Smithsonian Institution Archives

Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution

Record Unit 201
Assistant Secretary in charge of the United States National Museum,
Correspondence and Memoranda,
1875-1902

By William A. Deiss, William E. Cox


Introduction

Historical Note

Descriptive Entry

Series Descriptions

  Series 1. LETTERS RECEIVED FROM OFFICIALS OF THE MUSEUM, 1880-1902.

  Series 2. LETTERS RECEIVED FROM DEPARTMENTS AND BUREAUS OF THE GOVERNMENT, 1875-1902.



INTRODUCTION

This finding aid was digitized with funds generously provided by the Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee.


HISTORICAL NOTE

In 1882 a provisional classification of the departments within the United States National Museum was adopted. The newly created Division of Administration contained several departments, three of which--the departments of Direction, Registry and Storage, and Archives--dealt with correspondence. The latter two dealt mostly with correspondence relating to loans and accessions, and were under the direction of Stephen C. Brown. The Department of Direction (under the Assistant Director, George Brown Goode), as part of its function, maintained the central correspondence files of the administration of the U.S. National Museum. Randolph Iltyd Geare (1854-1917), an executive clerk in the department, was placed in charge of correspondence. In 1886 the Department of Correspondence and Reports was established with Geare in charge. In 1898 the title was changed to Department of Correspondence and Documents. Geare remained in charge of the department until his death in 1917. In 1892 the Department also assumed the task of distributing museum publications.

The Division of Correspondence and Documents was in charge of the distribution and filing of correspondence of the United States National Museum. Maintaining the correspondence of the Museum (including the acknowledgment of gifts, loans and exchanges, the preparation of reports upon material sent for examination, and replies to requests for technical information of all kinds), and the preparation, editing, and proofreading of the Annual Report of the Museum constituted the principal work of the office. The Division of Correspondence and Documents maintained the files of the central administration of the Museum.


DESCRIPTIVE ENTRY

This record unit consists of two of the special files maintained by the Department of Correspondence and Documents. In 1902 a new system for maintaining records was established. Descriptions of the records are included as part of the series descriptions.


SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

SERIES 1.
LETTERS RECEIVED FROM OFFICIALS OF THE MUSEUM, 1880-1902.

This series consists mostly of incoming correspondence from officials (curators, assistant curators, and aids) of the USNM to the central administration of the USNM. Most of the correspondence is routine, and deals with administrative policy, requests for publications, staff problems, and exhibits. Materials of special interest include accounts of expeditions, reports on SI involvement at expositions, and data on significant accessions. Most of the correspondence is directed to George Brown Goode, with lesser amounts to Frederick William True, Samuel P. Langley, Spencer F. Baird, Charles D. Walcott, and Richard Rathbun. The records in this series are arranged by department, and alphabetically by the name of the correspondent thereunder.

Box 1 of 35

Department of Biology, Division of Birds (prior to 1897, known as the Department of Birds)

Folders1-4   Charles Wallace Richmond, 1894-1902
Folders5-20   Robert Ridgway, 1880-1902. Folder 5 contains correspondence regarding Ridgway's "Birds of North and Middle America," 1894-1900.
Folder21   Leonhard Stejneger, 1885-1888

Department of Biology, Division of Birds, Section of Birds' Eggs (prior to 1897, the Department of Birds' Eggs; prior to 1889, the Section of Birds' Eggs).

Folders22-23   Charles Emil Bendire, 1887-1897
Folder24   William Lagrange Ralph, 1897-1902

Box 2 of 35

Department of Biology, Division of Plants (prior to 1897, the Department of Plants; prior to 1894, the Department of Botany; prior to 1890, the Department of Recent Plants)

Folders1-5   Frederick Vernon Coville, 1884-1900. Includes correspondence with: William Albert Setchell of the University of California (1895); Charles D. Walcott (2-3-98) regarding a dispute with Arthur Schott of the Field Museum; Randolph Iltyd Geare (1-5-98) concerning Adolph Fredholm, who had claimed to be an employee of the Smithsonian Institution.
Folder6   William Ralph Maxon, 1900-1902
Folders7-10   Joseph Nelson Rose, 1896-1902
Folder11   Charles Louis Pollard, 1897-1902. Includes correspondence (11-25-01) with Frederick Vernon Coville regarding a collecting trip to Cuba with Edward Palmer and William Palmer.
Folder12   George Vasey, 1889-1892. Includes correspondence (12-15-91) with Samuel P. Langley regarding the Ball collection of plants. Correspondence of 1891 includes that of Edward Palmer.

