS, 15p. and end. and drawing of 1p., diagram of reservoir. Cf. Minutes, p. 495. General physical description: 10x8  Natural Philosophy

 Byrnes, Daniel.
A method proposed which it is apprehended will be an improvement in finding the longitude at sea
1788 June 19 1 item(s) Box 1

Document signed, 1p. and end. Enclosed originally in letter from Byrnes to Franklin; Aug. 15, 1788. FILM 54-63 FRAME 52. General physical description: 9-1/2x8  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Byrnes, Daniel.
ALS to Benjamin Franklin
1788 Aug. 15 1 item(s) Box 1

Philadelphia, 1p. and add., end. New quadrant. For enclosure, see Byrnes: improved method...longitude at sea; June 19,1788. FILM 54-63 FRAME 52. General physical description: 8x8  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Caire-Morand, Antoine.
Recherches sur l'asterie des anciens, et remarque d'un caractere singulier que la taille a devoile sur un Grenat
1807 1 item(s) Box 1

Natural History

 Caire-Morand, Antoine.
ALS to Thomas Jefferson
1807 Mar. 20 1 item(s) Box 1

Natural History

 Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell), 1782-1850.
ALS to Stephen Harriman Long
1819 Mar. 8 1 item(s) Box 1

Dept. of War, Copy. 3p. Orders to assume command of Long Expedition. Mentions T. Jefferson. Enclosed originally in Calhoun to Robert Walsh, 1819 Mar. 11. FILM 403 FILM 199 FRAME5-1 FRAMES 389. General physical description: 9-1/2x8  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell), 1782-1850.
ALS to Robert Walsh
1819 Mar. 11 1 item(s) Box 1

Washington, 1p. Forwards a copy of Long's instructions. For enclosure, see Calhoun to Long, 8 March 1819. General physical description: 9-1/2x8  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Chapman, Isaac A..
ALS to the American Philosophical Society. Description of a new invented Steam-Boat
1810 Mar. 20 2 item(s) Box 1

Wilkes-Barre, 16p. and drawing of 2p. Concerning a new type of steam boat. Chapman sent this communication to member James Mease to be presented to the Society for the possible award of a premium. Originally enclosed in Chapman to Mease, 1810 May 1. See also Robert Patterson Re: Chapman's steam boat, 1810 July 27. Cf. Minutes, p.423. General physical description: 7-1/2x6-1/2  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Chapman, Isaac A..
Imaginary river to illustrate the movement of Chapman's "new-invented Steam Boat"
1810 Mar. 20 1 map 19 x 30.5 cm
 Chapman, Isaac A..
ALS to James Mease
1810 May 1 1 item(s) Box 1

Wilkes-Barre, 2p. and add., end. Forwards letter concerning his steam boat. For enclosure, see: Letter from Chapman to the APS; March 20, 1810. General physical description: 9-1/2x8  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Chapman, Josiah.
ALS to Robert Patterson
1819 Dec. 15 1 item(s) Box 1

Bristol, 1p. and add. Offers navy duck for the premium. Cf. Minutes, pp. 490, 494. For other letter, see letter from Chapman to Patterson; Aug. 31, 1819 (APS Archives, Record Group II). General physical description: 6x8  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Chipchase, John.
ALS to Leonard Snowden
1804 Oct. 8 1 item(s) Box 1

4p., end. Sends extract from the Gentleman's magazine for June 1803 on meteors. Cf. Minutes, p. 349. General physical description: 10x8  Natural Philosophy

 Churchman, John, 1753-1805.
Concerning magnetism
1787 Feb. 7 2 folders Box 1

ADS. 18 p. and end. Cf. Minutes, pp. 148-149. General physical description: 13x8.  Natural Philosophy

 Churchman, John, 1753-1805.
ALS to the American Philosophical Society
1787 May 4 1 item(s) Box 1

ADS, 1p. and end. Concerning his communication on longitude. General physical description: 10x8  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Churchman, John, 1753-1805.
ALS to the American Philosophical Society
1787 Aug. 16 1 item(s) Box 1

Philadelphia, 1p. and add., end. Asks for copy of the report on his paper. Cf. Minutes, p.153. General physical description: 10x8.   Mathematics and Astronomy

 Churchman, John, 1753-1805.
ALS to Benjamin Franklin
1789 Mar. 21 1 item(s) Box 1

2p., end. Regarding support for testing theory of magnetism as method of determining longitude and a voyage to locate the northern magnetic pole. FILM54-62 FRAME53. General physical description: 12-1/2x8  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Clibborn, Edward.
ALS to John Vaughan
1829 Nov. 23 1 item(s) Box 1

Cincinnati, 5p. and add., end. Concerning electricity. Refers to Franklin. Cf. Minutes, p. 598. FILM54-64 FRAME 116. General physical description: 10x8  Natural Philosophy

 Clifford, John D..
ALS Cy extract to Benjamin Smith Barton
1811 Sept. 4 1 item(s) Box 1

Lexington, L. 3p.and end. Extract. (see Ms.comm.to the APS. Natural history, Concerning Mammoth cave. Nitre caves in Kentucky. Cf. Minutes. p. 430. General physical description: 10x8  Natural History

