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Finding Aids to Personal Papers and Special Collections in the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 7189

Brackenridge, William D. (William Dunlop), 1810-1893.

William Dunlop Brackenridge Papers, circa 1838-1875

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:Brackenridge, William D. (William Dunlop), 1810-1893.
Title:William Dunlop Brackenridge Papers
Dates:circa 1838-1875
Quantity:0.5 cu. ft. (1 document box)
Collection:Record Unit 7189
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

These papers include a notebook of William Dunlop Brackenridge with daily entries from July 19 to August 31, 1841; two portraits of Brackenridge; and correspondence with John Torrey, Herbert Torrey, Asa Gray, Charles Wilkes, Charles Pickering, and others.

Historical Note

William Dunlop Brackenridge (1810-1893) was a gardener and nurseryman from Scotland who came to the United States in 1837. When Asa Gray resigned his position as Botanist for the United States Exploring Expedition of 1838-1842, William Rich, the Assistant Botanist, took his place and Brackenridge was appointed to fill Rich's place. When the expedition returned in 1842, Brackenridge was entrusted with the care of the living plants and also with the report on ferns collected by the expedition. In 1855 he moved to the Baltimore area and spent the rest of his life there as a nurseryman and landscape architect.

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Introduction

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

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Descriptive Entry

These papers include a notebook of William Dunlop Brackenridge with daily entries from July 19 to August 31, 1841; two portraits of Brackenridge; and correspondence with John Torrey, Herbert Torrey, Asa Gray, Charles Wilkes, Charles Pickering, and others.

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This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.

Name

Subject

Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection

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Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7189, William Dunlop Brackenridge Papers

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Container List

Box 1

Folder 1 Photograph of William Dunlop Brackenridge (from original made in Poland)

William Dunlop Brackenridge, circa 1830s. [Image no. 2005-1378]
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Folder 2 Photograph of William Dunlop Brackenridge [inscribed "Dr. Corell, compliments of Isabel Brackenridge Hindry (?)"]

William Dunlop Brackenridge, Sappol Photographer, Washington, D.C, circa 1880s. [Image no. 2005-1377]
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Folder 3 Xerox Copies of Photostatic Copies of 27 Personal Letters of William Dunlop Brackenridge to Professor John Torrey

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Folder 4 Brackenridge Diary, 1841

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Folder 5 Letters from John Torrey and Son Herbert Torrey to William Dunlop Brackenridge, 1847-1854

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Folder 6 Letters from Asa Gray to William Dunlop Brackenridge, 1848-1854; Copy of Letter from Asa Gray to Professor Torrey

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Folder 7 Letters from Dr. Charles Pickering to William Dunlop Brackenridge, 1847-1852

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Folder 8 Letters from Henry Humbert, 1844; William Hooker, 1856; A. Downing, 1852; and G. Drayton, 1850, 1854

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Folder 9 Letters from Johns Hopkins, 1854; L. P. Thompson, 1853; Jas. Caines, 1855; A. P. Upshur, 1842; and John S. Pendleton, 1852

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Folder 10 Letters from Captain Charles Wilkes, 1843-1875

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Folder 11 List of Places Visited by S. S. Vincennes; List of Plants; and List of Plants Producing Edible Fruit

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Folder 12 William Dunlop Brackenridge Appointment as Horticulturist to Wilkes Exploring Expedition, 1838, and other items

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Folder 13 Brackenridge to R. N. McClelland and Others

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Folder 14 Letters of Recommendation, Praise, and Documentation of Work Written for Brackenridge

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