Manuscripts

Robert Hutchings Goddard letter to Harry K. Weymer

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Description: Goddard states in this letter that "no book has yet been published regarding my experiments" and that there is only one paper published about his experiments. He also states that he is "not working in conjunction with Mr. Ludvik Ocenasek," but has only heard of him through newspaper articles. With the letter is a signed statement by Goddard reading: "Investigations carried on at great altitudes, or in 'space,' by means depending essentially on highly-efficient rocket propulsion, seem to me one of the most fascinating problems of applied physics" (dated 1932, October 6).
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1932, October 7.
Call number: mssHM 76727
Creator: Goddard, Robert Hutchings (1882-1945)(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: Burndy Library Collection, Gift of Dibner Family, November 2006.

Mercantile letter and account book recording correspondence addressed to merchants in the city of Albany, New York and in Jamaica

Manuscripts

This manuscript letter and account book is written in multiple hands and divided into several sections; the first section covers Goddard's trade with New York, mainly Albany, the middle section covers his contacts with Jamaica, especially Malcolm Laing, and the final section contains inventories of goods shipped, with prices and quantities. The correspondence includes copies of letters sent by Goddard to his American business partners; these letters constitute a valuable record of Anglo-American trade during this period of political volatility. They include commentary on the state of the London market for furs and ginseng, notes on changing prices, the effect of the Stamp Act on trade, and details concerning duties and taxes. The tone of some of the letters is quite contentious as Goddard seemed to have some sort of financial disagreement with some of his business partners; there are also letters of seeking patronage for help to resolve this conflict. He seems to have ceased trading with Albany in approximately 1767, as the text of several of the letters contain comments suggesting his debts led him to bankruptcy in that same year.

mssHM 83398

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Robert Wyman Butterfield letter to his brother

Manuscripts

In this letter addressed to "Dear Brother," Butterfield reports that he and his companions have built a cabin and have established a mining camp. He is sending home a specimen of gold dust. His profession as a lawyer is becoming well-known, and he has been consulted for legal advice, but he has not complied, wishing to keep the details of his profession quiet.

mssHM 47863

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Robert Freeman letter to Henry E. Huntington

Manuscripts

In this letter on Pasadena Presbyterian Church letterhead, Rev. Freeman discusses a building plan for the proposed educational building for the Pasadena Presbyterian Church at the cost of $150,000. He mentions that Mrs. Howard Huntington suggested that he might be interested in the building project that is waiting for the final bid from the contractor. He goes on to describe the pledge drive, the wide interest the project has enjoyed and the main purpose of providing a wholesome religious environment for the youth. He explains that there are between 1100 and 1200 youth in attendance every Sunday and additional opportunities for weekday activities. Rev. Freeman writes that if Mr. Huntington needed further details that he would be happy to oblige and that he is still in hopes of getting to see the library as he had a prior appointment that was interrupted by the war.

mssHM 37541

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Guglielmo Marconi letter to Major S. A. Carr

Manuscripts

This letter was written to Royal Engineer Major S. A. Carr. In the letter Marconi is talking about some experiments with wireless telegraph he has been conducting. He also states that he hopes to create a "compact form" of his invention "to be applied on board...ships." The letter was written in London; the envelope is with the letter.

mssHM 79872

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Robert E. Temple letter to Kimball H. Dimmick

Manuscripts

In this letter to General Dimmick, R.E. Temple reports that he has inserted a notice requesting Army volunteers in an Albany newspaper. He hopes to quickly have enough recruits to equip several regiments.

mssHM 4117

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M. K. (Morse K.) Taylor letter to Ira Bartholomew

Manuscripts

Letter from Dr. Morse K. Taylor to his colleague Dr. Ira Bartholomew, in which Taylor seeks to establish his claim over Dr. Jacob Da Costa as the physician who first described a condition of "heart diseases in the military service" (later called "military heart" or Da Costa's Syndrome). Taylor describes his service as a field surgeon during the Civil War, noting that his "investigation" into heart diseases began "in the field" at Cornith, Mississippi, in May 1862. In August of that year he was transferred to the general hospital at Keokuk, Iowa, and he describes furthering his research and quotes the number of admissions, deaths, and autopsies during his time at the hospital. He goes on to outline how his further research has verified his earlier conclusions, and that it is a "great satisfaction" to him that other surgeons had subsequently come to similar conclusions. Regarding Da Costa, Taylor writes that he had altered his views to be more in line with Taylor's in an 1871 article, and Taylor concludes that there was "now but little difference between us - no more...than might be expected to arise from different standpoints, civil and military." Taylor concludes by saying he is writing an article on "Heart Strain in the Military Service" for Wood's Reference Handbook. In a postscript, Taylor clarifies that he does not intend to "antagonize" Da Costa, conceding that "we were working simultaneously in the same direction unknown to each other." But he is firm in noting that "I do claim precedence" for having described the condition, and cites various correspondence and published papers to support his claim. The letter also mentions doctors by the names of Keeney, Woodward, Seitz, Myers, and Franzel.

mssHM 80479

Robert Hutchings Goddard letter to Harry K. Weymer

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Mercantile letter and account book recording correspondence addressed to merchants in the city of Albany, New York and in Jamaica

Robert Wyman Butterfield letter to his brother

Robert Freeman letter to Henry E. Huntington

Guglielmo Marconi letter to Major S. A. Carr

Robert E. Temple letter to Kimball H. Dimmick

M. K. (Morse K.) Taylor letter to Ira Bartholomew