 Cloud, Joseph, ca. 1770-1845.
An attempt to ascertain the fusing temperature of metals
1814 May 20 1 item(s) Box 1

Cf. Minutes, p. 446. Printed: APS Trans., n.s., I, 167ff. General physical description: 10x7-1/2  Natural Philosophy

 Clymer, George.
Concerning the healthiness of Philadelphia
1802 1 item(s) Box 1

AD, 4p.,end. General physical description: 8x5  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Coates, Dr..
Description of a new hydrostatic balance
1822 July 1 2 item(s) Box 1

Document, 4p., table and 2 drawings, end. Cf. Minutes of Board of officers, July 1, 19, and 20, 1822. General physical description: 13x8  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Colden, Cadwallader, 1688-1776.
Remarks on some obvious phenomena of light
1771 June 21 1 item(s) Box 1

Read. 3p.and end. General physical description: 12x7-1/2  Natural Philosophy

 Collin, Nicholas, 1746-1831.
ALS to the President of the American Philosophical Society
1793 Jan. 18 1 item(s) Box 1

3p. and add., end.Concerning the climate of Pennsylvania from the records of the Swedish church. Cf. Minutes, p.212. General physical description: 9-1/2x7  Natural Philosophy

 Collins, Zaccheus, 1764-1831.
ALS to John Vaughan
1826 Mar. 16 1 item(s) Box 1

2p. and add., end. Concerning the Mexican insect, aje. Cf. Minutes, p. 551. For letter forwarding the aje, see: Taylor, Sicand & Co. to the Pres.of the APS; Jan. 20, 1826. General physical description: 13x8  Natural History

 Concerning a new instrument for describing ellipses
1819 Dec. 3 1 item(s) Box OS

Mathematics and Astronomy

 Concerning a Relief for Sore Eyes
1809 Oct. 1 item(s) Box 2

From London, describes a cure of inflamed eyes.  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Concerning Articles which may be Usefullly Introduced Among Rude Nations in Africa
n.d. 1 item(s) Box 2

Re: introduction into Africa certain items from Europe.  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Concerning Captain Swift's Observations on the Natives of the North West Coast of America
1805 June 9 1 item(s) Box 2

Notes of four voyages of Boston sea captain: description of houses and their ornamentation; mentions slitting of lower lip for decoration. Freeman and Smith 2434  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Concerning Certain Grasses ... for Cattle
1805 Sept. 1 item(s) Box 2

Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Concerning Cultivable Lands
1819 Aug. 20 1 item(s) Box 2

Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Concerning Education in Pennsylvania
Ca. 1797 1 item(s) Box 2

Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Concerning Education in Public Schools
ca. 1797 1 item(s) Box 2

Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Concerning the Benefits of Stripping the Bark from Certain Diseased Orchard Trees
1802 June 7 1 item(s) Box 2

Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Concerning the calculations of surd decimal fractions; [read].
1816 Oct. 18 1 item(s) Box 2

On last page is APS Report of Committee on this Papers, 1816 Nov. 15, signed by Robert M. Patterson. General physical description: 8x6  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Concerning the contents of vol. 1, American Philosophical Society Transactions
ca.1771 1 item(s) Box 2

3p. Mostly astronomical observations in this document. General physical description: 8x6-1/2. Mathematics and Astronomy

 Concerning the Currents through the Straits of Gibralter
n.d. 1 item(s) Box 2

Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Concerning the reduction of expenses of public officers
1785 Spring 1 item(s) Box 2

Natural Philosophy

 Concerning Wire Fences
1817 1 item(s) Box 2

Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Act of incorporation
1799 1 item(s) Box 2

Copy by Simeon Baldwin. 4p., end. Cf. Minutes, p.290. Enclosed originally in letter from the Connecticut Academy to Adam Seybert; Dec. 25, 1799. General physical description: 9-1/2x8  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

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 Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences.
List of officers
1799 Oct. 1 item(s) Box 2

ADS: S. Baldwin. 1p. and end. Cf. Minutes, p. 290. Enclosed originally in letter from the Connecticut Academy to A. Seybert; Dec. 25, 1799.  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

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 Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences.
ALS to Adam Seybert
1799 Dec. 25 1 item(s) Box 2

New Haven. Simeon Baldwin. 3p. Encloses a petition to Congress concerning the census. Also encloses copy of the charter for the Conneticut academy of arts and sciences and a list of officers. Cf. minutes, p.290. For enclosures, see: Conn.academy....Act of incorporation; and Conn.academy...List of officers; Oct. 1799. General physical description: 9-1/2x8  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

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 Conover, Samuel Forman, 1766?-1824.
An essay on the vermilion colour of Blood, and on the different colours of the metallic oxides, with an application of these principles to the arts
1806 June 10 1 item(s) Box 2

Philadelphia, ADS, 18p. and end. Cf. Minutes, p. 387. Printed: APS Trans., o.s., vol. VI, 247. For report of committee, see: APS. Report...; Aug. 15, 1806. General physical description: 9x7-1/2  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Conrad, Solomon White, 1779-1831.
ALS to Robert Hare
1830 June 15 1 item(s) Box 2

