Joseph Henry and the Smithsonian's First Collection of Scientifc Apparatus
D.J. Warner
Joseph Henry was keen on apparatus, the ob- Institution in London, to such as may attend servations and experiments they made pos- the soirées.’ On one page of his pocket diary, sible, and the ways they might bring public Henry suggested that the Smithsonian ‘may appreciation of and support for science. As assist discovery by giving individuals the use professor of natural philosophy at the College of the apparatus.’ On another he mentioned a of New Jersey (now Princeton University), he ‘complete set of Chemical & Philosophical amassed an excellent collection for teaching apparatus for the repetition of all new experi- and research. After becoming the founding ments to disseminate of knowledge of them Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, he throughout the country.’ Still elsewhere he put together a collection that, in his words, announced his intention to form ‘a museum would ‘surpass in extent similar collections in of physical instruments, which may be used other countries.’1 for experimental illustration and original re- search, and may serve as models to workmen Having been selected for the Smithson- as well as to illustrate the general progress of ian post on December 3, 1846, Henry had a inventions in this line.’ He later boasted that strong say in decisions of the Organization an important way that the Smithsonian had Committee. Most notable, for our purposes, fostered physics and chemistry was by ‘im- was the resolve that ‘the sum of four thousand porting models of the most improved articles dollars, out of the interest accruing to the In- of apparatus and making them known to sci- stitution, be appropriated, for the purchase of entifc men.3 philosophical and chemical apparatus, mod- els, &c.’2 Writing to Alexander Dallas Bache Henry began the instrument project by con- some months later, Henry described his plan tacting leading instrument makers in Paris. to gather ‘a large collection of articles of For- Orders included ‘a complete set of articles eign and curious research, which may serve to for the polarization, diffraction and interfer- excite the love of learning.’ Physical instru- ence of light’ from Soleil (Fig. 1); a complete ments should form an essential part of the collection of Macedonio Melloni’s apparatus collection, and be ‘of such a character as to Fig. 1 Polariscope inscribed ‘Soleil Fils (Fig. 2) with all the latest improvements and induce a pilgrimage to Washington of all the Opticien Rue de l’Odeon No. 35 a Paris’ two extra galvanometers ‘which will be use- quid nunc professors in our country to enlight- bought for the United States Military ful in a variety of researches on electricity and en themselves as to the progress of science Academy, probably in the 1830s. J. B. F. heat’ from Ruhmkorff (Fig. 3); and ‘a set of and to witness the new phenomena.’ Certain Soleil opened a shop at this address in 1825 the more interesting instruments on sound’ evenings would be set apart ‘for the purpose and, for a while, used the term ‘Fils’ to from Marloye. Some years later, Henry men- of enabling artists and inventors to exhibit and distinguish himself from his father, also an tioned Ruhmkorff in connection with a ‘com- explain their instruments or works of art in the optical instrument maker. National Museum plete set of apparatus’ for ‘exhibiting the facts halls of the Institution, as in the Polytechnic of American History, PH.315759. of the new branch of science called dia-mag- netism’, adding that the ‘simple repetition of these experiments in this country is of impor- tance, and the apparatus may serve as a model for imitation to our ingenious artists.’ A local newspaper repeated this statement, adding that the Smithsonian’s apparatus is perhaps ‘the most complete now in our country, and new articles are constantly being added.’4 Henry had met Jean Peltier in Europe, in 1837, and immediately took to this self-taught and remarkably productive French physicist. Writing to Peltier in 1849 (not knowing he had recently died), Henry mentioned an ‘ap- paratus for atmospherical electricity’. In a later report on the subject, he included an ac- count and illustration of the electrometer Pel- tier used for this purpose.5 The Peltier appara- tus that Henry ordered in 1850 was probably a cyano-polarimeter designed to measure the intensity of the polarization and the blue color of the sky. François Arago had presented two Fig. 2 Melloni-type thermopile from Franklin Fig. 3 Nobili-type needle galvanometer examples to the Academy of Sciences in Paris & Marshall College. National Museum of inscribed ‘Ruhmkorff, Rue des Orfèvres 6, in 1841; Peltier introduced his version a few American History: EM.318285. Paris’. From Princeton University. National years later. Henry acquired another cyano- Museum of American History: EM.318556. polarimeter from Soleil fls in the late 1860s
26 Bulletin of the Scientifc Instrument Society No. 142 (2019) Fig. 5 This Foucault apparatus signed ‘Ruhmkorff à Paris came from the Smithsonian, and may be a replacement bought after the fre. National Museum of American History: EM.181551.
