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Chess Papers of Eugene B. Cook
Notifications
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
Eugene B. Cook was an expert chess player, as well as a skater, musician, author, and mountain climbing enthusiast. Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1830, he was president of the Hoboken Chess Club and collected books and memorabilia on the subject. Cook also authored The American Chess Nut and The Poetry of Motion in Skating. He died in 1915.
Consists of correspondence, copies of classic chess manuscripts and diagrams, and memorabilia of Cook (Class of 1850), as well as notes and printed matter of the Appalachian Mountain Club. The collection contains personal correspondence--with individual chess enthusiasts such as Charles Gilberg, chess clubs, including the Hoboken Chess Club of which Cook was president for many years, importers and publishers of chess books, and newspapers regarding chess columns--and miscellaneous financial correspondence dealing with subscriptions to chess magazines and equipment. There are copies of manuscripts and diagrams of famous chess problems, including the Bonus Socius, Wolfenbuttel Extravaganza, Al Hakim, Alphonsine, Boncompagni, Codex Vaticanus, De Ludo Scaccorum, and Picardese. In addition, the collection contains notes and printed matter relating to meetings, social functions, trips, and miscellaneous financial material of the Appalachian Mountain Club.
Arranged in this order: correspondence (alphabetical), copies of chess manuscripts and sketches (alphabetical), printed matter of the Appalachian Mountain Club.
The following sources were consulted during preparation of biographical note: From New York Times, "Chess Expert Dies at 85," March 20, 1915, page 13.
Addition of timeline is a gift of Benjamin F. Levene Jr.
This collection was processed in 2002. Finding aid written in 2002.
Biography written by Jessica Marati, '08.
No appraisal information is available.
People
Organization
Subject
- Board games -- United States -- 19th century
- Chess problems
- Chess -- United States -- Collections of games -- 19th century
- Educational games -- United States -- 19th century
- Mountaineering -- United States -- Societies, etc. -- 19th century
Occupation
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Date
- 2002
- 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
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Concerning bibliography. Disposition of Collection after death (Gregory B. Keen)
Cook's notes for biography (See also: Gilberg)
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Scoresheets from Capablanca-Marshall match
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Asks for picture ( 1898 October 19). William Borsodi. About problem tournament.
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Chess Editor, Boston Globe Dec. 9, 1878, has photo in hand. Nov. 1881, published 2 prob. under P&W.
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See: Brooklyn Chess Club
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Dedicates problem to Cook: Also bibliography. Substantial correspondence about problems
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George Walker's appeal in behalf of Capt. Evans: a curiosity.
Includes a few problems, Chess-Nuts and some bibliography.
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Correspondent for European newspapers. Vienna--seems to have collected problems for Cook--many.
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Includes Problem Tournament
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Chess bibliography. Also letter from M. Lissner
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Chess organization
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Problem correspondence and problems.
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Hiking
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Much correspondence on bibliography
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also letter from Manuel Munoz (E.M. Munoz?) Jr., Ed. of "Prospects"
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Hiking
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ed. of col. in The Gentlemen's Journal; exchanging photos
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Hiking
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ed. of Sunday Morning Voice.
Problems correspondence. American Chess Problem Association.
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Problem correspondence, and 1 problem
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Pleasant View Cottage in White Mountains. Irvin Mountain, N.H.
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Cook was editor of "The Monthly"
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Problems correspondence.
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Asking Cook to read the proof of the Baedeker Handbook to the U.S. (1892)
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Problems correspondence.
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Problems correspondence.
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Hartwig Cassel, Hermann Helms
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Appalachian Mountain Club
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Appalachian Mountain Club
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Appalachian Mountain Club
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Problems correspondence
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Hiking
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Problem correspondence
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Publishers of "The Chess Digest"
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Problem correspondence and problem
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Appalachian Mountain Club
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Problem correspondence
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Wants to know how many Lucenas are in the Spanish Nat. Library (2)
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Problem correspondence and problems.
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French editor of "La Strategie"
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Problem correspondence
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Book dealer
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chess official
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Appalachian Mountain Club
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Hiking
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Appalachian Mountain Club
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Problems correspondence, many problems (substantial)
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Problems correspondence; Problems
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Hiking
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Chess bibliography.
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Hiking
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Problem correspondence, problem
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Hiking
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Problems correspondence
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Chess bibliography. Translation of Jacobus van der Capellen van der Weninger.
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Appalachian Mountain Club
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Hiking
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Problems correspondence. problems
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Problem correspondence, problem
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Bibliography, problem, letter from Heydebrand und der Lasa.
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Problem correspondence.
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Hiking
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Problem correspondence.
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Problem correspondence.
