Priestley, Joseph

    Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions

Joseph Priestley
1952-present

The Priestley Award was established by Dickinson College in honor and memory of Joseph Priestley, the eighteenth century scientist and theologian best known as the discoverer of oxygen. Every year the award is presented to a distinguished scientist for his or her discoveries or contributions to...

Engraving, undated (Box 2, folder 9)
1717-1964

This collection includes letters, documents, clippings, pamphlets, and photographs relating to Joseph Priestley and his descendants. It was presented to the college by Mrs. Temple Fay.

Collection Inventory: PDF icon mc1998.01.pdf

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Collection Inventory: PDF icon Priestley Family Collection Pamphlet

Envelope and postcard, 1983 (Box 2, folder 23)
1833-1994

This collection includes articles, manuscripts, newspaper clippings, and programs about Joseph Priestley and related topics. Also included in the collection are genealogical materials - correspondence, notes, charts - collected by Priestley family members

Collection Inventory: PDF icon mc2003.08.pdf

Letter from Joseph Priestley to John Seddon
April 9, 1762

Joseph Priestley writes to John Seddon regarding Seddon's invitation to Liverpool, recent books, work, and news regarding lectures at the Academy. Transcript included.

Location: I-BeachW-1966-1

Subject: Education, Religion and Spirituality, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1760-1779

Letter from Joseph Priestley to John Seddon
circa 1765

Joseph Priestley writes to John Seddon, the secretary and librarian of Warrington Academy, regarding a divinity tutor at Warrington and new students.

Location: I-BeachW-1982-2

Subject: Education, Religion and Spirituality

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1760-1779

Letter from Joseph Priestley to the Duke of Northumberland
circa 1767

Joseph Priestley writes to the Duke of Northumberland, Hugh Percy, and asks for the Duke's patronage in order to write a history of experimental philosophy, continuing his previous work. Transcript included.

Location: MC 1998.1, B1, F11

Subject: Politics and Government, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1760-1779

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Anna Aikin
June 13, 1769

Joseph Priestley writes to Anna L. Aikin of Warrington Academy about her poetry on Corsica for James Boswell and Samuel Johnson. Priestley also provides Aikin with an update on his own writing. "My piece on Perspective is nearly ready for the press," as Priestley explains. Aikin, as Anna...

Location: I-Friends-2010-1

Subject: Literary Pursuits

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1760-1779

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Jeremy Bentham
March 19, 1775

Joseph Priestley writes to Jeremy Bentham, returning a friend's paper and alerting Bentham that he will be in the country for a month. Transcript included.

Location: I-SpahrB-1964-12

Subject: Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1760-1779

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Sir Charles Blagden
January 6, 1785

Joseph Priestley provides Sir Charles Blagden, the Secretary of the Royal Society, with a list of errors in his paper for the Transactions and asks him to correct the "important" ones before it is printed. Priestley also reports that he is "busy...

Location: I-RichardsonD-1992-2

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Sir Charles Blagden
May 1, 1785

Joseph Priestley writes Sir Charles Blagden, the Secretary of the Royal Society, and asks for 50 copies of his paper printed and stitched in blue cloth. In addition, Priestley requests that one copy be sent to Henry Cavendish. Priestley also discusses the election to the Societe Royale de...

Location: I-RichardsonD-1992-4

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Sir Charles Blagden
November 20, 1786

Joseph Priestley writes Sir Charles Blagden, the Secretary of the Royal Society, and asks him to “lay before the Royal Society Mr. [Abraham] Bennet's account of his Electrometer.” Priestley explains that “the value” of Bennet's electrometer “exceeds anything that I have seen of the kind.”

Location: I-RichardsonD-1992-3

Subject: Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Charles Blagden
November 12, 1788

Scientist, clergyman, and scholar Joseph Priestley writes to Dr. Charles Brian Blagden, asking for an insertion to his paper that was read to the Lunar Society. Priestley also notes how he wants "a stronger burning lens." Sir Charles Blagden is Secretary of the Royal Society. Transcript included...