Department of Biology, Division of Reptiles and Batrachians (prior to 1897, the Department of Reptiles and Batrachians; prior to 1883, the Department of Herpetology)

Folder13   Edward Drinker Cope, 1887
Folder14   R. G. Paine, 1901
Folder15   Edmund L. Rheem, 1882-1889
Folder16   T. S. Sessford, 1895

Box 3 of 35

Department of Biology, Division of Reptiles and Batrachians (cont'd)

Folders1-7   Leonhard Stejneger, 1884-1902. Includes: correspondence (1897) concerning the publication of a supplement to USNM Bulletin 19, entitled "Nomenclator Zoologicus"--includes correspondence of Frederick William True, Charles D. Walcott, and Richard Rathbun; Stejneger's opinions (4-24-99) on a recent work of Edward Drinker Cope; letters from Stejneger (1898-1899) while on field trips.
Folder8   Frederick Cleveland Test, 1892-1893
Folders9-11   Henry Crecy Yarrow, 1882-1888

Department of Biology, Division of Insects (prior to 1897, the Department of Insects)

Folders12-13   William Harris Ashmead, 1897-1902. Includes correspondence (10-3-01) with Richard Rathbun regarding a dispute between Ashmead and William T. Brigham of the Bishop Museum.
Folder14   Rolla P. Currie, 1897-1901
Folder15   Harrison Gray Dyar, 1897-1902

Box 4 of 35

Department of Biology, Division of Insects (cont'd)

Folders1-5   Leland Ossian Howard, 1889-1902. Includes correspondence (11-27-95) with George Brown Goode containing a report on the beetles, Diptera, and Oriethoptera collected by Astor Chandler and Lieut. von Holinell in Africa, 1893; reference to Harrison Gray Dyar (8-3-01).
Folder6   Martin Larsson Linell, 1893-1897
Folders7-13   Charles Valentine Riley, 1881-1895. Includes: "A List of Entomological Material sent to the Department of Insects, May 28, 1883" (in a letter of 6-1-83); correspondence with Spencer F. Baird (10-23-85) regarding the donation of Riley's insect collection to the U.S. National Museum; copy of a proposal agreement with George Marks to sell his collection of Arachnida to the U.S. National Museum (in a letter of 2-19-90); correspondence with George Brown Goode regarding the prospective purchases of an insect collection of the late Abbe Provansher (4-3-93).
Folder14   John Bernhard Smith, 1886-1889

Box 5 of 35

Department of Biology, Division of Marine Invertebrates (prior to 1897, the Department of Marine Invertebrates)

Folders1-2   James E. Benedict, 1891-1902. Includes correspondence (4-8-01 to 4-10-01) regarding a collecting expedition to Florida.
Folders3-6   Mary Jane Rathbun, 1891-1902
Folders7-15   Richard Rathbun, 1882-1900.

Department of Biology, Division of Marine Invertebrates, Section of Helminthological Collections

Folder16   Albert Hassall, 1898 (Hassall was on the staff of the Bureau of Animal Industry, USDA).
Folder17   Charles Wardell Stiles, 1894-1900 (Stiles was on the staff of the Bureau of Animal Industry, USDA). Includes "Report on the Deep Sea Deposits collected by the U.S.S. Nero, during a Survey for a Trans-Pacific Telegraphic Cable Route Made in the Year 1900."

Box 6 of 35

Department of Biology, Division of Fishes (prior to 1897, the Department of Fishes).

Folders1-7   Barton A. Bean, 1889-1902. Includes correspondence with: George Brown Goode (1-13-96) regarding a collecting trip to Florida; Frederick William True (7-28-98) regarding a collecting trip to Southhampton, New York; True (9-3-99) relating the details of work conducted at Woods Hole, Massachusetts; Richard Rathbun (7-2-1900) regarding a collecting trip to Pennsylvania.
Folders8-12   Tarleton Hoffman Bean, 1881-1899. Includes correspondence with: Frederick William True (9-5-84, 9-12-84) concerning a collecting trip to Patchogue, New York; George Brown Goode (1-3-85, 2-06-85) regarding the voyage of the Albatross to Key West, Florida.

Department of Biology, Division of Mollusks (prior to 1897, the Department of Mollusks).

Folder13   Paul Bartsch, 1899-1902.
Folder14   S. Hazen Bond, 1892.
Folders15-18   William H. Dall, 1883-1902 (Dall also served as Honorary Curator of the Section of Invertebrate Fossils of the Department of Geology).
Folders19-20   Charles Torrey Simpson, 1894-1902.
Folder21   Robert Edward Carter Stearns, 1884-1895.

Box 7 of 35

Department of Biology, Division of Comparative Anatomy (prior to 1897, the Department of Comparative Anatomy).

Folder1   Frank Baker, 1890 (Baker also served as Acting Manager of the National Zoological Park).
Folders2-10   Frederick Augustus Lucas, 1882-1902, undated. (In 1891 Lucas became Assistant Curator of the Department of Vertebrate Fossils while continuing to serve in the Department of Comparative Anatomy). Includes correspondence regarding: the Louisville Exposition (8-12-83 , 11-17-83, 11-21-83); the Newfoundland expedition to secure the remains of the Great Auk (6-20-87, 7-20-87, 7-24-87); and a proposed trip to the Pribilof Islands (4-30-97).

