Science and Technology

    Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions

Letters from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence (Jan. – Jul. 1873)
January - July 1873

Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes three letters to George Lawrence in which he discusses the merits of a novel collection of Alaskan birds, and describes his stay in Portland. Transcripts included. 

Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F17

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Science and Technology, Travel and Tourism

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence
January 20, 1873

Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Spencer F. Baird writes George N. Lawrence regarding a change in plans for visiting New York City. As "Mr. [Kepel's?] departure from Bremen with the fish eggs has been somewhat delayed," Baird notes that he will adjust his travel schedule...

Location: I-SpahrB-1966-12

Subject: Science and Technology, Travel and Tourism

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence
February 18, 1873

Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Spencer Baird writes George Lawrence to express his regret that he "could not return to New York and attend the meeting of fish culturists."

Location: I-SpahrB-1966-12

Subject: Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence
March 11, 1873

Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Spencer Baird writes George Lawrence regarding how to send supplies to Dr. Gideon Lincecum in Tuxpan, Mexico.

Location: I-SpahrB-1966-12

Subject: Science and Technology, Travel and Tourism

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence
March 15, 1873

Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Spencer Baird writes to George Lawrence regarding the identification of some fish. Baird wishes to buy a specimen that Lawrence sent him and has "telegraphed Middleton & Carmen...to that effect."

Location: I-SpahrB-1966-12

Subject: Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence
March 27, 1873

Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Spencer Baird writes to George Lawrence regarding the "great activity in scientific explorations" and the need for "more collectors." "[Henry W.] Henshaw, [Charles J.] Maynard, & [Joseph H.] Batty will probably all go out in one party or...

Location: I-SpahrB-1966-12

Subject: Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence
March 29, 1873

Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Spencer Baird writes to George Lawrence regarding the acquisition of dynamite cartridges "for the purpose of blasting out crevices of rock, or exploding under water for the purpose of killing fish."

Location: I-SpahrB-1966-12

Subject: Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence
April 3, 1873

US National Museum manager Spencer F. Baird writes to George N. Lawrence regarding a variety of different topics, including Galbraith, Breese, Middleton, Carmen, "that fish," Harper's Weekly, dynamite cartridges for blasting out fossils, Mr. and Mrs. Boardman, and the National Academy....

Location: I-SpahrB-1966-11

Subject: Education, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence
April 5, 1873

US National Museum manager Spencer F. Baird writes to George N. Lawrence about a forwarded letter that refers to a "box of birds" from which Baird can select specimens for the museum. Baird, however, tells Lawrence that he does "not know to what box he refers." In addition, Baird also thanks...

Location: I-SpahrB-1966-11

Subject: Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to Alfred Bennett
March 20, 1874

Naturalist Spencer Fullerton Baird (Class of 1843) writes to Dr. Alfred W. Bennett, thanking him for sending a package of notes. Baird acknowledges similar gifts in the introduction of the Annual Report for 1873 and is sending Bennett a copy; he also "hopes that the new Scientific Monthly...

Location: I-Friends-1986-5

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

"Some Experiments in Taking Transparencies," by S. Homer Dosh
[1876?]

S. Homer Dosh writes his thesis, titled "Some Experiments in Taking Transparencies," about developing photographs while a student at Dickinson College. While using a piece of ground glass behind the negative film is the most satisfactory method, Dosh admits that the method is "inconvenient, and...

Letter from Spencer Baird to Charles Bell
October 28, 1876

Naturalist and Smithsonian administrator Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to his colleague Charles Bell. Baird thanks Bell for his "assistance in securing for us the magnificent collection of mining materials in the Canadian exhibit" of the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia...

Location: I-Friends-1987-3

Subject: Education, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to Charles Bell
October 30, 1876

Naturalist and Smithsonian administrator Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to his colleague Charles Bell at the Canadian Geological Survey, following up on his previous letter. He writes to urge Bell "to press the matter to a decision on the subject of transfers to the Smithsonian as soon as...

