| | 8 | Author: | LeConte, John L. (John Lawrence), 1825-1883 | Add | | | Title: | John L. (John Lawrence) LeConte papers, 1812-1897
| | | | Dates: | 1812-1897 | | | | Abstract: | Summary(s) of Collection:
The John Lawrence LeConte Collection contains a vast array of material. John Lawrence LeConte, son of John Eatton LeConte, was a scientist whose interests, like his father's, were in natural history, especially entomology. Like his father, J.L. LeConte undertook many scientific expeditions, primarily to the Midwest region. He is known as the "father of American beetle study" because of his entomological work. With over 1,900 documents, the collection touches on a wide range of scientific topics and includes correspondence from many of the most prominent scientists and citizens of the day. The vast majority of the scientific discussions – indeed the vast majority of the collection in general – deals with entomology. The LeConte's were both active in many scientific institutions, many based in Philadelphia, and the history of these institutions can also be gleaned from some of their correspondence.
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.L493 | | | | Extent: | 7.7 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | Education | Exploration. | Medicine | Science and technology | | | | Genre: | Educational Material | Family Correspondence | General Correspondence | Miscellaneous | Notebooks | Scientific Data | Sketchbooks | | | | Subjects: | Entomology -- Europe. | Entomology -- United States. | Hospitals -- United States -- Civil War, 1861-1865. | Insects. | Medicine -- United States -- History -- 19th century. | Natural history -- United States. | |
| 9 | Author: | Morton, Samuel George, 1799-1851 | Add | | | Title: | Samuel George Morton Papers
| | | | Dates: | 1819-1850 | | | | Abstract: | The Samuel George Morton Collection provides a window into the life of this nineteenth century scientist, explorer, and natural historian. The collection holds a wide-range of materials, and the correspondence touches on many different subjects. The entry in MOLE contains an item level accounting of the collection and its contents. The collection begins in the 1820s, when Morton is just beginning his career and continues through to the 1840s. Letters touch on topics, such as the treatment of Native Americans, Indian burial grounds, discoveries of fossilized remains, and medical education. Material on the Wilkes Expedition and especially on Morton's early medical career is covered in depth. One letter contains a request from General Lafayette for a skull of an Indian for his own scientific collection. Most of the letters are to Morton and contain results of experiments or observations from travel and exploration. Additionally, the Diary to the West Indies form 1834 offers insight into the culture of the islands. Morton's own involvement in the scientific racism is prominent in much of his later writing. Included in the collection are sketches of his "craniometrical drawings," which were used by pro-slavery advocates.
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.M843 | | | | Extent: | 2.25 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | African American | Exploration. | International Travel | Travel | | | | Genre: | General Correspondence | Scientific Correspondence | Travel Narratives and Journals | | | | Subjects: | Archaeology | Aymara Indians | Botany | Craniology. | Craniometry | Education | Egyptology. | Geology | Indians of North America -- Kentucky | Indians of North America -- Massachusetts | Indians of North America -- Mississippi | Indians of North America -- Ohio | Indians of North America -- Physical characteristics | Indians of North America -- Rhode Island | Indians of North America -- Tennessee | Indians of South America -- Peru | Indians of South America -- Physical characteristics | Medicine | Mineralogy | Miscegenation | Natural history | Naumkeag Indians | Ornithology | Paleontology | Pentland, Joseph Barclay | Phrenology | Race | Race, race relations, racism | Science and technology | Skull. | Slavery -- Barbados | Slaves, slavery, slave trade | United States Exploring Expedition (1838-1842) | |
| 10 | Author: | Nuttall, Thomas, 1786-1859 | Add | | | Title: | Thomas Nuttall diary, 1810
| | | | Dates: | 1810 | | | | Abstract: | Thomas Nuttall's travel narrative tracks his journey from Philadelphia to Detroit during the spring and summer of 1810. Nuttall makes a range of observations, including discussions of the weather, plant life, rivers, and the various people he meets, including Native peoples. The last portion of the narrative, which takes place around Detroit, discusses Indians a fair amount – their history in the area, the various groups he met (Chippewa in particular), and their customs.
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.N96 | | | | Extent: | 1 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | Exploration. | Native America | Natural history | Travel | | | | Genre: | Travel Narratives and Journals | | | | Subjects: | Botany -- North America. | Goiter. | Indians of North America | Voyages and travels. | Zoology -- North America. | |
| 15 | Author: | Kane, Elisha Kent, 1820-1857 | Add | | | Title: | Elisha Kent Kane Papers
| | | | Dates: | 1810-1953 | | | | Abstract: | This large collection contains the papers of Elisha Kent Kane, a prominent Philadelphian who led the U.S. Exploring Expedition.