Fig. 4 Cyano-polarimeter inscribed ‘J. Duboscq-Soleil / à Paris’ ment’. It is thus not sur- B. Chamberlain, a self-taught mechanic who from Columbia College (now University) in New York. Nation risin th t enry s e had come to public attention when he showed Museum of American History: PH.322964. ri is n instrument philosophical apparatus at the Massachusetts maker then working for Charitable Mechanics’ Association and took the Smithsonian, to make home a silver medal. At another exhibition, (Fig. 4), and he published a lengthy and lauda- an ‘apparatus to show the vibration of pen- where Chamberlain won another silver, the tory account of Peltier’s life and accomplish- dulum as to persistence in the same direction, judges deemed his large air pump ‘one of the ments in a Smithsonian Annual Report. while point of suspension is in motion; all to best and most thoroughly made that has been urin th t s me tri to ris enry h lso show vibration changes in direction as sine of manufactured in this country.’ The Smith- met the French physicist, Jacques Babinet, latitude.’10 sonian’s Chamberlain air pump was up and and kept in touch with him over the years. In running by June 1849; and displayed at the Foucault’s other experiments were also the mi 1 0s enry ou ht hotometer of Metropolitan Mechanics’ Institute fair held no n. hus for inst nce enry coul rite the sort that Babinet introduced to the British in the tent ffce in shin ton in 1 .14 in 1857, ‘A striking example of the transfor- Association in 1854. Another Chamberlain instrument that caught mation, as it were, of the force of motion into enry s eye s ne helesco e for emon- hile enry ro ly ne er met the erm n heat is exhibited by an article of apparatus strating the formation of clouds, designed by scientist rie rich ellm nn he rote n now in the cabinet of the Smithsonian Institu- the American meteorologist, James Pollard enthusiastic endorsement of his work with at- tion and devised by M. Leon Foucault, of Par- Espy.15 mos heric electricity. In res onse ellm nn is.’11 That instrument was sometimes termed sent one of his torsion balance electrometers a Foucault disk (Fig. 5) . in le rne out the hy someter n in- to the Smithsonian.7 Along the same line, strument designed to measure heights in terms n ccount of illi m rmstron s m chine enry en e the other ise un no n ohn of the oilin oint of ter enry commis- that produced electricity directly from steam ise to m e lloonin e eriments for the sione one from illi m ur em nn er- appeared in the Smithsonian Annual Report Smithsonian ‘with instruments provided by m n immi r nt instrument m er in sh- for 1856.12 Soon thereafter, the Smithson- it for the purpose.’8 e lso too h eus in ton. enry iscusse this hy someter t ian acquired a machine of this sort made by Lowe to meet President Lincoln, arranged for meeting of the American Association for the C. Eisenlohr, a relatively unknown artisan in the s com ny to in te his lloon n for Advancement of Science, and probably dis- Carlsruhe.13 the Smithsonian’s chief clerk to provide men played it in the Apparatus Room.1 to assist Lowe with his operation.9 hile enry s reci ti e of uro e n Charles A. Spencer was an optician in Ca- instrument makers, he was keen to set some Foucault’s pendulum demonstrations in Paris nastota, New York who had gained public American makers ‘at work on such articles were widely reported in the American press attention in 1848 when an American micros- as may be manufactured of a good quality n in enry s or s c use re t e cite- copist wrote that he had ‘achieved so great a in this country.’ Leading the list was Nathan
Bulletin of the Scientifc Instrument Society No. 142 (2019) 27 triumph in practical optics as the construc- tion of a compound achromatic microscope, which compares most favorably with those m e y the fnest rtists of uro e. o him moreover, ‘we may look for future displays of scientifc s ill hich sh ll m e us entirely independent of the old world in this impor- tant respect. The friends of American indus- try and talent will be pleased to hear, that Mr. Spencer has already received orders for mi- croscopes from public institutions and private in i i u ls. rofessor enry h s or ere n instrument of high power for the Smithsonian Institute (sic). American patronage, we may hope, will not be wanting to American art.’ enry oul l ter s en le s nt e enin ith the r r n tur list ouis ssi usin the S encer microsco e ( i . ) n fn in it to e n e cellent instrument. 17 Later still, he reported that the Smithsonian had encouraged microscope manufacture by ‘importing, as samples, simple forms of i . Microscope signed ‘C.A. & H. working microscopes’ and ‘stimulating our Spencer’ purchased by the University native artists to greater exertion in the con- of Michigan in 1857 for $469. The struction of this instrument, by ordering the Pritchard mount is ordinary, but the best that could be produced.’18 objective was a 1/16 of ‘as near 180° as can be obtained.’ National Museum of enry s l ys intereste in the l test n American History: 1990.0183.01. best, but also appreciated the historical. The ‘portable chemical and mineralogical appara- tus’ which James Smithson had used for ‘his in esti tions ft this ill. So too i the urn- ing lens and condensing air pump used by Jo- seph Priestley and presented by a grandson.19 n so too i some of the re r tus. o ert re n meric n chemist ith n
Fig. 8 Hare termed this an ‘aqueous sliding-rod hydro-oxygen eudiometer.’ See Robert Hare, ‘An Account of Some Eudiometers of an Improved Construction’, The Philosophical Magazine and Journal, 67 (1826), pp. 21– 30. L. C. Eichner made this replica for the Smithsonian. National Museum of American History: CH.316886.
