Smithsonian Institution Archives

Correspondence and Memoranda, 1860-1908

Summary

Collection ID:
SIA.FARU0189
Creators:
Smithsonian Institution. Assistant Secretary in charge of the United States National Museum
Dates:
1860-1908
Languages:
English
Physical Description:
76.58 cu. ft. (151 document boxes) (3 5x8 boxes)
Repository:
Smithsonian Institution Archives

Descriptive Entry

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.
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.

Historical Note

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.

Administration

Author
Finding aid prepared by Smithsonian Institution Archives

Using the Collection

Preferred 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.

More Information

Notes

SI Records


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Hippisley, Alfred Edward, d. 1939 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Capron, Horace, 1804-1885 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Brown, John Croumbie Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Chamberlain, Frances Lea Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Harris, Israel H., 1823- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jeffreys, John Gwyn, 1809-1885 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Keam, Thomas V. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Perkins, Frederick Stanton, 1832-1899 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Shufeldt, Robert W. (Robert Wilson), 1850-1934 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bradley Collection of Fossils Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Williams, Talcott, 1849-1928 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Abbott, William Louis, 1860-1936 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bowdish, Beecher S. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Boyd, S. H., 1828-1894 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Brown, William Harvey Dr. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Calkins, C. G. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Camp, John H. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Chaillé-Long, C. (Charles), 1842-1917 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Chatelain, Héli Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Deschamps, Emile, 1857- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Geisler, Bruno Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jouy, Pierre Louis Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kerr, Mark Brickell Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
King, C. A. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
LeBaron, John Francis Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
MacFarlane, R. (Roderick), 1833-1920 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
MacGowan, D. J. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Miller, Alfred Jacob, 1810-1874 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Montcrieffe, R. B Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Nelson, Edward William, 1855-1934 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ogden, Herbert Gouverneur, 1846-1906 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Orcutt, Charles Russell, 1864-1929 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Palmer, Edward, 1831-1911 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Peary, Robert E. (Robert Edwin), 1856-1920 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Pringle, Cyrus G. (Cyrus Guernsey), 1838-1911 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Richmond, Charles Wallace, 1868-1932 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Rockhill, William Woodville, 1854-1914 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Safford, William Edwin, 1859-1926 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Shufeldt, Percy W. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Snyder, D. W. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Stearns, Winfrid Alden, 1852-1909 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Stein, Robert Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Thomas, Cyrus, 1825-1910 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wilcox, Timothy E. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Woolfe, Henry D. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Collins, J. W. (Joseph William), 1839-1904 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cluss, Adolph, 1825-1905 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Atwater, W. O. (Wilbur Olin), 1844-1907 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Smithsonian Institution -- Administration Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cardwell Collection of Egyptian Antiquities Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Riggs Collection of Arms and Armor Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Owen Collection of Fossils Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Troost Collection of Crinoids Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ball Herbarium Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States-Mexican International Boundary Commission (1891-1894) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Section of Naval Architecture Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Arts and Industries Building (Washington, D.C.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States National Museum. Section of Foods Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Medicinal Flora of America Commission Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States Navy Expedition to Guam (1899) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Greely Relief Expedition (1884) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Illustrated American Expedition to Southern Utah and Northern New Mexico Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museums -- Administration Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Museums -- Collection management Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manuscripts Genre/Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Smithsonian Institution Archives
Washington, D.C.
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