Box 8 of 35

Department of Geology (created in 1897 with the fusion of the old Departments of Geology, Mineralogy, and Paleontology. The old Department of Geology had been created in 1890 with the fusion of the Department of Metallurgy and Economic Geology and the Department of Lithology and Physical Geology).

Folders1-13   George P. Merrill, 1882-1902. (In 1890 Merrill was named curator of the newly established Department of Geology, and remained in that position after the reorganization of 1897. Prior to 1890 he served as curator of the Department of Lithology and Physical Geology). Includes correspondence: with Spencer F. Baird (8-9-83, 1-22-86) regarding the opportunity to acquire a sample of the geological formations of Washington, D.C.; concerning a collecting expedition to Maine (9-1-83, 9-4-83); regarding a collecting trip to Granite Creek, Montana (8-2-89); with Frederick William True (6-8-97) concerning the USNM's policy when receiving specimens from the U.S. Geological Survey; concerning the discovery of huge reptilian fossils in Wyoming (6-7-99, 6-17-99).
Folder14   W. H. Newhall, 1894

Box 9 of 35

Department of Geology, Division of Mineralogy (prior to 1897, the Department of Minerals; prior to 1895, the Department of Mineralogy; prior to 1894, the Department of Minerals; prior to 1886, the Department of Mineralogy).

Folders1-2   Frank Wigglesworth Clarke, 1881-1894
Folder3   Oliver Cummings Farrington, 1893
Folder4   George W. Hawes, 1881
Folder5   William F. Hillebrand, 1887
Folder6   Wirt Tassin, 1894-1902
Folder7   William S. Yeates, 1881-1892

Department of Geology, Division of Mineralogy, Collection of Gems and Precious Stones

Folder8   L. T. Chamberlain, 1887-1902

Department of Metallurgy and Economic Geology (in 1890 the Department of Metallurgy and Economic Geology combined with the Department of Lithology and Physical Geology to form the Department of Geology).

Folders9-14   Fred P. Dewey, 1881-1889

Box 10 of 35

Department of Geology, Division of Stratigraphic Paleontology (prior to 1897, the Department of Paleontology; prior to 1894, the Departments of Vertebrate and Invertebrate Fossils). Includes the Sections of Vertebrate Fossils, Invertebrate Fossils (Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Anozoic), and Paleobotany.

Folders1-2   Frank Hall Knowlton, 1888-1893. Includes correspondence (7-15-88, 7-25-88) concerning a collecting expedition to Yellowstone.
Folder3   Jules B. Marcou, 1884 (Marcou was on the staff of the U.S. Geological Survey).
Folder4   Othniel Charles Marsh, 1885-1901 (Marsh was also on the staff of the U.S. Geological Survey). Includes correspondence with: George Brown Goode (5-29-93) regarding the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago; Goode (12-19-94), concerning the Wells collection of fossils.
Folders5-6   Charles Schuchert, 1894-1902. Includes correspondence: with Goode (11-4-94, 11-30-94) concerning an expedition to recover mastodon skeletons in Alabama and Mississippi; with Goode (11-6-95) regarding the I. H. Harris collection of fossils; with Goode (8-31-96) concerning the Winshell collection of fossils; with Frederick William True (10-20-96, 11-7-96, 11-15-96) regarding an expedition to Alabama in quest of Zeuglodon fossils; regarding an expedition to Greenland (7-13-97, 7-16-97, 10-28-97).
Folder7   Timothy William Stanton, 1901-1902. (Stanton was also on the staff of the U.S. Geological Survey).
Folders8-9   Charles D. Walcott, 1883-1896 (Walcott was also on the staff of the U.S. Geological Survey). Includes correspondence with Spencer F. Baird (6-2-85) regarding an exchange of fossils between USNM and the Museum of the Geological Survey, Ottawa, Canada.
Folders10-11   Lester Frank Ward, 1884-1889 (Ward was also on the staff of the U.S. Geological Survey). Includes correspondence with: Goode (10-24-85) regarding the National Herbarium; George P. Merrill (1-29-98) concerning the disappearance of a valuable specimen; Richard Rathbun (10-1-99) concerning a proposed trip to the fossil forests of Arizona.
Folders12-13   Charles Abiathar White, 1882-1901 (White was also on the staff of the U.S. Geological Survey).
Folder14   David White, 1896-1901 (White was also on the staff of the U.S. Geological Survey). Includes a letter (4-4-96) concerning the Lacoe collection.

Box 11 of 35

Department of Anthropology (created in 1897 with the fusion of the Departments of Ethnology, Oriental Antiquities, Prehistoric Anthropology, and Arts and Industries).

Folders1-2   William Henry Holmes, 1897-1902 (Holmes was appointed head curator of the newly created Department of Anthropology in 1897. Prior to 1897 he served as curator of the Section of Aboriginal Pottery of the Department of Ethnology). Includes correspondence: concerning the collecting of ethnological artifacts during the cruise of the Albatross to the islands of the South Pacific (8-9-99); with George C. Maynard (12-26-01) regarding the possibility of Alexander Graham Bell securing electrical instruments for USNM.