Fig. 7 The calorimotor that Hare introduced in 1817 was a galvanic instrument with 20 copper plates that connected with one another, 20 zinc plates that connected with one another, and a wooden box flled with a weak acid. It generated heat as well as electricity. L. C. Eichner made this replica for the Smithsonian. National Museum of American History: CH.319426.
28 Bulletin of the Scientifc Instrument Society No. 142 (2019) gases for tests of purity.20 periment however, we do not know.24 But we do know that while Page was working on this By 1 1 the Smithsoni n h ro ect hysici n n me ohn . illie s l r e niell s ttery con- on the road, displaying a similar but smaller sistin of ffty cylin ric l co - device to American audiences. In 1850, when per cells, each six inches in illie s in shin ton see in tent ro- diameter and fourteen inches tection, the Smithsonian bought his engine for high, with appropriate zinc $50.25 elements of pure metal, pro- cured expressly for the pur- Page also claimed to have invented the in- ose from r. h rton of duction coil, as did Ruhmkorff in Paris, and Pennsylvania.’ John Frederic Edward S. Ritchie, an instrument maker in niell rofessor of chemis- Boston. In his Catalogue of 1 0 ( i . 9) try and meteorology at King’s itchie u lishe testimoni l from enry College, London, had intro- saying ‘the Induction Apparatus you prepared duced this type of electric bat- for the Smithsonian Institution fully equals tery in 1 9. ose h h rton the ccount you e of its erform nce. ith was a young Philadelphian three cups of Bunsen’s battery it gives a spark who had recently developed of about twelve inches in length, and would the frst meric n l nt m nu- probably give a longer one with a greater facturing zinc oxide.21 number of cups, or with those of a larger size.’2 Since enry s scientifc re u- tation came largely from his Ebenzer Snell, a professor at Amherst Col- work with electro-magnetism, lege, designed several instruments for illus- I e ecte to fn m ny items tr tin e motion. enry or ere set in from the Boston sho of n- 1849. Ten years later, he ordered an example iel is r. meric s le - of h rles he tstone s e motion r - ing electro-magnetic instru- tus from u osc in ris.27 ment maker, and author of the In the mid-1850s, while giving a Smithson- Manual of Magnetism (1842, ian lectured on planetary disturbances, Snell and later). But the only or- is l ye rot sco e. esi ne y lter . der that has yet come to light ohnson r r r u te ith scientifc concerns some ‘larger ribbon Fig. 9 Edward S. Ritchie, who partnered with Chamberlain interests, the rotascope exhibited various phe- conductors’ of the sort that before going into business on his own, noted that this ‘Air nomen of rot ry motion. enry then ou ht enry h use for o t in- Pump, (Smithsonian)’ was ‘fnished in an elaborate manner’ one for the Smithsoni n it cost 0. e ro - ing sparks and shocks from a and cost $300. One was ‘in the hands of Professor Henry, at ably also bought an inexpensive gyroscope, of single pair of plates.’22 Washington’ and another was at the University of Mississippi. the form recently devised by Foucault; this, E. S. Ritchie, Catalogue (Boston, n.d.), front cover. Courtesy Charles G. Page was a phy- he noted, has ‘unexpectedly become a subject of Smithsonian Institution Libraries. sician/physicist who, while of general popular interest, and thousands of ser in s tent ffce e - copies of a simple form of the instrument are extensive collection of apparatus, much of his aminer in 1851, he gave his now manufactured to gratify the public curi- o n esi n n construction retire from great magneto electrical machine with its ac- osity.’28 companying electro-magnet to the Smithson- the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania he r tus oom h ir of inch ian, and he convinced a local newspaper that in 1847 and turned his attention from science lo es one terrestri l n one celesti l on this was ‘one of the most prominent and in- to s iritu lism. enry rote to re t this lo st n s n in l tform esi ne for teresting objects’ in the Smithsonian’s cabinet time, noting that several articles in his labora- demonstrations and discussions. These were of philosophical instruments. ‘By the simple tory “belong to the history of science of our purchased from Benjamin Pike, Jr. in New turn of a crank a powerful electro-magnet is at country, and would be interesting mementos York, and were probably based on the design once produced, capable of sustaining nearly a of the past which should be preserved in some of mes ilson meric s frst commerci l thousand pounds.’ The article went on to say u lic institution. re ree to the on - lo e m er. enry mentione l r e lei- that this same machine had worked Morse’s tion, if the Smithsonian would pay for pack- osco e in 1 49. e consi ere urch sin telegraph in 1844, and had been exhibited ing and shipping, and allow him access to the diagrams and working models of steam en- successfully President, Cabinet, and others, at r tus. enry in one l ce o ine th t ines o ne y ionysius r ner n Irish the tent ffce hen it e lo e un o - re s ift oul e of much lue to us in born popularizer of science who had lectured der through several hundred feet of wire by the way of practical experiment.’ Elsewhere in the United States in the early 1840s. And, the ignition of a platinum wire.’23 he mentioned a plan to have “all the articles fter isitin cloc f ctory in Ne en f ure in r. re s l st e ition of his hem- In 1849, Page convinced Congress to autho- he ‘engaged a set of the several parts of a istry put up in good style in the museum of rize a whopping $20,000 so that he could clock for exhibition.’29 apparatus and referred to from a printed Cata- build a large battery-powered locomotive. Ferdinand Engel was a German artist who logue.” I have not found a complete list of the enry isite e in his or sho in ite made geometrical models that won a prize re r tus ut no it inclu e l r e him to lecture at the Smithsonian, and planned me l t the ryst l l ce of 1 1. enry plunge battery (aka calorimotor) (Fig. 7), an to e hi it his results t the Institution. h t bought several Engel models in 1855: one electrostatic machine with 4-foot diameter he thought about the failure of this grand ex- plate, and a eudiometer (Fig. 8) for igniting representing Fresnel’s wave surface, one an
Bulletin of the Scientifc Instrument Society No. 142 (2019) 29 ellipsoid, one described as ‘interior part of the tural chemist who managed to produce light of atmospheric temperature in their gardens mo el m e con e . By 1 n el s on from electricity fairly inexpensively by com- and greenhouses, the Gauntlett instrument the payroll of the U.S. Coast Survey.30 bining an arc lamp with a stream of mercury h on sil er me l from the oy l orti- so that arcs formed between drops of mercury. cultural Society.44 Smithsoni n isitors in 1 mi ht h e seen In 1 1 hen y s in the nite St tes an ‘immense instrument for showing the col- enry h ecome intereste in terrestri l seeking an American patent and promoting ors of polarized light’ belonging to Thomas magnetism as a young man working as a land his in ention enry s e him to lecture Edmondson, a wealthy Baltimorean who had surveyor and on a magnetic survey of New t the Smithsoni n. In return y e the studied medicine, conducted electro-magnet- or . o in to shin ton he ur e the Smithsonian ‘a set of apparatus for exhibiting ic experiments, kept meteorological registers, ommissioner of the n ffce to instruct this light’ and a ‘powerful galvanic battery.’34 and amassed notable collections of books, the surveyors of public lands ‘to make obser- paintings, and violins.31 In 1848, at the annual meeting of the Ameri- vations on the variation of the compass so that can Association for the Advancement of without expending but little of the funds of hile the i il r ffecte the Smithson- Science enry met rnol uyot S iss the Smithsoni n I fn I c n here o oo ian in many ways, it did not stop the buying scientist recently arrived in the country who deal for the cause of american (sic) science.’45 s ree. ne not le urch se from this erio was advocating a national system of weather e lso ur e the re sury Secret ry to h e was a large $150 ebonite electrical machine o ser tions. rmin to the i e enry these surveyors make observations of mag- from C. F. Varley in London. Another was a asked Guyot to recommend instruments for netic dip and intensity. Smithsonian funds spectroscope from Charles Sacher, a German this purpose. By 1850 he was boasting that would pay for one set of instruments, and immigrant in New York. There was also an the ‘most important service’ the Smithsonian government funds would pay for another; the Amici polarizing microscope made in Paris; has rendered to meteorology was the ‘general observational expenses would come from the a phosphoroscope devised by A. E. Becquerel introduction into this country, of a more accu- public Treasury, and the Smithsonian would in Paris; a balance and weights from Becker rate set of instruments at a reasonable price.’ u lish the results. rently in uence & Sons in Brooklyn; an electric lantern and a e l ter cl ime th t the m nuf cture of me- by Bache, then serving as Superintendent of re ul tor from u osc in ris n hoto- teorological instruments in the United States, the o st Sur ey enry or ere t o sets of metric l r tus from the meric n frm of ‘compared with standards furnished by the In- instruments e ch ith ort le m ne- o n errifel . stitution from London and Paris, has been an tometer for declination’ and an ‘absolute hori- hile inform tion out the contents of the important means of advancing the science.’35 zontal intensity instrument with theodolite Apparatus Room may be scarce, so too is in- n st n com lete from hom s ones in The Smithsonian’s standard barometer was form tion out its use. e o no ho e - on on. e lso or ere t o i circles from made by John Frederick Newman in Lon- er th t it hoste m ny meetin s of scientifc enry B rro in on on.4 By the end of on. ith shi in it cost 129.42. Ernst mechanical and educational organizations. the decade, the Smithsonian had a magnetic in Paris supplied four Fortin-type barometers According to one newspaper announcement, observatory equipped with sophisticated Eng- ith met l tri o s for 100. ith this form rof. enry ill eli er lecture for lo- lish instruments, one that recorded observa- the user could lock the reservoir of mercury, cal teachers, and exhibit ‘a series of experi- tions photographically.47 and safely carry the barometer up and down ments’ with ‘the apparatus of the Institution.’ mountains for altitude determinations.37 Guy- ith sc rcely n e ce tion e ery meri- ccor in to nother hen illi m B rton ot used some of these barometers to determine can] expedition of any magnitude has re- Rogers, professor of natural philosophy at hei hts in the l chi n mount ins. e ceived more or less aid from the Smithson- the University of Virginia, gave a course of use them in in 1 2 hen he est lishe ian.’ So wrote Spencer Baird, the naturalist Smithsonian lectures on the chief mechanical ‘the relation of the standard barometers used ho ser e s the Institution s frst secon in properties of the air, including its relation to by the Institution to the most important stan- command.48 Some aid was verbal, but some sound and magnetism, the ‘experimental il- dards of the European observatories.’38 was instrumental. For the U.S. Naval Astro- lustrations were made with some of the beau- nomic l e ition to the Southern emi- tiful articles of apparatus belonging to the In- The Smithsonian bought several less expen- s here enry rocure chronometer from stitution.’ And according to yet another, when sive mercury barometers from James Green, einrich essels of lton (then in en- some 20 Indian ‘chief and warriors’ visited in New York. Smithsonian observers bought mark), and a seismometer made according to the Smithsonian, they were shown the Appa- many more.39 Green also made the behemoth the designs and under the supervision of the ratus Room, induced to join hands, and given rometer 240 inch l ss tu e flle ith in ur h hysicist mes i or es.49 ‘a severe galvanic shock.’32 sulphuric acid, and protected by a cylindrical r ss c se th t s mounte in the re t mes unc n r h m s to o r hic l enry reci te the lue of some h t re- ll of the Smithsoni n.40 engineer who, while surveying the bound- condite investigations, but was also interested ary between Mexico and the United States, in scientifc solutions to ro lems of u lic The Smithsonian bought rain gauges, snow used geomagnetic instruments bought by the concern. In 1852, the year that he became a gauges and wind vanes from Benjamin Pike Smithsonian. To replace these, the Smithson- member of the new congressionally mandat- & Son, in New York.41 It bought a standard ian ordered another set, from London, ‘at the e i ht ouse Bo r thir or er resnel thermometer from Bunten in Paris, another expense of the government.’ And thus, said lighthouse lens went on display in the Smith- from Troughton & Simms in London, several enry y n ition to the num er of in- soni n. enry h encountere resnel lenses common thermometers from Green in New struments of this kind, the means of promot- in Paris in 1837 when he visited the shop of York, and several hygrometers.42 And it re- ing the science of terrestrial magnetism, in François Soleil, and met Léonor Fresnel, sur- printed descriptions of meteorological instru- this country, will be increased.’ For the second viving brother of the French scientist who ments offered by L. P. Casella in London.43 Grinnell Expedition to the Arctic led by Navy h e ise the form. hile in Scotl n soon In 1 9 enry ou ht tente hronomet- physician, Elisha Kent Kane, the Smithsonian thereafter, he saw a Fresnel lens in opera- rical Thermometer devised by an Englishman supplied a ‘complete set’ of magnetic appara- tion.33 n me illi m enry untlett. esi ne tus and ‘the entire natural history equipment.’ ohn hom s y s n n lish ricul- for those wanting a permanent written record This magnetic apparatus was later used on an