Location: I-Friends-1987-3

Subject: Education, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to Robert Bell
November 6, 1876

Naturalist and Smithsonian administrator Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to Professor Robert Bell of the Canadian Geological Survey. Baird is anxious to receive geological specimens from someone at the Survey. He also thanks Bell for his "intervention with the private exhibition"  and answers a...

Location: I-Friends-1987-3

Subject: Education, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to Robert Bell
November 20, 1876

Naturalist and Smithsonian administrator Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to Professor Robert Bell of the Canadian Geological Survey. Baird is grateful to have received Professor Selwyer's stratigraphical series of American rocks, but he is disappointed at not being able to obtain other...

Location: I-Friends-1987-3

Subject: Education, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to Robert Bell
May 12, 1877

Naturalist and Smithsonian administrator Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to Professor Robert Bell of the Geological Survey of Canada, regarding a paper Bell ordered that was lost in the mail. Baird writes that he will send another and adds: "Any other Smithsonian publications you desire, you...

Location: I-Friends-1987-4

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to Robert Bell
May 21, 1877

Naturalist and Smithsonian administrator Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to Professor Robert Bell of the Geological Survey of Canada, regarding books that were lost in the mail.

Location: I-Friends-1987-4

Subject: Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to Horatio Storer
April 9, 1878

Spencer F. Baird writes to Horatio R. Storer about collecting specimens of fish. Baird describes how to outfit a boat with trawls, dredges, and nets to collect fish for study. He thanks him for his help and explains that "although by the kind assistance of our Samuel Powel, we have most of the...

Location: I-SpahrB-1966-10

Subject: Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Broadside of "Lecture on the Telephone"
June 13, 1878

This broadside announces that Professor Charles F. Himes will deliver a lecture on "The Telephone" in Carlisle on June 13, 1878.

Location: OC 2000.1, F5

Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Science and Technology

Format: Broadsides and Posters

Time Period: 1860-1879

Carlisle Herald, "Telephonic Entertainment"
June 20, 1878

The Carlisle Herald describes Dickinson College Professor Charles F. Himes' lecture on the telephone, held the previous week on June 13, 1878, in this report. 

Letter from Spencer Baird to Brantz Mayer
August 3, 1878

Spencer F. Baird asks Brantz Mayer to consider "turning over" his collections to the Smithsonian Institution. Baird, who is particularly interested in the "Mexican Collection," promises Mayer that the items would be on exhibit in "the finest class of walnut case, with plate glass."

Location: I-SpahrB-1963-3

Subject: Education, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Broadside of "Lecture on Edison's Phonograph"
February 18, 1879

This broadside announces that Professor Charles F. Himes will deliver a lecture on Thomas Edison's phonograph and the "speaking telephone" at Rheem's Hall in Carlisle on February 18, 1879.

Location: OC 2000.1, F5

Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Science and Technology

Format: Broadsides and Posters

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Montgomery Meigs to Spencer Baird
June 23, 1879

Civil engineer Montgomery C. Meigs writes to Smithsonian Secretary Spencer Fullterton Baird, regarding building plans with offices for science professors, laboratories, a library, and a museum.

Location: I-Original-1879-1

Subject: Education, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to Winfrid Stearns
September 20, 1880

Naturalist and Smithsonian administrator Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to ornithologist Winfrid A. Stearns about the use of alcohol in preserving museum specimens. Unfortunately, the Smithsonian's alcohol stock has run out, and a new shipment will not arrive in time for Stearns's purposes....

Location: I-Friends-1989-1

Subject: Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1880-1899

Letter from Spencer Baird to Winfrid Stearns
July 5, 1882

Naturalist and Smithsonian administrator Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to his colleague Winfrid A. Stearns regarding specimen collection. The Smithsonian will send Stearns alcohol and "shall be pleased to have from [him] any collection in marine zoology."

Location: I-Friends-1989-1

Subject: Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1880-1899

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