1p., end. Forwards paper by S. H. Saunders. For enclosure, see: Saunders, Concerning light; [read] May 21, 1830. General physical description: 10x8  Natural Philosophy

 Conyngham, Redmond, 1781-1846.
Concerning Phosphorescent Lights
1837 Aug. 9 1 item(s) Box 2

Oak Hill, ADS, 1p. and add.: "John Vaughan," end. General physical description: 10x7-1/2  Natural Philosophy

 Cooper, Edward Joshua, 1798-1863.
Using the expression of 'transverse' [Pr. Circular letter]
1835 November 2 item(s) Box 2

Mathematics and Astronomy. With engraving of Halley's comet. Inscription indicates that this document was presented to the American Philosophical Society by William Vaughan, September 16, 1835.

Other Descriptive Information: Goodman 114

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 Cooper, Thomas, 1759-1839.
ALS to Sir Humphry Davy
1818 Sept. 9 1 item(s) Box 2

Philadelphia, 3p. and add., end. On chemical experiments, tests of poisons, yellow fever. Refers to Jefferson, Madison, and the University of Virginia. General physical description: 10x8  Natural Philosophy

 Cooper, Thomas, 1759-1839.
ALS to unidentified recipient [on tests of poisons]
1818 Sept. 18 2 item(s) Box 2

Read, 2p. Incomplete. ----Copy in part. Concerning scientific subjects and yellow fever. Refers to Jefferson and Madison. Cf. Minutes, p. 483. General physical description: 10x8  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Cooper, Thomas, 1759-1839.
On boiling sugar
1801 1 item(s) Box OS

Document signed, 2 pages. General physical description: 14x9.   Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Cooper, Thomas, 1759-1839.
On tests on arsenic
1818 Sept. 18 1 item(s) Box 2

Read, document, 4p. Cf. Minutes, p.483. General physical description: 12x8-1/2  Natural Philosophy

 Cooper, Thomas, 1759-1839.
Syllabus of the Lectures of ...on Geological and Mineralogy in the University of Pennsylvania [Pr. Broadside]
Circa 1815-1819 1 item(s) ; 18.5 cm x 25.5 cmBox 2

Natural Philosophy. Cooper, important as a dessiminator of scientific information and promoter of science in America, was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania from 1815 to 1819 and is best known for the American editions he prepared for several English textbooks and his description of Joseph Priestley's scientific work (see Goodman 128).

Other Descriptive Information: Goodman 143

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 Couldery, William.
Concerning a new lamp
1797 Jan. 7 1 item(s) Box 2

London, D. 2p. and add., end. Concerning a new street lamp. Offered for the premium. Cf. Minutes, p.259.  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Coulter, Thomas.
Article on premature death of peach trees
1797 Dec. 1 item(s) Box 2

Autographed document, 2p. and end. Enclosed originally with letter from Coulton to Thomas Jefferson; Dec. 4, 1797. Notes: Cf. A.P.S. : Report of Committee on the Preservation of Peach Trees 1798, April 4. Cf. Minutes: pp. 24, 269, 303. General physical description: 13x8  Natural history

 Coulter, Thomas.
ALS to Thomas Jefferson
1797 Dec. 4 1 item(s) Box 2

1p. and add., end. Enclosure. Botany. For enclosure see Coulter: Article on... peach trees [ca.Dec. 1797]. Re: preventing premature death in peach trees. General physical description: 9x7-1/2  Natural History

 Coxe, John Redman, 1773-1864.
ALS to John Vaughan
1832 Sept. 20 1 item(s) Box 2

1p. and add., end. Concerning colchicum. General physical description: 10x8  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Cram, John.
Plan for a fan chair
1786 Aug. 18 5 item(s) Box 2

D. 1p. and end. Cf. Minutes, p.144. General physical description: 10x8.  Illustr. and explanation by Charles Willson Peale. See Peale to Benjamin Smith Barton, 1786 July 31 (Barton Papers).  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

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 Crane, Gabriel.
ALS to the Secretary of the American Philosophical Society
1817 May 27 1 item(s) Box 2

Waynesville, 1p., end. and add. (see Ms.comm.to the APS. Natural history, vol. 2, no. 55.) Concerning a grub found in a state of vegetation. General physical description: 12-1/2x7  Natural History

 Creswell, Charles.
Concerning Godon's Observations to serve for the mineralogical map of the state of Maryland
1809 Jan. 20 1 item(s) Box 2

Document, 5p. and end. Re. Godon's map. General physical description: 10x8  Natural History

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 Creswell, Charles.
ALS to Thomas Jefferson
1809 Jan. 20 1 item(s) Box 2

Read, 1p. and add. (mutilated), end. Geology. General physical description: 10-1/2x7-1/2  Natural History

 Crivelli, M..
ALS to Society of Friends
1829 June 10 1 item(s) Box 2

4p., end. In French. Enclosure lacking. Forwards his memoir on domestic economy; The potato as counter to poverty. Cf. Minutes, p. 593. General physical description: 12-1/2x8  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Croker, A..
ALS to James Cutbush
1814 July 1 1 item(s) Box 2