30 Bulletin of the Scientifc Instrument Society No. 142 (2019) expedition to Mexico and Central America, ‘all the troops, now gathered, in and about Mike Neufeld and Alex Spencer, eds., The until captured and destroyed by bandits.50 shin ton in th t he h m e r- Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. An Auto- rangements for having this done.’ he frst biography. n er enry s le ershi the Smithsoni n observations pertained to nationality, height, established a laboratory for tests of ‘proposed 10. ose h enry loc e oo une 2 1 1 weight, breadth of chest, and age.57 In time, applications of science to the arts’ provided quoted in The Papers of Joseph Henry, vol. 8, p. the project also involved spirometers for lung the results were given to the public ‘without 19 . ich el r ncis onlin he o ul r n capacity, and dynamometers for strength. The the restriction of tent. lse here enry Scientifc ece tion of the ouc ult en ulum offci l ccount e l ine th t Simil r in- noted that the Smithsonian would provide a in the United States’, Isis, 90 (1999), pp. 181- vestigations had already been undertaken, to report free of cost ‘provided the information is 204. some e tent y rofessor enry in eh lf of of general interest or immediately connected 11. ose h enry errestri l hysics n em- the Smithsonian Institution, who had caused with the advance of science, but if the exami- perature’, Agricultural Report of the Commis- apparatus to be constructed for the purpose.’58 nation is required principally to promote the sioner of Patents for 1857 . 419 0 re rint- interest of individuals or companies, a charge In nu ry 1 fre r e rt of the ed in The Scientifc Writings of Joseph Henry is m e suffcient to co er the e ense of the Smithsoni n stle . In enry s or s he ( shin ton . . 1 ) ol. 2 . 211 investigation.’ urin the 1 0s the Smith- means for carrying on physical research at the on . 1 . e t ro uce throu h the ction sonian hosted tests of stone proposed for the Institution have been materially diminished, of the magnet on bodies in motion’, in ‘Cor- extension of the U.S. Capitol, of molasses on ccount of the estruction y fre of the respondence de M. Jerome Nicklès’, American imported into the country, of the new polar- very valuable collection of physical appara- Journal of Science, 21 (1 ) . 11 12 on izing apparatus suitable for assessing sugars tus. he riestley n re r tus re ir- 119. otion n e t Scientifc American, 11 and alcoholic beverages for tax purposes, of replaceable. The other articles of apparatus (1 ) . 1 u no there y the il es e ition may be replaced at an expense of about ten 12. illem c m nn lectricity from Ste m and of aneroid barometers. There were also thousand dollars.’59 Nothin unte enry rmstron s y roelectric chine in the experiments for constructing a scale of boil- was soon building another collection. But that 1840s’, in Making Instruments Count: Essays ing temperatures ‘corresponding to different is another story. on Historical Scientifc Instruments Presented degrees of rarefaction of the air.’51 to Gerard L’Estrange Turner e . . . . Notes and References n erson . . Bennett n . . y n ( l- r ni in the Smithsoni n mi ht h e een 1. ose h enry in Annual Report of the Board ershot 199 ) . 14 1 . enriett el or enou h ut enry s etermine to of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution for the William Armstrong: Magician of the North (Al- continue scientifc in esti tions. ne e e- Year 1849 (1850), p. 18. erein fter cite s An- nwick, 2010). Castle Garden. Mammoth Steam ning in 1855, in the company of a few friends, nual Report... for the Year ... And, unless oth- Electrical Machine ([1845]). he ‘reproduced with Rhumkorff’s apparatus er ise note ose h enry references re from 1 . illi m ones hees An Account of the ll the rinci l henomen of i m ne- his es i ry n oc et i ry in Smithson- 52 Smithsonian Institution, Its Founder, Building, tism.’ hen ont omery . ei s the ian Institution Archives, RU 007001. Army Engineer in charge of the extension of Operations ( shin ton 1 9 ) . 24 2 . . 2. Report of the Organization Committee of the U.S. Capital, was seeking advice about . ec Iconographic Encyclopaedia of Sci- the Smithsonian Institution ( shin ton . . esi ns for ne ch m er for the ouse of ence, Literature, and Art (New York, 1852), vol. 1847), p. 22. ‘Smithsonian Institution’, Ameri- e resent ti es enry use tunin for to 4, Section ‘Physics’, pp. 151-152, and Plate 22, can Journal of Science, 53 (1 4 ) . 2 4 2 . determine the effect of different materials on f s. . he ire t the Smithsoni n Institu- soun . hen consi erin ne lecture h ll . ose h enry to le n er ll s B che tion shin ton Evening Star (1 ) . 2. t the Smithsoni n enry ( n B che n March 31, 1847, in The Papers of Joseph Henry 14. ‘Journal of the Executive Committee’, June Meigs) visited acoustically notable buildings ( shin ton . . 