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Joseph Henry Collection
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Joseph Henry was born in 1797 in Albany, New York. A graduate of Albany Academy, he worked as a schoolteacher, private tutor, and surveyor before appointment as professor of mathematics at Albany Academy in 1826. Henry then took up research in the new field of electromagnetism; his first notable success was the improvement of William Sturgeon's electromagnet. In 1832, he joined the faculty of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) as a professor of natural philosophy (physics), but in 1846 he left to become the first secretary and director of the Smithsonian Institution. As director of the Smithsonian, he helped organize the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Henry was also a trustee of the College of New Jersey (1864), an original member of the National Academy of Sciences, and the organization's president for ten years from 1868 to 1878. He died in Washington, D.C., in 1878.
The collection consists primarily of correspondence by Henry, including original letters and numerous photostats of Henry's letters housed in institutions other than Princeton, such as the Smithsonian Institution. Also included are several documents signed by Henry, and one letter each by George M. Dallas, Theodore Sedgwick, and Reverdy Johnson.
The following standard abbreviations, or their variations, are used to identify materials in this collection: ALS = autograph letter signed, TLS = typed letter signed, AMs = autograph manuscript, and DS = document signed.
The collection has been arranged as follows: Correspondence, Photostats. The correspondence is organized by accession number, and the photostats are organized alphabetically by source.
Gift of Albert G. Gluckman, Mildred H. Crew, and Jefferson Hayes Davis and some letters purchased from Terry Alford in 1979.
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
This collection was processed by Ran Tao '06 in 2003. Finding aid written by Ran Tao '06 in 2003.
No appraisal information is available.
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Ran Tao '06
- Finding Aid Date
- 2003
- Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
-
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.
Collection Inventory
Consists of correspondence with individuals such as James Alexander, Dr. George Mclean, and Jefferson Davis.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description1 box
1 folderSigned form letter
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
Includes materials with identifiers: 8023, 8024.
Physical Description1 folderAutograph letter, signed
A friendly answer to Gledhill's letter.
Physical Description1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderSigned form letter
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed (copy)
Letter states that it is impossible to get living specimens of the germs Arnia, but that some in alcohol are available.
Physical Description1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph manuscript (by unknown hand)
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
Regarding the death of Prof. Jacob W. Bailey.
Physical Description1 folderSigned document
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
Includes materials with identifiers: 12874, 13144.
Physical Description1 boxAutograph letters and form letters, signed
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
With a list of processional participants.
Physical Description1 folder
Explaining what activities have forced him to leave Dr. Hodge's letter unacknowledged for so long and mentions an appointment in which both are interested.
Physical Description1 folderAutograph letter, signed
Assures trustees that he would not consider accepting the presidency of the college and devotes the remainder of the letter to the recommendation of John Maclean for the position.
Physical Description1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folder
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderTyped letter, signed
Consists of photostats from institutions such as the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Rutgers University, the University of Michigan, and the Smithsonian Institute, as well as others.
Arranged by institution of origin.
Physical Description1 box
1 box
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 box
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 folderAutograph letter, signed
1 box
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 box
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder