Notebooks containing a journal kept on Rafinesque's trip from Lexington, Kentucky, to Philadelphia, 1826 : notes on his travel to New York and Massachusetts, 1827; a list of his travels, 1819-1830; natural history notes; and drawings, especially of fishes

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Abstract

Rafinesque's specimen list and descriptions of fish, mollusks, and other specimen during field trips. This item includes numerous detailed drawings of specimens collected. Rafinesque often uses the abbreviation "NG," probably indicating what he thinks is a "new genus." Many of the fish specimens in the beginning section (first 5 leaves) of the field notes are from the Niagara Falls region, Lake Erie (Pennsylvania), or Lake Ontario. Most of the text is in English; two entry descriptions are in French. Included is an itinerary of travel through various locations in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts from 14 August 1827 to 15 September 1827, a list of field trips from 1819-1830 by year, a short list of words in Seneca, and a section entitled "Journal of my travels in 1826." "Journal of my travels in 1826" recounts travels from April 9-June 4th of 1826, and describes persons visited, miles traveled, and locations traveled (for example, a description of lake tides).

Date Range

1819-1830

Start Date

1819

End Date

1930

Access Information

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Topic

  • Ichthyology
  • Indians--Languages
  • Naturalists
  • Seneca language

Place

  • New York
  • United States
  • Massachusetts
  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania

Form/Genre

  • Fieldbook record
  • Field notes
  • Scientific illustrations
  • Itineraries

Accession #

SIA RU007250

Collection name

C. S. (Constantine Samuel) Rafinesque papers, 1815-1834 and undated

Physical Description

1 notebook

Physical Location

Smithsonian Institution Archives

Sublocation

Box 1 Folder 4