199 ) ol. . 0 . An- 2 1 49 in illi m . hees e . The Smith- in Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. And nual Report…for the Year 1849 (1850), p. 18. sonian Institution ( shin ton 1 9) . 4 . in connection ith this or enry ou ht Annual Report…for the Year 1864 (1 ) . 4 . Metropolitan Mechanics’ Institute, A Record ‘Ear trumpets for experiments in acoustics.’53 4. enry to B che op. cit., Annual Report… for of the First Exhibition of the Metropolitan Me- 1854 (1855), p. 17. ‘The Progress of Science’, chanics’ Institute ( shin ton 1 ) . 1 In 1 reco ni in the incre sin cost of shin ton Evening Star (May 15, 1855), p. and 23. sperm oil, the Smithsonian laboratory hosted 2. ‘an extended series of experiments on the 1 . mes . s y to ose h enry in Annual properties of different kinds of oil intended 5. For an illustration of the Peltier design, see Report…for the Year 1847 (1848), pp. 47-48. for light-houses purposes’, as well as work on ose h enry eteorolo y in Its onnection ose h enry to s y ril 2 1 49 in The the est rr n ement of re ectors n lenses with Agriculture’, Part V, ’Atmospheric Elec- Papers of Joseph Henry ol. ( shin ton . . 19 9) . 0 09. mes . lemin and photometrical apparatus for the Light tricity’, in Agricultural Report of the Commis- Meteorology in America, 1800-1870 (Balti- ouse Bo r .54 In 1 4 there s n e ten- sioner of Patents for 1859 . 4 1 24. more, 1990), pp. 78-81. sive series of experiments relating to ‘the con- . enry . . eltier emoir of eltier n- dition of the air, and the mode of ventilation nu l e ort for 1 (1 ) . 1 1 2. 1 . ose h enry to hr im eor e S uier of the United States Capitol.’55 April 24, 1849, in The Papers of Joseph Henry, . . isli enus tmos heric lectricity ol. ( shin ton . . 199 ) . 10 11. i e m ny scientists of his time enry Transactions of the Academy of Sciences of St. ose h enry to e is . i es uly 14 trusted that precise data and statistical corre- Louis, 1 (1 1 1 ) . 119 on . 4 . 1851, in The Papers of Joseph Henry, vol. 8 lations, as had proved fruitful in the natural . re t B lloon eriments y rof. ise ( shin ton . . 199 ) . 201 20 . sciences, would lead to improved understand- [Raleigh, N.C.] Semi-Weekly Standard (May 15, 17. ‘A Compound Achromatic Microscope ings of peoples around the world. The Civil 1858), p. 2. r ro i e n o ortunity to test this i e . Made By An American Artist’, The Literary World, 2 (1848), p. 281; reprinted in The Com- In y 1 1 soon fter the om r ment of 9. ry ohlin Thaddeus Lowe, America’s mon School Journal, 9 (1848), pp. 377-378, and ort Sumter enry rote out me surin One-Man Air Corps (New York, 1958). The Living Age, 16 (1848), pp. 230-231. C. R.
Bulletin of the Scientifc Instrument Society No. 142 (2019) 31 Gilman, ‘An Account of a Compound Achro- Projections by Ferdinand Engel (New York, [c. . 2 29. ose h . il r escri tion of matic Microscope, Made by Charles A. Spencer 1 ). . . hristi n ottlie er in n n- the netic ser tory t the Smithsoni n of Canastota, N. Y.’, American Journal of Sci- gel’, American Journal of Science, 45 (1 ) Institution’, Smithsonian Institution Annual Re- ence (1 4 ) . 2 241. ose h enry es pp. 282-283. port, 10 (1 0) . 9 . diary, March 22, 1852. 31. ‘Polarized Light’, Scientifc American, 11 48. 37. S. F. Baird, ‘Report on American Ex- 18. Annual Report…for the Year 1864 (1 ) (1 ) . 9. . mon son he ot tin plorations in the Years 1853 and 1854’, Annual p. 54. Armatures’, American Journal of Science, 26 Report…for the Year 1854 (1855), pp. 79-94. (1 4) . 20 20 . lish ent ne netic l ser tions in 19. Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Arctic Seas’ in Smithsonian Contributions to the Smithsonian Institution for the Year 1857 2. rof. enry shin ton Evening Star Knowledge, 10 (1858), p. 29. (1858), pp. 34-35. Annual Report of the Board ( une 1 0) . . Smithsoni n ectures of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution for the shin ton Daily National Intelligencer (Jan. 49. ‘Apparatus and Instruments of Research’, Year 1859 (1 0) . 10 . 15, 1852). ‘Indians at the Smithsonian Institute’, Annual Report…for the Year 1850 (1851), p. 23. Graham’s American Monthly Magazine of Lit- 20. Edgar Fahs Smith, The Life of Robert Hare: 50. Annual Report…for the Year 1857 (1858), erature and Fashion, 52 (1858), p. 271. An American Chemist, 1781-1858 (Philadel- . 29 0 n 4. B ron on ller ser- phia, 1917). ‘Journal of the Executive Com- 33. Teresa Levitt, A Short Bright Flash: Augus- vations of Terrestrial Magnetism in Mexico’, mittee une 2 1 49 in illi m . hees tin Fresnel and the Birth of the Modern Light- Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, 11 ed., The Smithsonian Institution ( shin ton house (New York, 2013), p. 154. (1859), p. 1. 1879), pp. 472-473. 