Georgia, 7p. and add., end. On converting an alternate into a rotary motion. Cf. Minutes, pp.455-456. For report of committee, see: APS. Report...; [July 21. 1815]. General physical description: 10x8  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Croker, Temple Henry.
ALS to Benjamin Franklin
1787 June 11 1 item(s) Box 2

Philadelphia, 7p., end. and end. On windmills and the magnetic needle.  Natural Philosophy

 Currie, William, 1754-1828.
Concerning the Causes of Animal Heat
1816 Jan. 19 1 item(s) Box 2

Philadelphia, document signed with initials. 4p., end. Remarks on such of the experiments of Mr. Daniel Ellis of Edinburgh have a tendency to disprove the generally received doctrine of the causes of animal heat. Cf. Minutes, p.460, 462. General physical description: 10x8  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Currie, William, 1754-1828.
Remarks on the effects of metallic rods in the cure of diseases
1797 April 7 1 item(s) Box 2

Document signed, 4p., end. Remarks on the effects of Perkins' metallic rods in the cure of diseases. Cf. Minutes, p. 255. General physical description: 13x8  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Currie, William, 1754-1828.
ALS to John Vaughan
1818 June 2 2 folders Box 2

12p. and add., end. Forwards memoir on criticisms of Newton, "A sketch of some of the errors, which have been discovered in some of the philosophical opinions of the illustrious Sir Isaac Newton," to be read to the APS. Cf. Minutes, p. 482. General physical description: 10x8 12-1/2x7-1/2  Natural Philosophy

 Curson, Samuel.
Concerning Arequipa, Peru, and surrounding area
1819 May 21 2 folders Box 2

Read, document, 59p. Author describes a climb of Mount Yachi, near Arequipa. Discusses Quechua concept of oxygen deficiency, to them a faintness due to "antimonal loads"; mentions attitude of Indians joining climb toward revelation of mine locations. Freeman and Smith 3104. See also Minutes, p.470 for reference to Curson in Peru. General physical description: 10x8  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Cutbush, Edward, 1772-1843.
ALS to John Vaughan
1801 July 10 1 item(s) Box 2

Philadelphia, 1p. and add. Encloses thermometrical observations. For enclosure, see Cutbush: Thermometrical journal; Dec.16, 1800 - May 12,1801. General physical description: 10x8  Natural Philosophy

 Cutbush, Edward, 1772-1843.
Thermometrical journal
1800 Dec. 16-1801 May 12 1 item(s) Box OS

ADS, 6p. and end. Refers to B.Franklin. Enclosed originally in letter from Cutbush to J. Vaughan; July 10, 1801. General physical description: 8x16  Natural Philosophy

 Cuthbert, John A. (John Albert), 1788-1881.
ALS to John Vaughan
1832 June 1 1 item(s) Box 2

Hamburg, 1p. and add., end. Forwarded A.P.S. publications. General physical description: 10x7-1/2  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823.
ALS to Benjamin Smith Barton
1792 Aug. 31 1 item(s) Box 2

Ipswich, 4p., end. Concerning the age of Indian ruins in the Ohio country. Report on age of Ohio mounds using tree-ring dating. Cf. Minutes, p. 209. General physical description: 12x7-1/2. Freeman and Smith 1207.  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

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 D.B.T.P.S. (pseud).
Concerning the improvement of chimneys
1796 Dec. 16 1 item(s) Box 2

DS with initials. Offered for the premium. Economy and comfort introduced to the fire-side, or, a hint for saving fuel and procuring a remedy for smoky chimneys. Illustrated. Cf. Minutes, p.245. General physical description: 9x7  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Dabney, John Bass, 1766-1826.
ALS to Thomas Jefferson
1808 June 20 1 item(s) Box 2

Fayal, 7p. and end. Volcano on St. George's Island. General physical description: 8-1/2x7-1/2  Natural History

 Da Costa, Francis.
Concerning a lead mine in Pennsylvania
1805 June 15 2 item(s) Box 2

Philadelphia, ADS. 1p. and illustration of 1p. Cf. Minutes, p.377. General physical description: 9-1/2x8  Natural History

 Da Costa, Francis.
Concerning a lead mine near Philadelphia
1809 Nov. 18 1 item(s) Box 2

Document signed, 3p. Statement of the discovery of Mill Grove lead mine on Perkiomen Creek near Philadelphia. General physical description: 9-1/2x8  Natural History

 Dahlgren, John Adolphus Bernard, 1809-1870.
ALS to John Vaughan
1832 May 9 1 item(s) Box 2

Philadelphia, 1p. and end. Forwards J. P. Rodrigues observations for the longitude of Portsmouth. General physical description: 9-1/2x7-1/2  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Dandiran.
Method of carding, spinning, and weaving hemp
1792 Dec. 9 1 item(s) Box 2