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.K132 | | | | Extent: | 6.75 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | Americans Abroad | Exploration. | International Travel | Marriage and Family Life | Social Life and Custom | | | | Genre: | Family Correspondence | General Correspondence | Travel Narratives and Journals | | | | Subjects: | Abolition, emancipation, freedom | Africa | Arctic Indians | Arctic regions-Pictorial works | China -- Foreign relations -- United States | Colonization, repatriation | Exploration | Explorers -- United States | Geometry -- Study and teaching | Grinnell Expedition, 1st, 1850-1851 | Grinnell Expedition, 2d, 1853-1855 | Hospitals -- Pennsylvania | Indians of North America -- Nunavut | Inuit -- Canada | Inuit -- Greenland | Inuit -- Nunavut -- Baffin Island | Medicine -- Practice -- Pennsylvania | Medicine -- Study and teaching -- Pennsylvania | Meteorology -- Arctic Regions | Mineralogy -- Study and teaching | Northwest Passage | Obstetrics | Plantations | Slave trade -- Africa | Slaves, slavery, slave trade | United States -- Foreign relations -- China | United States. Navy | |
| 16 | Author: | Ord, George, 1781-1866 | Add | | | Title: | George Ord Collection
| | | | Dates: | 1831-1864 | | | | Abstract: | The collection of George Ord correspondence is a relatively small but significant collection. Most of the letters are from George Ord to Charles Waterton, a British naturalist, and reflect their shared interest in natural history, especially ornithology. The letters deal with Ord's rivalry with Audubon. Many of Ord's letters question the accuracy of Audobon's work. Other letters touch on Alexander Wilson and on new techniques for capturing images of animal life, such as the use of the Daguerre process.
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.Or2 | | | | Extent: | 0.25 Linear Feet | | | | Topics: | Early National Politics | Exploration. | Natural history | Philadelphia History | Science and technology | | | | Genre: | General Correspondence | Scientific Correspondence | | | | Subjects: | Abolitionists -- United States -- Attitudes | Animals -- Habits and behavior of | Audubon, John James, 1785-1851. Birds of America | Banks and banking -- United States. | Birds -- Study and teaching | Birds. | Cholic Acid | Church buildings -- Pennsylvania-Philadelphia | Cicada (Genus) | Columbidia | Cuckoos | Daguerreotypes | Dictionary of the English language. Johnson, Samuel, 1709-1784 | Dove | English language -- Dictionaries | Famines -- Ireland | France -- 19th century | Frogs -- United States | Frost -- Great Britain | Geese | Gold mines and mining -- California -- 19th century | Heatstroke | Immigrants -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia | Influenza -- United States | Irish -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia | Memorials -- Great Britain | Mercury | Mexican War, 1846-1848 | Monk, Maria, d. 1850 | Partridges | Peale, Charles Willson, 1741-1827 -- Art collections. | Potatoes | Railroads -- 19th century | Rattlesnake | Religion | Reptiles | Sea monsters | Secession -- Southern States | Skin -- Diseases-Treatment | Slaves -- Emancipation-America | Smoking -- Health aspects -- United States | Soap trade -- Pennsylvania | Steam-navigation -- Atlantic Ocean | Steamboat disasters | Stowe, Harriet Beecher, 1811-1896 Uncle Tom's Cabin. | Telegraph | United States Exploring Expedition (1838-1842). | Wilkes, Charles, 1798-1872. Narrative of the United States exploring expedition. | Williams, Eleazer, 1787-1858 | |
| 18 | Author: | Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 | Add | | | Title: | Thomas Jefferson, letters to and from various persons, 1791-1840
| | | | Dates: | 1791-1840 | | | | Abstract: | This is a particularly rich collection of Thomas Jefferson's letters from his retirement years. The letters primarily cover the years 1813-1820s, although there are some from earlier. Most of the letters are outgoing, and L. H. Girardin is the primary recipient. The letters to Girardin often discuss Virginia's history and sometimes Jefferson's own recollections of events, including letters on Virginia during the American Revolution and a supposed attempt to create a dictatorship in Virginia in 1776. Some letters also convey information on contemporary events and offer a window into Jefferson's personal and family life. A few letters from 1791 discuss Jefferson's memory of Benjamin Franklin, including anecdotes of Franklin in France. One document is a draft of a profile of Baron Humboldt. A series of letters to Peter Du Ponceau discuss Thomas Jefferson's attempt to acquire a copy of William Byrd's "A Secret History of the Line" and, once acquired, his interpretation of it. Another portion discusses the journals of Lewis and Clark.
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.B.J35.Le | | | | Extent: | 63 item(s) | | | | Topics: | American Revolution | Colony and State Specific History | Exploration. | Native America | War of 1812 | | | | Genre: | General Correspondence | Political Correspondence | |
| 20 | Author: | Byrd, William, 1674-1744 | Add | | | Title: | The history of the dividing line between Virginia and North Carolina, 1728
| | | | Dates: | 1728 | | | | Abstract: | The collection of William Byrd's writings consists of two leather bound, handwritten copies of Byrd's History of the Dividing Line Run in the Year 1728 (Mss.975.5.B99h) and A Secret History of the Dividing Line (Mss.975.5.B99s). The former was likely written for public audiences and contains the details of drawing the lines, interactions with Indians, observations of the flora and fauna of the area, the health and culture of settlers, and the official actions of the commissioners. Byrd regularly wrote Peter Collinson, an English scientist, about his journal and his hope that it would be of interest and benefit to a wide audience. The Secret History, on the other hand, contains a wealth of the more personal, private, and often humorous anecdotes of the trip. Neither manuscript was published in Byrd's lifetime, although both were eventually published.
View finding aid for a full description
| | | | Call #: | Mss.975.5.B99h | | | | Extent: | 1 volume(s) | | | | Topics: | Colony and State Specific History | Exploration. | Native America | Natural history | Surveying and Maps | | | | Genre: | Manuscript Essays | Travel Narratives and Journals | | | | Subjects: | Boundaries, State. | |
|