Department of Anthropology, Division of Historical Archaeology (prior to 1897, the Department of Oriental Antiquities; prior to 1894, it was a section of the Department of Ethnology).

Folders3-6   Cyrus Adler, 1887-1894. Includes correspondence: concerning the proposed national expedition to Mesopotamia (3-4-88, 4-9-88, 8-17-88); regarding Adler's trip to Constantinople and Egypt to secure exhibits for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago (1891).
Folder7   Paul Haupt, 1887-1899. Includes: correspondence (3-28-87) concerning the development of the Section of Oriental Antiquities; a circular (1888) concerning the proposed national expedition to Mesopotamia.
Folder8   Correspondence of Paul Haupt and others (1887-1889) concerning the Section of Oriental Antiquities and the proposed Assyrian Expedition.

Department of Anthropology, Division of History and Biography, Section of American History (Prior to 1898, Section of Historical Collections; prior to 1889, Section of Historical Relics).

Folder9   Paul Edmund Beckwith, 1889, 1892-1901. Includes correspondence with: William Henry Holmes (9-27-98) regarding a trip to Puerto Rico and Cuba to collect relics from the Spanish-American War; Richard Rathbun (10-1-98), also concerning the trip to Puerto Rico and Cuba.
Folder10   A. Howard Clark, 1886-1902. Includes: a detailed description of the Confederate artifacts in the USNM (1886); a letter (11-5-97) concerning the flag of John Paul Jones; and a letter (3-30-1900) regarding guns presented to the USNM by Admiral Dewey.

Box 12 of 35

Department of Anthropology, Division of Ethnology (prior to 1898, the Department of Ethnology; prior to 1984, the Department of Ethnography).

Folder1   T. Dix Bolles, 1887
Folder2   Edwin H. Hawley, 1895
Folder3   William Henry Holmes, 1883-1892. Includes correspondence with George Brown Goode (8-31-87) concerning a collecting expedition to the ancient pueblos of San Diego Canan, New Mexico.
Folder4   Walter Hough, 1887-1899
Folders5-24   Otis Tufton Mason, 1882-1902. Includes correspondence: concerning the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition, New Orleans (1885); written while on a tour of museums in New England, and from Europe while on a trip for the Smithsonian (1889); with Goode (12-24-90) including a criticism of the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition; regarding a collection denoted to USNM by Talcott Williams, and correspondence concerning the Edward William Nelson collection (1897).

Box 13 of 35

Department of Anthropology, Division of Prehistoric Archaeology (prior to 1897, the Department of Prehistoric Anthropology; prior to 1888, the Department of Archaeology; prior to 1887, the Department of Prehistoric Anthropology; prior to 1886, the Department of Antiquities).

Folder1   Charles Rau, 1882-1886, undated. Includes undated letter to Spencer F. Baird regarding the exchange of specimens with the Royal Ethnological Museum of Berlin.
Folder2   E. P. Upham, 1894
Folders3-16   Thomas Wilson, 1887-1901, undated. Includes: list of articles bequeathed to the USNM by Charles Rau (11-5-87); material concerning a trip to New York and Boston (12-9-90); a letter (8-12-90) regarding the Frederick S. Perkins collection of copper implements; letter (4-28-90) concerning complaints about the neglect of Wilson's department; correspondence with Samuel P. Langley (1890) regarding the Hall of Prehistoric Anthropology; descriptions of wool and dye stuffs presented to the USNM by Washington Mathews; correspondence with G. Brown Goode (3-5-91) concerning the destruction of prehistoric ruins among the pueblos of Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona; a description of the Department of Prehistoric Anthropology (1893); correspondence concerning materials returned or received from the World's Columbian Exposition (1894); correspondence regarding the Nashville Exposition (5-21-97); correspondence (8-11-97) regarding a dispute over Wilson's personal collections on deposit in the Museum.

Box 14 of 35

Department of Anthropology, Division of Graphic Arts (prior to 1897, the Section of Graphic Arts of the Department of Arts and Industries).

Folders1-10   Sylvester R. Koehler, 1886-1900. Includes: correspondence (1-28-87, 2-15-87) regarding a dispute between Koehler and William V. Cox; correspondence with George Brown Goode (6-16-88, 6-23-68, 11-10-88) concerning the Cincinnati Exposition; correspondence with Samuel P. Langley (4-17-90) containing a request that Congress grant appropriations to purchase the Sewell Collection; correspondence with Randolph Iltyd Geare (12-19-93) regarding the World's Columbian Exposition.

Box 15 of 35

Department of Anthropology, Division of Technology (Mechanical Phases) (prior to 1897, the Section of Technological Collections; prior to 1894, the Section of Transportation and Engineering; prior to 1888, the Section of Steam Transportation--all of the Department of Arts and Industries).

