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Guide to the Draper Family Collection

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Guide to the Draper Family Collection Guide to the Draper Family Collection NMAH.AC.0121 Robert S. Harding November 1984 Archives Center, National Museum of American History P.O. Box 37012 Suite 1100, MRC 601 Washington, D.C. 20013-7012 [email protected] http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives Table of Contents Collection Overview ........................................................................................................ 1 Administrative Information .............................................................................................. 1 Arrangement..................................................................................................................... 3 Biographical / Historical.................................................................................................... 2 Scope and Contents........................................................................................................ 2 Names and Subjects ...................................................................................................... 3 Container Listing ............................................................................................................. 4 Series 1: Draper Family, 1829-1936........................................................................ 4 Series 2: John W. Draper, 1811-1882...................................................................... 9 Series 3: Henry Draper, 1837-1882....................................................................... 17 Series 4: Daniel Draper, 1841-1931....................................................................... 20 Series 5: John Christopher Draper, 1835-1885..................................................... 24 Draper Family Collection NMAH.AC.0121 Collection Overview Repository: Archives Center, National Museum of American History Title: Draper Family Collection Identifier: NMAH.AC.0121 Date: circa 1826-1936 Extent: 4.3 Cubic feet (13 boxes) Creator: Draper, John Christopher, (chemist), 1835-1885 Draper, Henry, 1837-1882 Draper, John William, 1811-1882 Mora, José Maria, ca. 1846-1926 New York Meteorological Observatory. University of the City of New York. Nye, Dorothy Catherine Draper Draper, Daniel, (meteorologist), 1841-1931 Language: Collection text is in English. Some materials in Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Spanish Summary: Miscellaneous documents and photographs related to the scientific careers of members of the Draper family. Includes publications of the University of the City of New York, with which the Drapers were associated, reprints of papers by John William Draper, F. Melloni, John C. Draper, and Henry Draper, publications of the New York Meteorological Observatory, photographs of the observatory, rare scientific photographs, including photomicrographs (paper prints) by the Drapers, correspondence addressed to Daniel Draper, certificates, diplomas, and other documents. Administrative Information Acquisition Information Deeded to the Smithsonian Institution by John William Christopher Draper and James Christopher Draper on January 2, 1972. Provenance Transferred from the Division of Physical Sciences, 1984 (now the Division of Medicine and Science). Processing Information Processed by Robert S. Harding, archivist, 1984. Page 1 of 24 Draper Family Collection NMAH.AC.0121 Preferred Citation Draper Family Collection, 1835-1908, Archives Center, National Museum of American History Restrictions Collection is open for research. Conditions Governing Use Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions. Biographical / Historical The Draper family made a number of important contributions to American science, particularly in the fields of meteorology, astronomy, and chemistry during the 19th and early 20th centuries. John William Draper (1811-1882), primarily a chemist, did pioneer work in photography, and on the chemical effects of radiant energy. He took the first photograph of the moon in 1839-1840 and the first photograph of the diffraction spectrum. Draper's three sons also did notable work. John C. Draper (1835-1885) was a noted Physician and chemist. Henry Draper (1837-1882) was an early astronomical photographer and also did work on stellar spectra and spectrum analysis. Daniel Draper (1841-1931) was a meteorologist and established the New York Meteorological Observatory in Central Park in 1868. He served as its first director until 1911. Scope and Contents This collection contains materials that revolve around the scientific interests, research, and professional activities of John W. Draper and his three sons. The materials are as diverse in subject as were