The Hague, document in hand of Vautravers. 4p. Succinct account of the respective charges and profits, in manufacturing hemp after his improved method. Enclosed originally in letter from Vautravers to the President of the APS; Dec. 13, 1792. Cf. Minutes, p. 214. General physical description: 9x7-1/2  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Dannery, S..
ALS to the [American Philosophical Society]
n.d. 1 item(s) Box 2

In French. General physical description: 10x8  Natural History

 Davidson, Robert, 1750-1812.
ALS to Robert Patterson
1788 April 7 2 item(s) Box 2

Carlisle, 3p. and add., end. and drawing of 1p. Concerning a teratological calf. Cf. Minutes, p.160. General physical description: 8x6-1/2  Natural History

 Davis, John, 1761-1847.
ALS to John Vaughan
1819 May 12 1 item(s) Box 2

Read, signed with initials. 2p. and end. Wishes to obtain a book on Chile. Gives title page. General physical description: 8x5-1/2  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Deabbate, Gaspard.
Concerning the Barbary powers and Sardinia and the situation of Italy generally
1820 June 17 1 item(s) Box 2

Philadelphia, autographed document, 2p. and end. In French. General physical description: 12-1/2x8  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Deabbate, Gaspard.
Concerning the religious cult of the Vaudois [Waldensians]
1823 May 29 1 item(s) Box OS

Philadelphia, document, 8p., end. In French. Enclosed originally in letter from Deabbate to Robert Walsh; May 29, 1823. Cf. Minutes, pp. 519-520. General physical description: 14x9  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Deabbate, Gaspard.
ALS to Robert Walsh
1823 May 29 1 item(s) Box 2

Philadelphia, 1p. and end. In French. Sends memoir on religious cult of the Vaudois. For enclosure, see: Deabbate. Concerning...Vaudois: May 29, 1823. Cf. Minutes, pp. 519-520.  General physical description: 10x8

 Dean, Mrs (?).
Cure for the croup
1808 Mar. 13 1 item(s) Box 2

Document, 1 page. General physical description: 5x7-1/2  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Dearborn, Benjamin, 1754-1838.
Concerning splitting stones by use of wedges
1801 1 item(s) Box 2

Document, 2 pages. Illustrated. General physical description: 9x7-1/2  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Dearborn, Benjamin, 1754-1838.
ALS to the American Philosophical Society
1803 Feb. 4 1 item(s) Box 2

Background note: Dearborn was an educator and an inventor.

Philadelphia, A.L.S. 1p. Enc. of 7p. Concerning the abolition of slavery. Cf. Minutes, p. 338.  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

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 Demaree, Samuel R..
ALS to Thomas Jefferson
1804 Dec. 28 1 item(s) Box 2

Harrodsburg, 3p. and add., end. Concerning writing and spelling. Proposal to form society to "alter and improve the orthography of the language of the United States." General physical description: 11x8  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Denmark.
Progres de l'enseignement mutuel en Dannemarck
1827 Jan. 28 1 item(s) Box OS

Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Description of a Stove
1797 Nov. 3 1 item(s) Box OS

Note: c.f. minutes, page 262.  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 De Witt, Simeon, 1756-1834.
Circulars to John Vaughan
1825 Nov. 24 3 item(s) Box 2

Albany, Printed letter, filled in. 1p. and end. Enclosure of 4p. Request for mineralogical information for University of the State of New York. Two printed circulars. General physical description: 9-1/2x7-1/2  Natural Philosophy

 De Witt, Simeon, 1756-1834.
Sir[,] I take the liberty to inclose to you the proceedings...
1825 

Cover letter and four-page document giving resolutions of the Regents of the University of the State of New York regarding meteorological observations. Requires the 56 institutions under its auspices to begin a regular, systematic program of meteorological observation and offers detailed instructions on the exact procedures required to carry out those observations. Autograph signature of S[imeon] DeWitt who sent the document to John Vaughan on November 24, 1825.

Other Descriptive Information: Goodman 177

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 De Witt, Simeon, 1756-1834.
ALS to Benjamin Rush
1807 April 25 1 item(s) Box 2

Observations on the eclipse of 1806 June 16.  Natural Philosophy

 Dietz, R..
Extracts of notes... concerning a testaceous mass from Anastasia Island, Florida
1823 July 10 1 item(s) Box 2

Read, document, 6p., end. General physical description: 8x6  Natural History

 Drake, Daniel.
ALS to Joseph Correa de Serra
1817 Oct. 1 1 item(s) Box 2

Cincinnati, 26p. and end. Concerning the geology of the Ohio valley. Cf. Minutes, p. 474. General physical description: 10x8  Natural History

 Drayton, John, 1766-1822.
ALS to Benjamin Smith Barton
1803 Sept. 9 2 item(s) Box 2

Extract, 1p. and end. Concerning insect infestation and the destruction of pine trees in South Carolina by a worm. Cf. Minutes, p. 342. General physical description: 10x8  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Duffield, Samuel.
Meteorological observations
1803 May 1-31 1 item(s) Box OS