Folder1   S. S. Atkinson, 1892-1893
Folders2-9   J. Elfreth Watkins, 1885-1901 (Watkins was also the chief of the Division of Building and Superintendence, prior to 1897, the Division of the Superintendent of Buildings). Includes: correspondence documenting the formation and development of the Section of Steam Transportation (1885-1886); correspondence (1886) regarding an appeal to Congress for appropriations for the Section of Steam Transportation; correspondence with George Brown Goode (11-19-87) regarding the donation of the Stourbridge Lion to the USNM; correspondence (8-15-90) concerning a portfolio of drawings of the steamboat by Robert Fulton; correspondence (7-26-93, 7-29-93) regarding the World's Columbian Exposition.
Folder10   George C. Maynard, 1897-1902

Department of Anthropology, Division of Medicine (prior to 1897, the Section of Materia Medica of the Department of Arts and Industries).

Folder11   H. G. Beyer, 1884-1887
Folder12   William S. Dixon, 1892-1893
Folder13   G. E. Doering, 1884
Folder14   James M. Flint, 1882-1900
Folder15   C. U. Gravatt, 1893-1894
Folder16   Daniel McMurtrie, 1894

Department of Arts and Industries. (In 1897 the Department of Arts and Industries was combined with the Departments of Ethnology, Oriental Antiquities, and Prehistoric Anthropology to form the Department of Anthropology).

Folder17   Joseph King Goodrich, 1882-1883 (Goodrich's title was Assistant in Charge of the Department of Arts and Industries, but he was also involved in the Section of Costumes). Includes letter (5-6-82) from Benjamin Silliman to Spencer F. Baird recommending Goodrich for a position in the USNM.

Department of Arts and Industries, Section of Fisheries

Folders18-19   R. Edward Earll, 1883-1890 (Earll also served as executive officer of the Exposition Staff). Includes correspondence: concerning the Great International Fisheries Exhibition, London (1883); concerning the Louisville, Cincinnati, and New Orleans Expositions (1885).
Folder20   J. W. Collins, 1891-1893 (In 1891 Collins was appointed honorary curator of the Section of Fisheries while continuing his duties as honorary curator of Naval Architecture--see box 16).

Box 16 of 35

Department of Arts and Industries, Section of Naval Architecture

Folder1   E. C. Bryan, 1891
Folders2-7   J. W. Collins, 1882-1890 (In 1891 Collins was appointed honorary curator of the Section of Fisheries while continuing to serve as Honorary curator of the Section of Naval Architecture--see box 15). Includes: correspondence (10-10-83) regarding a cruise to observe the migratory habits of the mackerel; correspondence with George Brown Goode (1-14-85, 2-15-85) concerning the New Orleans Exposition; correspondence with Randolph Iltyd Geare (6-10-85) concerning a cruise of the Albatross; correspondence with Goode (8-25-86) regarding a voyage of the Grampus in quest of halibut; a report on the Newfoundland Expedition (7-10-87); and correspondence with Goode (1-4-90) concerning the Boston Maritime Exposition.
Folder8   Everett E. Hayden, 1884-1886.

Department of Arts and Industries, Section of Textiles (prior to 1890, the Section of Textile Industries).

Folder9   Rufus W. Deering, 1884-1888
Folders10-13   Romyn Hitchcock, 1883-1892. All of the correspondence from 1886-1889 concerns Hitchcock's trip to Japan, including collecting activities for the USNM. Materials of special interest include correspondence (7-15-87, 9-2-87) concerning the David P. Todd eclipse expedition; correspondence (8-6-88, 8-23-88) concerning a journey to Yezo to observe the Anios; correspondence (4-23-88) concerning a pilgrimage across the province of Yamato. Also included is correspondence (1890-1892) from Hitchcock while he was in China acquiring exhibits for the World's Columbian Exposition.

Box 17 of 35

National Zoological Park

Folder1   Material concerning the establishment of the National Zoological Park. Includes Senator Morrill's bill providing for the establishment of the Park; the Edmunds amendment; budgetary papers; and "Brief Outline of a Plan for a National Zoological Garden in the City of Washington," by William Temple Hornaday, 1889-1891.
Folder2   Material concerning the initial construction, landscaping, and staffing of the National Zoological Park, 1890-1891.
Folder3   Arthur B. Baker, 1891-1902. Includes correspondence (2-1-99) concerning a collecting expedition to Puerto Rico aboard the Kitty Hawk.
Folders4-6   Frank Baker, 1890-1891 (Baker also served as Curator of the Department of Comparative Anatomy). Includes letter to George Brown Goode (8-25-90) regarding a visit to the Cincinnati Zoological Gardens.

Department of Preparation

Folders7-12   William Temple Hornaday, Chief Taxidermist, 1881-1890. (In 1888 Hornaday was appointed curator of the newly created Department of Living Animals which became the National Zoo). Includes: correspondence documenting Hornaday's buffalo hunting expedition to Montana (1886); correspondence concerning a hunting expedition to the Rocky Mountains in quest of mountain goat, mountain sheep, grizzly bear, elk, and deer (1887); correspondence with Goode (12-2-87) concerning the inadequate protection of animals in Yellowstone National Park and the probable extinction of the buffalo.

