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

Record Unit 7253

United States North Pacific Exploring Expedition (1853-1856)

Records, 1852-1861 and undated

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:United States North Pacific Exploring Expedition (1853-1856)
Title:Records
Dates:1852-1861 and undated
Quantity:1.25 cu. ft. (2 document boxes) (1 half document box)
Collection:Record Unit 7253
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

This collection documents the natural history work of the North Pacific Exploring Expedition and consists of correspondence and notes, manuscripts, and drawings by William Stimpson on the crustacea collections made on the expedition. Also included is Stimpson's journal of the expedition.

Historical Note

The North Pacific Exploring Expedition, 1853-1856, was organized by the United States Navy Department to conduct a naval and commercial survey of those parts of Bering Straits, the North Pacific Ocean and the China Seas frequented by American whaling ships and by trading vessels in their routes between the United States and China. Captain Cadwalader Ringgold was placed in command of the expedition, which departed from Norfolk, Virginia, in June 1853. After Ringgold was recalled to the United States in 1854, Captain John Rogers assumed command for the remainder of the expedition. The expedition explored along the coasts of China and Japan, Madeira Island, the California coast, and Tahiti before returning via the Cape of Good Hope in 1856. Extensive natural history collections were made on the expedition, mostly by William Stimpson, Chief Zoologist. Other naturalists serving on the expedition included Alfred H. Ames, Assistant Naturalist, and Charles Wright, Botanist.

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Descriptive Entry

This collection documents the natural history work of the North Pacific Exploring Expedition and consists of correspondence and notes, manuscripts, and drawings by William Stimpson on the crustacea collections made on the expedition. Also included is Stimpson's journal of the expedition.

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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 7253, United States North Pacific Exploring Expedition (1853-1856), Records

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Container List

Series 1

Correspondence, 1852-1861 and undated.

This series consists of correspondence concerning the natural history collections made by the North Pacific Exploring Expedition. The correspondence is directed mostly to Lieutenant John Rodgers, with smaller amounts to Captain Cadwalader Ringgold. Correspondents include Joseph Henry, Spencer F. Baird, William Stimpson, Asa Gray, and Charles Wright. Also included are specimen lists. The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

Box 1

Folder 2 Baird, Spencer F., 1852, 1858. Included is a letter from Baird to Captain Cadwalader Ringgold (Nov. 12, 1852) concerning preparation for the expedition.

Box 1 of 3

Folder 3 Gray, Asa, 1858-1861

Box 1 of 3

Folder 4 Henry, Joseph, 1860

Box 1 of 3

Folder 5 Rodgers, Lt. John (Accession 06-220)

Box 1 of 3

Folder 6 Royal Gardens, Kew, England, 1860

Box 1 of 3

Folder 18 United States Navy Department, 1857

Box 1 of 3

Folder 19 United States Patent Office, 1855-1856

Box 1 of 3

Folder 20 Van Wyck, William, 1853

Box 1 of 3

Folders 21-27 Wright, Charles, 1853-1858 and undated

Box 1 of 3

Folder 28 Unidentified correspondence, 1857, 1860 and undated

Box 1 of 3

Series 2

Notes, Manuscripts, and Drawings on Crustacea by William Stimpson.

This series consists of notes, manuscripts, and drawings by William Stimpson on crustacea collected on the North Pacific Exploring Expedition. The drawings are mostly original pencil sketches, with smaller amounts of color drawings included.

Box 1

Folders 30-31 Notes of William Stimpson on crustacea collections made on the North Pacific Exploring Expedition

Box 1 of 3

Folder 32 Journal of a cruise in the U.S. ship, Vincennes, to the North Pacific Ocean, China Sea, Behring Strait, etc. by William Stimpson, 1853-1855

Box 1 of 3

Folder 33 Ledger book of specimen lists, equipment, and expenditures

Box 1 of 3

Box 2

Folders 1-4 Manuscript. "Report on the Crustacea (Brachyura and Anomura) collected by the North Pacific Exploring Expedition, 1853-1856." Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Vol. XLIX, 1907.

Box 2 of 3

Folder 5 Original pencil sketches and color drawings used in "Report on the Crustacea (Brachyura and Anomura) collected by the North Pacific Exploring Expedition, 1853-1856." Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Vol. XLIX, 1907.

Box 2 of 3

Folders 6-7 Manuscript. "Report on Anomura collected by the North Pacific Exploring Expedition," undated.

Box 2 of 3

Box 3

Typescript of "Journal of a Cruise in the U.S. ship Vincennes to the North Pacific Ocean, China Seas, Behring Strait, etc." by William Stimpson, 1853-1855

Box 3 of 3