AD, 1p. and end. General physical description: 10x15-1/2  Natural Philosophy

 Dufour, John James.
Map of the saltpetre cave described by Dr. Samuel Brown
1806 Feb. 7 1 item(s) Map 41.3 x 51.4 cm Box OS

The cartouche reads: "A Survey of the Great Salt Petre Cave on Crooked Creek Madison County, Ky. by John James Dufour. 1805." See Samuel Brown, Map of the nitre cave of Kentucky, 1805 Feb. 7. Cf. Minutes, p. 382. Printed: APS Trans., o.s., vol. VI, 235. General physical description: 15x17  Natural History

 Du Jareau, G..
ALS to Thomas Jefferson
1810 May 9 1 item(s) Box 2

New Orleans, 3p. and add., end. In French. Asks that his plan for a saw mill be submitted to the APS. For enclosure, see Du Jareau: Plan of a saw mill, May 9, 1810. General physical description: 10x8-1/2  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Du Jareau, G..
Plan of a saw mill
1810 May 9 1 item(s) Box 2

New Orleans, ADS, 9p. and end. In French. Enclosed originally in letter from Du Jareau to T. Jefferson; May 9, 1810. General physical description: 10x8  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Du Jareau, J..
Address to the citizens of New Orleans and to the members of the city council [newspaper clipping]
1808 Sept. 12-20 2 item(s) Box 2

On levee and course of river in New Orleans.  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Dunbar, John R. W. (John Richard Woodcock), 1805-1871.
ALS to Peter Stephen Du Ponceau [Printed Circular letter "Interesting galvanic experiments"]
1833 July 19 1 item(s) Box 2

Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology  Read, 1p. and add., end. In hand of A. D. Bache. Forwards broadside: On effects of galvanism on dead body of "Negro Ben." From the Winchester Virginian, 1833 June 27. On same sheet is letter from Dunbar to Robinson; June 27, 1833. Sent to Peter Du Ponceau, president of the American Philosophical Society by John R. W. Dunbar, and read before the society on July 19, 1833. Includes manuscript note in the margin signed by Dunbar who performed a series of electrical experiments on the body of a recently executed criminal. By applying shocks from a battery supplied by Dr. [Julius Timoleon] Ducatel of the University of Maryland, and belonging to Mr. Edmondson, Dunbar was able evoke severe muscular contractions in the corpse. General physical description: 9-1/2x7-1/2

Other Descriptive Information: Goodman 137

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 Dunbar, Robert.
ALS to Benjamin Smith Barton
1803 Jan. 7 1 item(s) Box 2

Philadelphia, Extract. 5p. See also Barton, Conerning Dunbar's paper on swallows, 1803 Jan. 21; APS, Report... 1803 Feb. 4 (APS Archives). General physical description: 9x5-1/2  Natural History

 Dunbar, William, 1749-1810.
Concerning the solar eclipse of June 16, 1806
1806 Aug. 15 1 item(s) Box 2

Read, ADS, 8p., end. Astronomical observations made at the Forest near Natchez [re: solar eclipse of June 16, 1806].----Copy, 7p. and end. Cf. Minutes, p. 388. Printed: Trans o.s., vol. VI, 260 ff. General physical description: 8x5  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Dunbar, William, 1749-1810.
ALS extract to John Vaughan
1810 1 item(s) Box 2

1p. and end. Asks Vaughan to order a spinning machine for wool. See also: Winpenny and Long, Concerning a spinning machine, ca.1810. General physical description: 9-1/2x8  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Dunbar, William, 1749-1810.
Meteorological observations 4 miles east of the river Mississippi
1804 April 6 1 item(s) Box 2

Read, AD. 3 p. and end. Monthly and annual results of meteorological observations made at the Forest 4 miles east of the river Mississippi. Cf. Minutes, p.350. General physical description: 12-1/2x8  Natural Philosophy

 Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen, 1760-1844.
ALS to John Vaughan
1828 Dec. 17 1 item(s) Box 2

Philadelphia,1p. Concerning an answer to Rafn's article on Norse antiquities discovered in North America. Cf. Minutes, p. 585. On verso is John Vaughan, Memorandum concerning Rafn's communication about Norse relics in North America, 1828 December. General physical description: 10x8  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen, 1760-1844.
ALS to John Vaughan
1829 June 1 1 item(s) Box 2

Philadelphia, signed with initials. 1p. Concerning Swift's memoir on education. General physical description: 7-1/2x5  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Du Ponceau, Peter Stephen, 1760-1844.
ALS to John Vaughan
1831 April 18 1 item(s) Box 2

Philadelphia, 4p., end. Concerning silk culture in America. General physical description: 10x8  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Du Pont, Eleuthère Irénée, 1771-1834.
ALS to John Vaughan
1803 Jan. 18 1 item(s) Box 2

Wilmington, 4p.and add., end. Partly in French. Concerning Potel's method of reviving asphixiated persons. Cf. Mintes, p.331. General physical description: 10x8  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Du Pont, Eleuthère Irénée, 1771-1834.
ALS to John Vaughan
1805 Sept. 19 1 item(s) Box 2