Department of Living Animals

Folder13   William Temple Hornaday, 1889
Folder14   N. P. Wood, 1889

Box 18 of 35

Bureau of Ethnology

Folder1   Charles C. Darwin, 1883
Folder2   J. Owen Dorsey, 1893
Folder3   John O. Emment, 1889
Folder4   Gerard Fowke, 1888, 1893
Folder5   Albert Samuel Gatschet, 1886-1894
Folder6   George Brown Goode, 1896
Folder7   Henry Wetherbee Henshaw, 1889-1892
Folder8   Frederick Webb Hodge, 1894-1898
Folder9   William Henry Holmes, 1890-1898
Folder10   Albert Ernest Jenks, 1902
Folders11-13   William John McGee, 1893-1902
Folder14   Garrick Mallery, 1890
Folder15   Cosmos Mindeleff, 1888
Folder16   James Mooney, 1890-1892
Folder17   Albert P. Niblack, 1884
Folder18   James Constantine Pilling, 1882-1894
Folders19-25   John Wesley Powell, 1882-1902. Includes extensive correspondence with Samuel P. Langley.
Folder26   H. C. Rizer, 1891-1893
Folder27   John James Stevenson, 1887
Folder28   Cyrus Thomas, 1898-1901

Box 19 of 35

USNM Administrative Staff

Folders1-3   Stephen C. Brown, 1882-1895
Folders4-9   William V. Cox, 1885-1902 (Cox also served as the Smithsonian's representative at expositions). Includes: correspondence concerning the Minneapolis and Marietta expositions (1888); correspondence concerning the World's Columbian Exposition (5-5-93, 10-27-93); correspondence concerning the Atlanta exposition (Nov. 1895) and the Trans-Mississippi Exposition (1898).
Folder10   George S. Hobbs, 1881-1883
Folder11   Frederick Webb Hodge, 1899-1902
Folder12   William W. Karr, 1895-1901
Folder13   William de C. Ravenel, 1902
Folders14-16   William Jones Rhees, 1882-1902
Folder17   J. B. Rockwell, 1899-1902
Folders18-19   J. Louis Willige, 1897-1901
Folders20-21   William Crawford Winlock, 1891-1896

Box 20 of 35

Smithsonian Institution--Secretary and Assistant Secretary

Folders1-2   Spencer F. Baird, 1882-1883, undated
Folders3-10   George Brown Goode, 1883-1889, undated. Includes: correspondence concerning the Great International Fisheries Exhibition, London (1883); correspondence regarding the New Orleans Exposition (1884); and a detailed report submitted to Samuel P. Langley concerning the relationship between the USNM and the Smithsonian (1887).
Folder11   Charles D. Walcott, 1897-1898

USNM Library

Folders12-15   Cyrus Adler, 1893-1902 (Adler also served as curator of the Department of Oriental Antiquities). Includes a letter (12-18-93) to Goode regarding the establishment of sectional libraries in the USNM.
Folder16   L. B. Gallaher, 1883-1889
Folder17   John Murdock, 1886-1890
Folder18   Newton P. Scudder, 1894-1898
Folder19   H. W. Spofford, 1885
Folder20   Frederick William True, 1882-1886

USNM Photographer

Folder21   Thomas W. Smillie, 1896-1899

Department of Labels and Printing

Folder22   Albert Charles Peale, 1898-1901
Folder23   J. C. Proctor, 1889-1901

Box 21 of 35

Editor of Proceedings and Publications, and the Advisory Committee on Museum Publications

Folder1   George Brown Goode--a report regarding the USNM publication system.
Folder2   Tarleton Hoffman Bean, 1885
Folders3-14   Marcus Benjamin, 1896-1902
Folders15-17   A. Howard Clark, 1887-1893
Folder18   R. Edward Earll, 1889, 1894-1896
Folder19   Frederick William True, 1895-1901

Box 22 of 35

Division of Buildings and Superintendence (prior to 1897, Division of Buildings and Labor).

Folder1   Book of correspondence concerning construction of the new fireproof building for the USNM. Included is correspondence of Montgomery C. Meigs, Senator Justin S. Morrill, and Rep. Samuel Dibble, 1888-1889.
Folder2   C. P. Crandell, 1882-1884
Folder3   J. J. Dolan, 1901
Folder4   James S. Goldsmith, 1892-1898
Folder5   W. J. Green, 1881-1886
Folders6-7   Henry Horan, 1881-1896
Folder8   W. A. Knowles, 1899
Folder9   J. E. Rockwell, 1898-1900
Folder10   C. A. Stuart, 1882-1894
Folders11-12   J. Elfreth Watkins, 1896-1899 (Watkins was also curator of the Division of Technology-Mechanical Phases).
Folder13   Employees, 1881-1885
Folders14-15   Blueprints and plans.

Bureau of International Exchanges

Folder16   W. I. Adams, 1896-1902
Folder17   G. H. Boehmer, 1888-1895
Folder18   J. H. Kidder, 1888-1889
Folder19   William Crawford Winlock, 1892-1894.

