Manuscripts

National Institute for the Promotion of Sciences papers

Image not available

Description: Correspondence and papers relating to membership, constitution and by-laws of the Institute; collections of the Museum, including the collections of the United States Exploring Expedition, original custody of Smithson's collections and history of the final disposition of the bequest. Correspondents include Joel Roberts Poinsett, Peter Force, Francis Markoe, and other officers are represented
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1816-1858.
Call number: mssRH Boxes 7-11
Creator: National Institute for the Promotion of Science(Opens in new tab)
Additional description: This portion of the collection also contains a plan for the Metropolitan Society or Association in the handwriting of Edward Cutbush (1816)

National Institute materials

Manuscripts

This series contains correspondence and papers documenting the National Institute, including materials related to The Institute's forerunners: The Metropolitan Association; The Columbian Institute; and the Washington Museum The organization of the National Institution for the Promotion of Science (later incorporated as the National Institute), including membership and the constitution, by-laws and rules for the Institute The Museum (housed in the United States Patent Office), including the acquisition of curiosities and the collections of the United States Exploring Expedition, commanded by Charles Wilkes, 1838-1842 The Smithson bequest, including his interest and influence in the final disposition of the gift and the original custody of Smithson's collections of minerals, pamphlets and personal effects. Some notable items include: The plan of organization for the Metropolitan Society or Association (June 15, 1816) in the handwriting of Edward Cutbush, with signatures of the original members A notebook kept by John Varden of subscribers to the Washington Museum, 1840-1841 A note by Joel Roberts Poinsett, c. 1840, of the members to confer on the Smithson bequest An August 23, 1848, letter from Joseph Libbey Folsom sending a specimen of the gold found at Sutter's Mill and some other minerals from California.

mssRH

Image not available

Bulletin of the proceedings of the National Institute for the Promotion of Science

Rare Books

74878

Image not available

Constitution of the National institution for the promotion of science : established at Washington, May, 1840

Rare Books

706375

Image not available

Constitution and by-laws of the National institution for the promotion of science : established at Washington, May, 1840

Rare Books

706376

Image not available

National Institution

Manuscripts

Although assembled chiefly for its autograph value, the collection contains various groups of related materials. In addition to the collections of Alexander Dallas Bache, Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, National Institute for the Promotion of Sciences, and Smithsonian Institution, the collection contains correspondence of William Jones Rhees, letters and papers addressed to the United States Pension Bureau, letters and papers related to Indian affairs, and miscellaneous autograph letters and documents. Personal correspondence of William Jones Rhees and correspondence with Sons of the American Revolution, particularly the chapter at Washington, D.C. This portion of the collection holds letters from Dorothea Lynde Dix. Letters and addresses to the United States Pension Bureau contain routine letters regarding pensions or applications. Letters and papers relating to Indian affairs pertain to various Indian agents and factors, including Benjamin Hawkins, William Hull, William Irvine, Return Jonathan Meigs, and others. There are also 134 letters collected chiefly for their autograph value, and receipts for Smithsonian publications. The papers of Alexander Dallas Bache, 1827-1867; National Institution for the Promotion of Sciences 1816-1858, Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, 1815-1874, and Smithsonian Institution, 1831-1906 have been organized in separate sub-units.

mssRH

Image not available

National Institution

Manuscripts

mssRH

National Institute for the Promotion of Sciences papers

Opening Hours

Admission Info and Tickets

You might also be interested in

National Institute materials

Bulletin of the proceedings of the National Institute for the Promotion of Science

Constitution of the National institution for the promotion of science : established at Washington, May, 1840

Constitution and by-laws of the National institution for the promotion of science : established at Washington, May, 1840

National Institution

National Institution