William Stimpson's Letter to Joseph Henry (October 10, 1871), October 10, 1871, Smithsonian Archives - History Div, Letter from William Stimpson, a scientist and director of the Chicago Academy of Science, to Joseph Henry, first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, October 10, 1871. In the letter, Stimpson informs Henry of the loss of the Smithsonian's collection of marine invertebrates due to the Great Chicago Fire in the Academy of Science building in Chicago, Illinois, in which the Smithsonian collection had been deposited. The loss includes most of the Smithsonian crustacean holdings from the U.S. Exploring Expedition, which had been sent to the Academy for comparison with other collections..