SERIES 2.
LETTERS RECEIVED FROM DEPARTMENTS AND BUREAUS OF THE GOVERNMENT, 1875-1902.

This series consists of incoming correspondence from U.S. government agencies. As in series 1, much of the correspondence is routine, but much of it relates to collecting of specimens by government agencies and agents. Often an individual employed by a government agency also served as an honorary curator in the USNM, and his correspondence might be found in both series 1 and 2. The records in series 2 are arranged by government agency.

Box 23 of 35

United States War Department

Folder1   Quartermaster General's Office, 1889-1902, undated
Folder2   Adjutant General's Office, 1879-1901
Folder3   Inspector General's Office, 1893
Folders4-6   Surgeon General's Office and U.S. Army Medical Museum and Library, 1882-1902. Includes correspondence of J. S. Billings (1882-1895).
Folder7   Judge-Advocate General's Office, 1899-1901.
Folder8   Office of the Engineers, 1881-1889.
Folder9   Office of Public Buildings and Grounds, 1883-1901.
Folder10   Chief of Ordnance, 1883-1902. Includes correspondence of Stephen Vincent Benet (1886-1890).
Folder11   Secretary of War, 1884-1899. Includes correspondence of: Robert Todd Lincoln (1884); and Elihu Root (1879).
Folders12-13   Signal Office, 1884-1902. Includes correspondence of Adolphus Washington Greely (1887-1899).
Folder14   United States Marine Corps, 1887.
Folder15   Department of Cuba, 1901-1902.
Folder16   U.S. Philippine Commission, 1900.
Folder17   Office of the Chief Clerk, 1887-1888.
Folder18   Division of Records and Correspondence, 1889-1894.

United States Department of Agriculture

Folders19-26   Division of Botany, 1887-1901. Includes correspondence of Frederick Vernon Coville (1892-1901); Orator Fuller Cook (1899); Joseph Nelson Rose (1892-1895); and George Vasey (1887-1893).

Box 24 of 35

U.S. Department of Agriculture (cont'd)

Folders1-6   Biological Survey, 1896-1902. Includes correspondence of C. Hart Merriam (1896-1902). Theodore Sherman Palmer (1896-1900); and Albert Kenrick Fisher (1897-1902).
Folders7-9   Division of Ornithology and Mammalogy (prior to 1892, Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy), 1887-1896. Includes correspondence of Merriam (1888-1896), Fisher (1887-1896); and Theodore Sherman Palmer (1890-1894).
Folder10   Bureau of Forestry, 1890-1901. Includes correspondence of Bernhard E. Fernow (1890) and Gifford Pinchot (1901).
Folder11   Division of Microscopy, 1883-1893.
Folder12   Office of Experimental Stations, 1890-1893. Includes correspondence of Wilbur Olin Atwater (1890).
Folder13   Weather Bureau, 1891-1901.
Folder14   Division of Vegetable Physiology and Pathology (prior to 1895, Division of Vegetable Pathology), 1892-1898. Includes the correspondence of Beverly Thomas Galloway.
Folder15   Bureau of Plant Industry, 1896-1902. Includes correspondence of Orator Fuller Cook (1901) and Galloway (1902).
Folder16   Division of Chemistry, 1893-1898.
Folder17   Division of Statistics, 1891.
Folder18   Bureau of Animal Industry, 1888-1902. Includes correspondence of Charles Wardell Stiles (1892-1902) and Albert Hassall (1898).
Folder19   Division of Soils, 1897-1901.
Folder20   Division of Pomology, 1893.
Folder21   Silk Section, 1891.
Folder22   Section of Plant and Seed Introduction, 1899.
Folder23   Office of the Secretary, 1887-1902.
Folder24   Office of the Assistant Secretary, 1889-1902.
Folder25   Office of the Chief Clerk, 1892-1896.
Folder26   Office of the Special Agent in Charge of Fiber Investigations, 1893-1898.
Folder27   USDA Library, 1891.
Folder28   Miscellaneous.
Folder29   Division of Publications, 1899.

Box 25 of 35

United States Department of Agriculture (cont'd)

Box 26 of 35

United States Department of Agriculture (cont'd)

Folders1-8   Division of Entomology, 1889-1899. Includes correspondence of Charles Lester Marlatt (1889-1899) and Charles Valentine Riley (1890-1899).

United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries, 1881-1902.

Folders9-27   Arranged Alphabetically, A-E. Includes correspondence of Tarleton Hoffman Bean (1891-1901); E. C. Bryan (1892); A. Howard Clark (1881-1886); and J. W. Collins (1887-1891).

Box 27 of 35

United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries (cont'd).

Box 28 of 35

United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries (cont'd).