34. Annual Report…for the Year 1861 (1 2) 51. Annual Report…for the Year 1850 (1851), 21. Annual Report…for the Year 1861 (1 2) p. 38. pp. 15-19. Annual Report of the Board of Re- . . ohn re eric niell An Introduction gents of the Smithsonian Institution for the Year 35. Annual Report…for the Year 1850 (1851), to the Study of Chemical Philosophy (London, 1851 (1852), p. 18. Annual Report…for the Year pp. 18-19. Annual Report…for the Year 1857 1830), pp. 438-439. 1854 (1855), p. 18. Annual Report…for the (1 ) . 2 . mes i ht n emoir of Year 1858 (1859), p. 35. Gregory T. Cushman, 22. niel is r. Manual of Magnetism Arnold Guyot’, National Academy of Sciences Guano and the Opening of the Pacifc World: A (New York, 1848), pp. 249-253; quote on 244. (1 ). Global Ecological History (Cambridge, 2013), 2 . re t neto lectric chine sh- . ohn Ne m n n Ne etho of on- p. 83. ington] Daily National Intelligencer ( ct. 2 structing a Portable Barometer’, Report of the 2. ose h enry ecor of eriments 1851), p. 1. Charles G. Page, ‘New Magneto- Third Meeting of the British Association for the July 28, 1855, in The Papers of Joseph Henry, Electrical Machine of great power’, American Advancement of Science (1833), pp. 417-418. ol. 9 ( shin ton . . 2002) . 2 2 0. Journal of Science, 34 (1 ) . 1 1 9. 37. Ernst invoice, Fiscal Records, SI Archives. Robert C. Post, Physics, Patents & Politics: A . illi m . ic inson e n . errin n Biography of Charles Grafton Page (New York, . . uyot n the l chi n ount in on l . ennon Montgomery C. Meigs and 1 ). System’, American Journal of Science, 31 the Building of the Nation’s Capital (Athens, (1 1) . 1 1 on 1 2. e ort of the hio 2001). mily nn hom son The Sound- 24. ose h enry es i ry ril 1 0 y Secretary’, Annual Report…for the Year 1862 scape of Modernity: Architectural Acoustics 19, 1850, and May 14, 1852. (1 ) . 1. and the Culture of Listening in America, 1900- 2 . ohn . illie Im ro ement in lectro 39. Annual Report…for the Year 1849 (1850), 1933 ( m ri e 2004) . 2 2 . ose h Magnetic Engines’, U.S. Patent 7,287 (April pp. 11 and 18. enry n coustics lie to u lic Buil - 1 1 0). ose h enry es i ry n. 2 ings’, Proceedings of the American Association n e . 1 0. ohn . illie in oice e . 40. ose h enry ccount of r e Sul h- for the Advancement of Science, 10 (1 ) . 1850, Fiscal Records, SI Archives, RU 000093. uric ci B rometer in the ll of the Smithso- 119-135; also Annual Report…for the Year 1856 nian Institution’, Proceedings of the American 2 . ose h enry testimoni l in r S. (1857), pp. 221-234. Association for the Advancement of Science, 10 Ritchie, Ritchie’s Illustrated Catalogue of Phil- (1 ) . 1 1 . 54. Annual Report…for the Year 1863 (1 4) osophical Instruments (Boston 1 0 ) p. x. pp. 34-35 and 77. 41. Annual Report…for the Year 1849 (1850), 27. Ebenezer S. Snell, ‘Account of some new pp. 11 and 18. 55. Annual Report…for the Year 1864 (1 ) Articles of Philosophical Apparatus’, American p. 29. Journal of Science, 29 (1845), pp. 21-27. 42. Annual Report . . . for the Year 1850 (1851), pp. 15-19. . ose h enry to r . nsfel y 2 . lter . ohnson escri tion of n - 1 1 1 in The Papers of Joseph Henry, vol. paratus, called the Rotascope, for Exhibiting 43. ‘Meteorological Instruments’, in Annual… 10 (2004), pp. 210-212. Several Phenomena and Illustrating Certain for the Year 1859 (1 0) . 4 4 440. . illi m o r ussell My Diary North Laws of Rotary Motion’, American Journal of 44. ‘Gauntlett’s Chronometrical Thermometer’, and South ( on on 1 ) ol. 2 . 12 . us- Science, 21 (1 2) . 2 4 2 0. nnu l e ort he n ineer (1 ) . 1 4. sell on American Affairs’, [San Francisco] Daily . . . for the Year 1849 (1850), p. 18. Annual Re- Evening Bulletin (Se t. 1 1). ort . . . for the e r 1 (1 ) . 1 190. 4 . ose h enry to rriet enry ril 1 1847. http://modeleditions.blackmesatech.com/ 58. Benjamin Apthorp Gould, Investigations in 29. ent oo . ells ionysius r ner me ml h0 00 9.html (accessed Aug. 30, the Military and Anthropological Statistics of Popular Science Showman of the 1840s’, The 2018). American Soldiers (Ne or 1 9) ol. 2 . Magic Lantern Gazette, 29 (Spring 2017), pp. 218. 2-18. 4 . ose h enry oc et Note oo (1 4 ) . 44. 59. Annual Report…for the Year 1864 (1 ) . 30. Ferdinand Engel, Axonometrical Projec- 54. Annual Report…for the Year 1865 (1 ) tions on the Most Important Geometrical Sur- 47. Robert P. Multhauf and Gregory Good, A p. 18. faces and Drawings for Descriptive Geometry. Brief History of Geomagnetism and A Catalog Serving at the Same Time as a Catalogue of of the Collections of the National Museum of Author’s email address: [email protected] Models Executed according to the Aforesaid American History ( shin ton . . 19 )
32 Bulletin of the Scientifc Instrument Society No. 142 (2019)