Wilmington, "A Friend of Humanity." 11p. and end. Comments on yellow fever. In French. General physical description: 9-1/2x8  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Du Pont, Eleuthère Irénée, 1771-1834.
ALS to John Vaughan (translation)
1805 Sept. 19 1 item(s) Box 2

Translation. 4p. Encloses extracts from works on yellow fever, including one by Guyton Morveau. Photograph of draft of A.L. Presented by Longwood Library, March 1960. English translation. General physical description: 13x8  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Du Pont de Nemours, Pierre Samuel, 1739-1817.
Concerning the Water in the Body of an Animal
1800 June 20 1 item(s) Box 2

Read; AD 4p., end. Sur le Formation de l'eau dans les corps animal. In French. Translation by J. Williams. Enclosed originally in letter from Williams to C. Wistar; June 26, 1800. Enclosed originally in letter from Du Pont de Nemours to the APS; May 15, 1800. General physical description: 12-1/2x8  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Du Pont de Nemours, Pierre Samuel, 1739-1817.
Concerning the Water in the Body of an Animal (Translation)
1800 June 20 1 item(s) Box 2

English translation.  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Du Pont de Nemours, Pierre Samuel, 1739-1817.
Concerning the meaning of the words country and commonwealth
1815 Oct. 6 1 item(s) Box 2

Read, document signed with initials. 6p., end. In French. In hand of Alexandre Cardon de Sandrands. Refers to Benjamin Franklin. Cf. Minutes, p. 458. Enclosed originally in letter from Du Pont to John Vaughan; Aug.19, 1815. For report of committee, see: Report ...; Feb. 2, 1816. Reprint of Du Pont's paper and the committee's report, with introduction. General physical description: 10x8  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Du Pont de Nemours, Pierre Samuel, 1739-1817.
ALS to the American Philosophical Society
1800 May 15 1 item(s) Box 2

Good-stay near New York, 1p. and add., end. In French. Refers to Thomas Jefferson. Sends article on water in an animal. (For article, see: Du Pont de Nemours, "Concerning the Water in the Body of an Animal") General physical description: 9-1/2x7-1/2  Natural History

 Du Pont de Nemours, Pierre Samuel, 1739-1817.
ALS to the American Philosophical Society
1800 May 22 1 item(s) Box 2

Good-stay near New York, 1p. In French. Mentions Thomas Jefferson. General physical description: 9-1/2x7-1/2  Natural History

 Du Pont de Nemours, Pierre Samuel, 1739-1817.
ALS to John Vaughan, enclosing AMs Sur la theorie des vents
1801 Dec. 23 2 item(s) Box 2

New York, 1p. and add., enclosure. Letter refers to Thomas Jefferson. Manuscript in French. General physical description: 9-1/2x8  Natural Philosophy

 Du Pont de Nemours, Pierre Samuel, 1739-1817.
ALS to John Vaughan, enclosing AMs Sur la theorie des vents (On the Theory of the Winds)
1801 Dec. 23 1 item(s) Box 2

English translation.  Natural Philosophy

 Du Pont de Nemours, Pierre Samuel, 1739-1817.
ALS to John Vaughan
1815 Aug. 19 1 item(s) Box 2

1p. and end. Mentions Franklin and Jefferson. For enclosure, see: Du Pont. Concerning..."country'; [read] Oct. 6, 1815. General physical description: 7-1/2x6  Trade, Commerce, Navigation, Manufactures, Agriculture, Husbandry and Economics

 Du Pont de Nemours, Pierre Samuel, 1739-1817.
ALS to John Vaughan
1815 Nov. 23 1 item(s) Box 2

2p., end. Enclosure wanting. In French. Forwards memoir on cramps. Cf. Minutes, p. 459. General physical description: 10x8  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Ecroyd, Richard.
Meteorological observations
1803 June 12 - Dec. 30 1 item(s) Box 2

Document signed, 1p. and end. Cf. Minutes, p. 349. General physical description: 12-1/2x7-1/2  Natural Philosophy

 Elkendorp, B..
Memoir on the non-strangulating hernia and the mode of curing it
1822 Dec. 6 1 item(s) Box 2

Read, document signed, 16p. and end. In French. Cf. Minutes, p. 515. General physical description: 11-1/2x8  Medicine, Anatomy, and Physiology

 Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820.
Astronomical observations made at Lancaster
1802 Feb. 13 1 item(s) Box 2

ADS, 1p. and end. by R.P[atterson] and drawing of 2p.,end. Cf. Minutes, p. 321. Printed: Trans., n.s.,vol.I,93.  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820.
Astronomical observations made in Lancaster, Pa.
1802 Jan. 15 3 folders Box 2

Read, autographed document, 7p., end. Letterpress copies (3). 6p. Cf. Minutes, p. 320. Printed: Trans, o.s., VI, 61-69. General physical description: 10x7-1/2  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820.
Concerning the use of water for an artificial or portable horizon
1803 1 item(s) Box 2

Lancaster, ADS, 2p. and end. Contains also notes by Thos. Whitney. General physical description: 13x8  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820.
ALS to Thomas Jefferson
1801 Dec. 29 1 item(s) Box 2

