Correspondence and Memoranda, 1860-1908 Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives Smithsonian Institution Archives Washington, D.C. Contact us at [email protected] Table of Contents Collection Overview ........................................................................................................ 1 Administrative Information .............................................................................................. 1 Historical Note.................................................................................................................. 1 Descriptive Entry.............................................................................................................. 1 Names and Subjects ...................................................................................................... 2 Container Listing ............................................................................................................. 4 Correspondence and Memoranda https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_arc_216765 Collection Overview Repository: Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C., [email protected] Title: Correspondence and Memoranda Identifier: Record Unit 189 Date: 1860-1908 Extent: 76.58 cu. ft. (151 document boxes) (3 5x8 boxes) Creator:: Smithsonian Institution. Assistant Secretary in charge of the United States National Museum Language: English Administrative Information Prefered Citation Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 189, Smithsonian Institution, Assistant Secretary in charge of the United States National Museum, Correspondence and Memoranda Access Restriction Inquiries related to specimens should be directed to the appropriate museum registrar. Historical Note These records comprise the primary incoming correspondence of the officer in immediate charge of the United States National Museum. Beginning in 1850 with the appointment of Spencer F. Baird, the primary responsibility of the Assistant Secretary was the direction of the United States National Museum. The Assistant Secretary also performed other functions at the direction of the Secretary, and for various periods of time was in charge of publications, exchanges, and other areas. Incumbents included: (1) Spencer F. Baird, 1850-1878; (2) George Brown Goode, 1880-1896, including the years 1880-1887 when he served as assistant director of the museum without the title of Assistant Secretary; (3) Charles D. Walcott, Acting Assistant Secretary, 1897-1898; (4) Richard Rathbun, 1897-1918. After Goode's death in 1896, the business of the office was administered for a time by the executive curator, Frederick William True. Descriptive Entry Most of the correspondence is directed to Goode, with lesser amounts to True, Walcott, and Rathbun. Also, a small amount of correspondence is addressed to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, (Baird, 1878-1887; and Samuel P. Langley, 1887-1906) but is generally referred to the Assistant Secretary for response. Page 1 of 85 Correspondence and Memoranda https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_arc_216765 Much of the material is routine correspondence from the general public, and deals with offers to sell and collect specimens, the identification of artifacts and specimens, museum administration, and requests for publications. Also evident is correspondence from contractors, publishing houses, and other firms conducting business transactions with the United States National Museum. A large part of the international scientific community corresponded with the United States National Museum, and many letters concerning 19th century science and scientific affairs are contained in this collection. A large quantity of correspondence exists from museums, scientists, various scientific institutions, and colleges and universities. Once again, much of the correspondence is routine, concerning exhibits, museum administration, requests for publications, and the exchange of specimens. A voluminous amount of material regards United States National Museum publications. However, most of the correspondence concerns the technical production of the manuscripts, rather than the content. Materials of special interest include correspondence from collectors and naturalists in the field, plans and accounts of scientific expeditions, and data on significant accessions. A small amount of outgoing correspondence appears in the collection. See Record Unit 112 for outgoing correspondence. Names and Subject Terms This collection is indexed in the online catalog of the Smithsonian Institution under the following terms: Subjects: Museums -- Administration Museums -- Collection management Types of Materials: Manuscripts Names: Abbott, William Louis, 1860-1936 Arts and Industries Building (Washington, D.C.) Atwater, W. O. (Wilbur Olin), 1844-1907 Ball Herbarium Bowdish, Beecher S. Boyd, S. H., 1828-1894 Bradley Collection of Fossils Brown, John Croumbie Brown, William Harvey Dr. Calkins, C. G. Camp, John H. Capron, Horace, 1804-1885 Cardwell Collection of Egyptian Antiquities Chaillé-Long, C. (Charles), 1842-1917 Chamberlain, Frances Lea Chatelain, Héli Cluss, Adolph, 1825-1905 Collins, J. W. (Joseph William), 1839-1904 Deschamps, Emile, 1857- Geisler, Bruno Greely Relief Expedition (1884) Harris, Israel H., 1823- Page 2 of 85 Correspondence and Memoranda https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_arc_216765 Hippisley, Alfred Edward, d. 1939 Illustrated American Expedition to Southern Utah and Northern New Mexico Jeffreys, John Gwyn, 1809-1885 Jouy, Pierre Louis Keam, Thomas V. Kerr, Mark Brickell King, C. A. LeBaron, John Francis MacFarlane, R. (Roderick), 1833-1920 MacGowan, D. J. Medicinal Flora of America Commission Miller, Alfred Jacob, 1810-1874 Montcrieffe, R. B Nelson, Edward William, 1855-1934 Ogden, Herbert Gouverneur, 1846-1906 Orcutt, Charles Russell, 1864-1929 Owen Collection of Fossils Palmer, Edward, 1831-1911 Peary, Robert E. (Robert Edwin), 1856-1920 Perkins, Frederick Stanton, 1832-1899 Pringle, Cyrus G. (Cyrus Guernsey), 1838-1911 Richmond, Charles Wallace, 1868-1932 Riggs Collection of Arms and Armor Rockhill, William Woodville, 1854-1914 Safford, William Edwin, 1859-1926 Shufeldt, Percy W. Shufeldt, Robert W. (Robert Wilson), 1850-1934 Smithsonian Institution -- Administration Snyder, D. W. Stearns, Winfrid Alden, 1852-1909 Stein, Robert Thomas, Cyrus, 1825-1910 Troost Collection of Crinoids United States National Museum United States National Museum. Section of Foods United States National Museum. Section of Naval Architecture United States Navy Expedition to Guam (1899) United States-Mexican International Boundary Commission (1891-1894) Wilcox, Timothy E. Williams, Talcott, 1849-1928 Woolfe, Henry D. Page 3 of 85 Correspondence and Memoranda https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_arc_216765 Container Listing Box 1 Box 1 of 154 Folder 1 Aaberg, O. H. - Abbott, W. H. Correspondents include: Cleveland Abbe (1885-1896) and Charles Conrad Abbott (1890-1894). Box 1 of 154 Folder 2 Abbott, William Louis, 1889-1901. Material includes correspondence with: George Brown Goode (3/8/1889) concerning a field trip to Central Africa; Goode (4/25/1891) requesting government aid for his expedition to Somaliland; Goode (11/1/1891) concerning his collections made in Kashmir; Frederick William True (3/20/1895) regarding the collection of specimens in Turkenstan and the Pamirs; Goode and True (2/19/1896, 7/15/1896, and 8/9/1896) regarding specimens collected in lower Siam; True and Charles Wallace Richmond (5/7/1897, 6/5/1897, and 9/22/1897) concerning a trip to Rupshire and Kashmir; True (1/11/1890) regarding collecting work conducted in Burma. Box 1 of 154 Folder 3 Abbott, William Louis. Papers published by the United States National Museum based on the collections of Dr. Abbott, 1890-1894. Box 1 of 154 Folder 4 Abbott, William Louis. Field notes and map from a trip to Aksu and Yarkland, Eastern Turkestan, 1893-1894. Box 1 of 154 Folder 5 Abbott, W. W. - Adair, J. M. Correspondents include A.A. Ackerman (1884 and 1889). Box 1 of 154 Folder 6 Adami, Hem - Adams, G. Box 1 of 154 Folder 7 Adams, Herbert Baxter - Adams, W. W. Correspondents include Herbert Baxter Adams (1888-1892). Box 1 of 154 Folder 8 Adaseheck, George - Agard, C. W. Box 2 Box 2 of 154 Folders 1-2 Agassiz, Alexander, 1882-1895. Box 2 of 154 Folder 3 Agassiz, Alexander, 1896-1901 - Agriculture, South Carolina Commissioner of. Box 2 of 154 Folder 4 Ahem, G. P. - Akron Smoking Pipe Company. Box 2 of 154 Folder 5 Alabama, Geological Survey of - Alcock, A. Correspondents include A. Alcock of the Indian Museum, Calcutta (1893-1901). Page 4 of 85 Correspondence and Memoranda https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_arc_216765 Box 2 of 154 Folder 6 Alden, F. W. - Aldridge, F. C. Correspondents include: Charles Aldrich, curator of the Historical Department of Iowa (1893-1902); John Merton Aldrich (1897-1900). Box 2 of 154 Folder 7 Aler, F. V. - Allfree Engine Company. Box 2 of 154 Folder 8 Allen, A. A. - Allen, G. Box 3 Box 3 of 154 Folder 1 Allen, Harrison, 1887-1897. Included in the correspondence is material concerning Allen's research on bats and his work, "A Monograph of the Bats of North America," (U. S. N. M. Bulletin #43, 1893). Box 3 of 154 Folder 2 Allen, Harrison Jr. - Allen, Joel Asaph. Correspondents include Joel Asaph Allen (1887-1901). Allen served as curator of the Department of Mammalogy and Ornithology of the American Museum of Natural History. Much of the correspondence regards the exchange of specimens between the U. S. N. M.