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Problem correspondence and problems
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Problem correspondence and problem
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5 boxes
Abschnitt.Abarten des (alten) Schachspieles -- 3. Abschnitt. Schachmiscellen. (Cook's copy broken apart)
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Manuscript from J.G. White. Orig. written in 1466 and entitled "Tractatus partitorum schachorum, tabulorum et meullarum" by an unknown author from Bologna. (from White's Introduction)
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Bound manuscript with Cook's worksheets. (M. p. 485)
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"Aeli-Suli Codex" of Stambul in the libs. of Sultan Abd-ul Hamid I, AD1140, Baghdad. (M. p. 171)
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Introduction by White. (M. p. 173)
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Cook's work.
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(M. p. 621?)
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Intro by John White, dated Cleveland, 1-15-1893). (M. p. 681)
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Cook's Work
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White's Work
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Intro by White. (M. p. 624)
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(Man. dated 12.12.1894, Rome) (M. p. 727)
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(notes in German) (M. p. 495)
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White's introduction (dated March 24, 1894)
(Perhaps same as Florentine ms.? M. p. 620)
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Intro by White (undated). (M. p. 583)
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Problem sheets and Cook's work. Plus collation for Dresdem Ms. by White (M. p. 607)
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Different hand, but White's note at top: Regles du jeu des echets (al. man.) en latine. (M. p. 782)
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1512 A.D. Problems on Cook's sheets (M. p. 645)
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Signed JGW with White's problem sheets
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Printed desc. (from folder 1). Openings
White intro to Suderland MS plus manuscript
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Letter from Cook to White. Mentions chessicat cards, plus a problem composed to Polerio and White ( 1882 January 6) plus White's Oriental Problems cont. by Geo Walker to (?) poss. books Lewis Oriental chess (42845.583.2); Walker (0513.924.9)
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Copy of man. with White's intro. Cook's and White's problem sheets.
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Cook's note: Forbe's History of chess, p. 117 (177). (M. p. 179)
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Cook's prob. sheets. (M. p. 621)
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White's introduction and his problem sheets. Cook's work (M. p. 821)
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White's introduction ( 1874 April) White and Cook's work. (M. p. 601)
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White (M. p. 624)
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(The rest)
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Intro by u.d.Lasa in Germa. Notes by u.d.Lasa and Cook. Lasa included some extra descriptions from his own manuscripts. (M. p. 643)
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Introduction by White. Problems in book form (as others); Cook's problem sheets
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Cook's work
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All by White. Introduction by White (This time all on problem sheets) in Imperial Library at Vienna. Denis Janot copied from Lasa's copy. (M. p. 707)
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Cook's work (M. 719)
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White and Cook's work. Maybe u.d.Lasa (Last one)
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Also collection of Vonm Schach MS. White and Cook
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Intro by White. Mentions diagrams numbers as folder 9. "v.d.L. Lit. und Ges. de Schach 293 is not correct" (White) (M. p. 623)
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1) Hartwell MS by White on problem sheets (M. p. 601)
2) Notes on problems of the R. Bibliotheca Casenatense Cod. 791 (M. p. 727)
Also, page of White describing various problems.
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Announcement in 1887 with note from R.B. Lawrence "I will fix it so that you will not be obliged to carry anything, even your blankets."
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Including his Member Cards
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"Four preceded this one" with prices and where from. By author. Also, some sort of number. But--Carrera, Giuoco degli scacchi, 1817. goes to (positions diagrammed, E.B.C." [See box: Chess Problems] Also,White's catalogue and supplementary lists for 1891-3. Some items mentioned:
- Verzeichnis meiner Sammlung (Lasa), 1887.
- Masudi (Manuscript book of chess passages)
- Loyd. The chess champions, 1868 (fr. author)
- Morphy. Ms. book of supplemental games to Lowenthal's collection
- Stanley's 31 games at chess, 1848.
- Photographs of Paris Polerio MS. f. 68, 7a, 8a, 53b, 57b, 13a, 96b, 17a, 18, 73b
- Bartlett, John. Notation (from Bartlett)
- Allen's book of Philidor from Allen.
- Gould Robert. Ludus Schach by u.d.Lasa
- Hill, J.M. 57 of his problems in his own schrift. Many unpublished.
- v.d.Linde- mention of "Poem to his nieces" on presenting them with a set of chessmen. From Spirit of the F (J--)
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Various, plus White's list of "Writings as to Knight's leap"
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Envelope. Sewing of: "White to play and mate in four moves"
W: Kf1, Qa3, Rd4, Nc5,f6, Bf7, Pe3,f2
B. K43, Rd8, Bf5, h6, Nb5,c6, Pc4,d5,g4,h3
Princeton chessboard pillow.
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Includes Game of chess by Thomas Jackson (poem)
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7 boxes
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Cook's problems arranged and bound by him.
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