these four men, with meteorology, solar observation, astronomy, chemistry, and optical science all represented. The collection contains a large number of separate journal issues and articles on these subjects as well as publications of the University of the City of New York, with which the Drapers were associated, mainly covering the periods of 1835, 1838, 1852, and publications of the New York Meteorological Observatory (NYMO), 1876. Included among the NYMO materials are correspondence addressed to Daniel Draper, some acknowledging receipt of publications from NYMO, circa 1892-1908, and photographs of NYMO. The collection also contains reprints of John William Draper, circa 1844-1877; M. Melloni, "A Radiation of Incandescence and Elementary Colors," 1848; John C. Draper, 1856; and reprints of Henry Draper, 1873, 1882. Also included in the collection are some of the Draper's notebooks, lecture notes, experiment literature and notebooks, and experimental photographs concerning the Draper's professional endeavors in meteorology, chemistry, and astronomy in the late 19th century. There are also a number of materials relating to biographical information on the Draper family, including a substantial number of certificates and diplomas received by the Drapers. In addition, there is personal correspondence, articles on the members of the family, and a copy of Dorothy Catherine Draper Nye's will. While most of the documents are originals, the collection also contains many photocopied or reproduced documents. Page 2 of 24 Draper Family Collection NMAH.AC.0121 A photograph by Mora in the collection, marked "J.W. Draper," does not appear to depict the same man as in Neg. No. 52,757. Arrangement The collection is arranged into five series. Series 1: Draper Family, 1829-1936 Series 2: John W. Draper, 1811-1936 Series 3: Henry Draper, 1837-1882 Series 4: Daniel Draper, 1841-1931 Series 5: John Christopher Draper, 1835-1885 Names and Subject Terms This collection is indexed in the online catalog of the Smithsonian Institution under the following terms: Subjects: Astronomers Astronomical photography Astronomy Chemistry Chemists Meteorology Photographers Photography Physical sciences Physicians Scientists Spectrum analysis Types of Materials: Certificates Diplomas Lectures Photographs -- 1840-1850 Photographs -- 19th century Photomicrographs Reprints Wills Page 3 of 24 Series 1: Draper Family Draper Family Collection NMAH.AC.0121 Container Listing Series 1: Draper Family, 1829-1936 Subseries 1.1: Biographical Materials, 1856 - 1954 Box 4, Folder 1 Diploma (in Latin), Doctor of Medicine, John W. Draper, from the University of the City of New York, 1856 Box 4, Folder 14 Diploma and admittance to Bellevue Hospital. Diploma of appointment of John C. Draper as one of the Junior Assistants in the House staff of Bellevue Hospital, 1865 and subsequent position of Senior Assistant and House Physician, 1857 Box 4, Folder 13 Diploma, election as a member of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1877 Box 4, Folder 7 Diploma, Bachelor of Philosophy conferred on Carlotta Joaquina Maury by the Cornell University at Ithaca, New York, 1896 Box 4, Folder 8 Diploma, Doctor of Philosophy conferred on Carlotta Joaquina Maury by the Cornell University at Ithaca, New York, 1902 Box 1, Folder 3 Death of Mrs. Antonia Draper Dixon, daughter of John W. Draper, The Hastings News, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, 1923 September 7 Box 1, Folder 3 Liquidation of the Draper Manufacturing Company, 1916 August 8 Box 1, Folder 3 "Draper Memorial Library" Herald Statesman, Yonkers, New York, 1953 February 2 Box 1, Folder 2 Copy of the will of Dorothy Catherine Draper Nye's will, 1954 December 6 Box 1, Folder 3 Unidentified newspaper clipping, "Draper Observatory Burnt" , undated Box 1, Folder 1 Tributes/obituaries; newspaper clipping about will of Mrs Draper, undated Box 1, Folder 3 Bibliography of the Drapers' publications, undated Subseries 1.2: Certificates, 1836 - 1912 Box 4, Folder 13 Certificate, election of John W. Draper as a correspondent to the academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1836 Page 4 of 24 Series 1: Draper Family Draper Family Collection NMAH.AC.0121 Box 4, Folder 13 Large cylindrical metal document container (olive green), undated Box 4, Folder 13 Miscellaneous certificates, including Doctor of Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania, (in Latin), 1836 Box 4, Folder 13 Certificate, election of John W. Draper as a member to the American Philosophical Society, 1844 Box 3, Folder 10 Certificate of Honor to John C. Draper by the University City of New York, Medical Department, 1856 Box 3, Folder 4 Daniel Draper's Certificate of Completion issued in 1862, from Cooper Union
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