1p. and end. Enclosure lacking. On astronomical observations. General physical description: 10x8  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820.
ALS to Robert Patterson
1800 Mar. 23 1 item(s) Box 2

Cumberland Island, 2p. Friendly letter. Astronomy. General physical description: 9x7  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820.
ALS to Robert Patterson
1801 Dec. 29 1 item(s) Box 2

Lancaster, 1p. Sends papers and has sent copies to Thomas Jefferson. General physical description: 10x8  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820.
ALS to Robert Patterson
1802 May 3 1 item(s) Box 2

Lancaster, 1p. and add. Concerning Reed, astronomy, and a wooden pendulum. General physical description: 9-1/2x7-1/2  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820.
ALS to Robert Patterson (includes John Vaughan to Ellicott, ca.1803)
1803 Oct. 1 1 item(s) Box 2

Lancaster, 7p. and end. Astronomical observations. On same page is note by J. Vaughan to [Ellicott; ca. 1803]. Printed: APS Trans. o.s., vol .VI, 113ff. General physical description: 10x8  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820.
ALS to Robert Patterson
1804 Jan. 24 1 item(s) Box 2

Lancaster, 1p. and end. Returns proof. Friendly letter. General physical description: 7-1/2x6  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820.
ALS to Robert Patterson
1804 Mar. 1 1 item(s) Box 2

Lancaster, 1p. and add., end. Concerning proof sheets of his article. General physical description: 7-1/2x6  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820.
ALS to Robert Patterson
1805 Nov. 12 1 item(s) Box 2

Lancaster, 3p. and add., end. Enclosure lacking. ----Two copies. One has 1p. of drawing. Forwards astronomical observations. General physical description: 10x8  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820.
ALS to Robert Patterson
1806 Aug. 1 2 item(s) Box 2

Note: Diagram of Eclipse observed at Lancaster, PA.  Mathematics and Astronomy  Lancaster, A.L.S. 7p. and end. and 1p. of drawing and end. Concerning the eclipse of the sun. Cf. Minutes, p.388. Enclosed originally in letter from Ellicott to R. Patterson, Aug. 2, 1806, A. Ellicott to Robert Patterson; Aug. 2, 1806. Printed: Trans., o.s.,vol. VI, 255 ff. For report of committee, see: APS. Report...Oct. 3, 1806.

 Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820.
ALS to Robert Patterson
1806 Aug. 2 1 item(s) ; 8 x 6-1/2Box 2

Mathematics and Astronomy. Lancaster, A.L.S. 1p. and add., end. Add. mutilated. Enc. Concerning the solar eclipse and remarks on Ferrer's observation of it. For enclosure, see letter from Ellicott to R. Patterson; Aug. 1, 1806.

 Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820.
ALS to Robert Patterson
1806 Aug. 16 1 item(s) Box 2

Lancaster, 2p. and add., end. Considering Dunbar's observation of the solar eclipse. Printed: Trans., o.s., vol. VI, 255 ff. General physical description: 8x6-1/2  Mathematics and Astronomy

 Ellicott, Andrew, 1754-1820.
Observations on a lunar eclipse made at Philadelphia by Robert Patterson and Ellicott
1801 Dec. 18 1 item(s) Box 2

Mathematics and Astronomy

 Elmslie, John.
Concerning hot springs at the Cape of Good Hope
1808 May 3 1 item(s) Box 3

Enclosed originally in letter from Elmslie to Griffiths; May 3, 1808. General physical description: 10x8  Natural Philosophy

 Elmslie, John.
ALS to Dr. Griffith
1808 May 3 1 item(s) Box 3

Cape Town, 2p. and add. Sends article concerning the hot springs in the Cape of Good Hope. For enclosure, See: Elmslie. Concerning hot springs...; [May 3, 1808]. General physical description: 10x8  Natural Philosophy

 Emerson, G. (Gouveneur), 1796-1874.
Concerning meteors
1833 Nov. 2 folders Box 3

Document, 15p. and end. General physical description: 10x8  Natural Philosophy

 Espy, James P. (James Pollard), 1785-1860.
Concerning the causes of fluctuation of the barometer
1825 July 12 1 item(s) Box 3

Read, ADS, 7p. and end. General physical description: 10x8  Natural Philosophy

 Evans , Oliver, 1755-1819.
Concerning specifications of his discovery on steam engines
n.d. 1 item(s) Box 3

Document, 2p. and end. Extract. General physical description: 9-1/2x8  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Evans , Oliver, 1755-1819.
Directions for making his patented screw-mill
1806 2 item(s) Box 3

Document, 2p., with screw-mill illustration. General physical description: 12-1/2x8  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Ewing, James.
ALS to Robert Patterson
1823 Feb. 20 2 item(s) Box 3

Document, 6p. and add., end. and 2 drawings. Concerning a hydrant, with diagrams, entered for the premium. Cf. Minutes, pp. 517-518. General physical description: 10x8  Mechanics, Machinery, Engineering, etc.

 Exter, Richard.
ALS to Joel Roberts Poinsett
1827 Sept. 5 1 item(s) Box 3