Call Number:

070.001

Repository:

Science History Institute Archives

Extent:

5.1 linear feet (14 boxes)

Preferred Citation:

The Papers of James Curtis Booth, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania..

Date:

1785-1944 (inclusive) and 1830-1895 (bulk)

Creator:

Carson, Marian S.

Form:

Archival materials

Abstract:

This collection represents material created by several generations of the Booth Family. The material created by James Curtis Booth is professional in nature. Material by his daughters and other family members is more personal in nature. There are also literary works, some of them published by George ("Amyntor") Booth, the father of James.

James Curtis Booth was an analytical chemist and metallurgist who spent the bulk of his professional life as an employee of the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia, where he was Chief Melter and Refiner. He also taught chemistry and partnered with Matthew Boye and later with Thomas Garretson, ran a successful analytical laboratory-cum-training school for chemists, the first institution of its kind to be opened in the United States.

For a more detailed inventory, please view this record in our library catalog: https://othmerlib.sciencehistory.org/record=b1043273~S6

The collection falls naturally into three parts. The first and largest part concerns James Curtis Booth, his student days in Germany, and his long career at the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia. The second part contains writings, mostly letters, to and from Booth's wife and daughters. These are personal in nature. The final part contains writings by other members of Booth's family, including material by his father, George Booth, who published under the pen-name "Amyntor.".