Box 29 of 35

United States Treasury Department

Folder1   The Secretary of the Treasury, 1882-1901.
Folder2   Bureau of Engraving and Printing, 1884-1901.
Folder3   Office of the Supervising Architect, 1890-1897.
Folder4   Office of the Auditor, 1882-1901.
Folder5   Bureau of Statistics, 1883-1890.
Folder6   Office of the General Superintendent; Life-Saving Service, 1884-1902. Includes correspondence of Frank Baker, 1889.
Folder7   Office of Internal Revenue, 1888.
Folder8   Bureau of the Mint, 1889.
Folder9   Office of the Collector, 1890-1902.
Folder10   Office of the Surgeon-General, U.S. Marine Hospital Service, 1889-1902.
Folder11   U.S. Revenue Marine, 1882-1895.
Folder12   Office of the Comptroller, 1882-1894.
Folder13   Office of the Light-House Board, 1883-1901.
Folder14   U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, 1888-1901. Includes correspondence of T. C. Mendenhall, 1889-1894.

Box 30 of 35

U.S. Department of State

Box 31 of 35

U.S. Department of State (cont'd)

Folders1-3   Bureau of American Republics, 1890-1902. Includes correspondence of William E. Curtis (1890-1893).
Folders4-7   United States Consulate Bureau, 1886-1895. Much of this correspondence concerns the collecting of specimens for the USNM by U.S. ministers abroad.
Folders8-12   Foreign Legations to the United States, 1881-1902.
Folder13   Bureau of Polls and Library, 1888-1901.
Folder14   Office of the Superintendent--State, War, and Navy Department Buildings, 1899-1902.
Folder15   Office of the Chief Clerk, 1884-1887.
Folder16   Bureau of Foreign Commerce, 1902.
Folder17   Bureau of Statistics, 1882.
Folder18   U.S. Civil Service Commission, 1892-1893.
Folder19   Library of Congress, 1891-1901. Includes correspondence of Ainsworth Rand Spoffard (1891-1898).

Box 32 of 35

United States Department of Interior

Folder1   U.S. Patent Office, 1883-1902.
Folder2   Bureau of Education, 1882-1899.
Folder3   Office of the Commissioner of Railroads, 1891.
Folder4   Census Office, 1881-1901.
Folder5   Scientific Library, 1890.
Folder6   Superintendent of Documents, 1891-1901.
Folder7   Division of Stationary and Printing, 1885-1901.
Folder8   Office of the Secretary, 1882-1901.
Folder9   Office of the Chief Clerk, 1892-1896.
Folder10   General Land Office, 1885-1901.
Folder11   Office of Indian Affairs, 1888-1902.
Folder12   Pension Office, 1875-1895. Includes correspondence of Montgomery C. Meigs (1875-1886).

Box 33 of 35

United States Department of Interior--U.S. Geological Survey.

Box 34 of 35

Government Printing Office

Folders1-4   Office of the Foreman of Printing, 1882-1896.
Folders5-7   Office of the Superintendent of Documents, 1895-1902.
Folders8-14   Office of the Chief Clerk, 1882-1899.
Folders15-17   Office of the Public Printer, 1882-1901.
Folder18   Office of the Foreman of the Press Room, 1885-1888.
Folder19   Office of the Foreman of the Bindery, 1894-1896.
Folders20-21   Office of the Foreman of the Job Room, 1882-1884.
Folder22   Office of the Superintendent of the Folding Room, 1885-1896.
Folder23   Office of the Foreman of the Proof Room, 1884-1891.
Folder24   Office of the Congressional Record, 1886.

Box 35 of 35

United States Post Office Department

Folder1   Post Master General, 1884-1896.
Folder2   First Assistant Postmaster General, 1893-1898.
Folder3   Second Assistant Postmaster General, 1901.
Folder4   Third Assistant Postmaster General, 1901.
Folder5   Fourth Assistant Postmaster General, 1894.
Folder6   Office of the Postmaster, 1895-1901.
Folder7   Office of the Chief Clerk, 1884-1892.
Folder8   Superintendent of Foreign Mails, 1894-1899.
Folder9   Inspector in Charge, 1887.
Folder10   Office of the Topographer, 1882-1901.
Folder11   Railway Mail Service, 1891-1897.
Folder12   Superintendent of Money-Orders, 1883-1901.
Folder13   Dead-Letter Office, 1892.

U.S. Navy Department

Folder14   Secretary of the Navy, 1894-1900.
Folder15   Bureau of Ordnance, 1888-1899.
Folder16   Bureau of Equipment, 1889-1902. Includes correspondence of David P. Todd (1889-1892).
Folder17   Bureau of Navigation, 1882-1892.
Folder18   Bureau of Yards and Docks, 1892-1899.
Folder19   Bureau of Steam Engineering, 1882-1889.
Folder20   Bureau of Construction and Repair, 1888-1899. Includes correspondence of Phillip Hitchborn (1895-1899), correspondence (7-7-97) regarding the Institution's involvement in the Peary expedition to Greenland.
Folder21   Nautical Almanac Office, 1889-1891.
Folder22   Hydrographic Office, 1887-1901. Includes correspondence of Everett Hayden.
Folder23   Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, 1890-1894.
Folder24   U.S. Naval Observatory, 1888-1902.


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