Location: I-Friends-1986-12

Subject: Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from Joseph Priestley to William Frend
November 1790

Joseph Priestley writes to Rev. William Frend about various publications that he is interested in as well as "the difficulties" involved in translating works to produce "an improved and improvable...

Location: MC 1998.1, B1, F11

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from Matthew Boulton to Unknown Recipient
July 18, 1791

Matthew Boulton provides an account of the Birmingham riots in England and the destruction of property, including Joseph Priestley's house. The recipient's identity is unknown. Transcript included.

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Unknown Recipient
July 26, 1791

Joseph Priestley writes an unknown recipient and notes that he has enclosed "two copies of my Paper for the Philosophical Transactions." In addition, Priestley requests a "fresh stock of retorts,...

Location: MC 1998.1, B1, F11

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Thomas Wedgwood
October 18, 1791

Joseph Priestley writes to Thomas Wedgwood about supplies for the laboratory that Priestley is building after his previous one was destroyed and discusses invitations to move from England to France. Wedgwood's family operated the Etruria Works ceramics factory. Transcript included.

Location: MC 1998.1, B1, F11

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from Joseph Priestley to John Edwards
October 16, 1792

Dr. Joseph Priestley writes to Rev. John Edwards and discusses their recent publications as well as a publication that they are both working on. "I have read 40 pages of your fourth no., and am surprised that any person should object to its publication," as Priestley explains. Transcript...

Location: MC 1998.1, B1, F11

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from Sarah Vaughan to Sarah Franklin Bache
August 23, 1793

Sarah Vaughan writes to Sarah Franklin Bache, daughter of Benjamin Franklin, introducing her to Mrs. Joseph Priestley and hoping that she will "be so kind when opportunity offers to introduce her to some of [Bache's] friends..."

Location: I-Original-1793-2

Subject: Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Theophilus Lindsey
August 15, 1794

Theologian and scholar Joseph Priestley writes to his friend Theophilus Lindsey. Priestley discusses his recent move to Northumberland, Pennsylvania, trouble with the mail, the local climate, the prospect for building, his work, the French Revolution, and the cause of Unitarianism. Transcript...

Letters from Charles Nisbet to William Young, 1796-99
1796-1799

Dickinson President Charles Nisbet writes eight letters to William Young, a bookseller and printer in Philadelphia, that mostly regard the political state of affairs in America and Europe, particularly the French Revolution. "The revolutionists of France first encouraged the people to despise...

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Benjamin Barton
September 15, 1797

Dr. Joseph Priestley writes to Dr. Benjamin Smith Barton regarding Antiphlogistion enemies, a yellow fever outbreak, and scientist Dr. John Maclean. "I wish that you would give me any information that you may get of the notions of my Antiphlogistion enemies," as Priestley explains. Priestley...

Location: I-BeachW-1975-10

Subject: Health and Medicine, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from Joseph Priestley to George Thatcher
May 10, 1798

Joseph Priestley writes to George Thatcher regarding news from England, where Priestley expects revolution: "The unanimity you speak of in this country does not exist in this neighborhood. The Gentry, indeed, are generally with you, but the lower classes, those who must take the field, had...

Letter from Timothy Pickering to Charles Hall
August 1, 1799

Secretary of State Timothy Pickering writes Charles Hall of Sunbury regarding Joseph Priestley's "unpardonable" conduct and the receipt of "Mr. [Thomas] Cooper's mischievous address." Pickering notes his opposition to their "meddling with our government." Cooper had published material in which...

Location: I-WilliamsC-1956-9

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Samuel Mitchill
August 15, 1799

Joseph Priestley writes to Samuel Latham Mitchell and invites him to come visit at Northumberland as well as asks about a package that was supposed to have been sent. Priestley also promises to "draw up an account of other experiments" and send them to Mitchell. Transcript included.

Location: MC 1998.1, B1, F11

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Rev. Mr. Kell
circa 1800

Joseph Priestley offers the Rev. Mr. Kell a horse for him to ride to Cradley. Priestley also includes 7 lines of text written in Annet's Shorthand.

Location: I-RichardsonD-1992-1

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1800-1819

Pages

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