All Items 1,440

Edward Hitchcock draft petition to Massachusetts state legislature, 1842 January

Hitchcock, Edward, 1793-1864

A draft of a petition by Edward Hitchcock to the Massachusetts state legislature requesting payment for his efforts editing his "Final Report on the Geology of Massachusetts" for a new edition. Hitchcock discusses the work that went into the report and the cost of undertaking the geological survey itself in an attempt to justify why he believes he is owed compensation, and explains why he did not request compensation for certain undertakings related to the report earlier. Additionally, Hitchcock asks the legislature to consider housing the samples collected during the survey in a place that is both safe and accessible to visitors who may wish to view the collection.

Edward Hitchcock draft petition to Massachusetts state legislature, 1842 January
Edward Hitchcock transcriptions of geological poems

Hitchcock, Edward, 1793-1864

Three poems about geology transcribed by Edward Hitchcock. The original authorship of all three poems is unclear. The first two poems, "A Poetical Geognosy" and "Geological Cookery" may be by Robert Bakewell or John Scafe. The third is an excerpt from a longer poem published in the Christian Observer in 1834, which Hitchcock attributes to a Rev. Mr. Wilks in his "The Religion of Geology and its Connected Sciences".

Edward Hitchcock transcriptions of geological poems
Catalogue of the Massachusetts State Cabinet: under the charge of the sec'y of the Board of Agriculture

Hitchcock, Edward, 1793-1864

Pages extracted from the "Catalogue of the Massachusetts State Cabinet," issued by the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture, featuring a letter from Edward Hitchcock about the collection in the Massachusetts State Cabinet, its evolution, and the reasoning behind the names given to specimens, as well as the actual catalog of specimens. The catalog lists stratified and unstratified rocks held in the cabinet along with the locations where they were found, organized into more specific categories such as soils, clay, pliocene tertiary, miocene tertiary, Connecticut River Sandstone, metamorphic rocks, and others.

Catalogue of the Massachusetts State Cabinet: under the charge of the sec'y of the Board of Agriculture
Specimens collected and taken, 1839 July

Hitchcock, Edward, 1793-1864

A notebook containing a list by Edward Hitchcock of geological specimens collected and taken in July 1839 for his geological survey of Massachusetts. Ninety-one specimens are listed, with numbering beginning at 609 and ending at 700. Most have a brief description of the specimen as well as the location where it was collected. There are two pencil drawings towards the end of the notebook.

Specimens collected and taken, 1839 July
Catalogue of mineral specimens, as finally arranged in the government collection, 1840 February

Hitchcock, Edward, 1793-1864

A notebook containing catalog lists by Edward Hitchcock. The first list, "Catalogue of Mineral Specimens as finally arranged in the Government Collection February 1840" lists numbered mineral specimens and the location where they were found. These specimens were collected for his geological survey of Massachusetts. Numbering begins at 1551 and ends at 2510. A second list titled "Catalogue of Specimens for the Government put up in Bottles" begins on the thirty-sixth page and lists the specimen type and the location where it was found. Numbering begins at 1 and ends at 227. The final page includes an additional list of nine specimens numbered 601 to 609, but it is unclear what this list is for.

Catalogue of mineral specimens, as finally arranged in the government collection, 1840 February
Catalogue of paintings executed in 1838 for the government

Hitchcock, Edward, 1793-1864

A list of paintings made in 1838 for the government for Edward Hitchcock's geological survey of Massachusetts. Two hundred and twenty-seven paintings are listed. Most have a brief description of what is being depicted and some include a location as well.

Catalogue of paintings executed in 1838 for the government
Biography in memoriam of Edward Hitchcock

Hitchcock, Edward, 1793-1864

An undated biographical sketch written in memoriam of Edward Hitchcock, including descriptions of his career at Amherst College, his relationship with Orra White Hitchcock, and his life as a Christian. The document contains no signature or other statement of responsibility.

Biography in memoriam of Edward Hitchcock
The hermit

Beattie, James, 1735-1803

A transcription of all but the final verse of the poem "The Hermit" by James Beattie. This transcription appears to be in a hand other than Edward Hitchcock's.

The hermit
August Krantz letter and invoice to William S. Clark, 1853 April 26

Krantz, August, 1809-1872

A letter and invoice from August Krantz to William S. Clark regarding a delivery of natural history materials to Amherst College, by order of Edward Hitchcock.

August Krantz letter and invoice to William S. Clark, 1853 April 26
Edward Hitchcock list of expenses

Hitchcock, Edward, 1793-1864

A list of unidentified expenses related to Edward and Orra's travels in Europe. Hitchcock has written "Rue de Paix" on the verso.

Edward Hitchcock list of expenses
Edward Hitchcock and Orra White Hitchcock letter to the Hitchcock children, 1847 April 1

Hitchcock, Edward, 1793-1864

A letter from Edward and Orra White Hitchcock to their children, addressed to their daughter Mary Hitchcock. Edward Hitchcock has written the letter and has signed it for himself and Orra White. The letter explains their plans to leave New York for Philadelphia on their way to Richmond, Virginia, describes the weather in New York during their stay, and asks Edward Hitchcock, Jr. to pass along information about his medical treatment to the doctor in Amherst.

Edward Hitchcock and Orra White Hitchcock letter to the Hitchcock children, 1847 April 1
Edward Hitchcock letter to the Hitchcock children, 1850 August 12

Hitchcock, Edward, 1793-1864

A letter from Edward Hitchcock to his children in which Hitchcock writes about his and Orra White Hitchcock's trip from Scotland back to London. He describes Edinburgh and the countryside between the two cities in detail, and explains their plans to travel on the continent and when they may start their journey home. He also describes several scholars he has met and writes that he is weary of traveling and wishes his children could switch places with him. On the final page he writes a poem about being separated from loved ones.

Edward Hitchcock letter to the Hitchcock children, 1850 August 12
L. Chapin letter to Orra White Hitchcock, 1824 March 30

Chapin, L.

A letter of condolence from L. Chapin to Orra White Hitchcock upon hearing of the death of Hitchcock's 22-month-old child, Edward Hitchcock. Chapin quotes some lines that he or she believe Orra White may find comforting, which appear to be drawn from John William Cunningham's "The Velvet Cushion." Chapin also inquires after mutual acquaintances.

L. Chapin letter to Orra White Hitchcock, 1824 March 30
Edward Hitchcock and Orra White Hitchcock letter to Mary Hitchcock, 1849 July 16

Hitchcock, Orra White, 1796-1863

A letter to Mary Hitchcock in New Lebanon Springs, New York in which Edward Hitchcock writes about Mary undergoing "hydropathic treatment" and discusses some of his recent travels and potential travel plans. Orra White Hitchcock describes in detail a cactus plant of Mary's that is blooming and the hot weather and severe drought in Amherst. She shares some neighborhood news, and mentions a party the Hitchcocks attended at the home of James Kellogg. Orra goes on to also describe a visit she and Edward had from an Ojibwa couple, who attended chapel with them in the morning. In the afternoon the husband of the couple, Cawshawgance, lectured on temperance.

Edward Hitchcock and Orra White Hitchcock letter to Mary Hitchcock, 1849 July 16
Reuben Mussey letter to Edward Hitchcock, 1863 August 15

Mussey, R. D., (Reuben Dimond), 1780-1866

A letter of condolence to Edward Hitchcock from Reuben Mussey upon the death of Orra White Hitchcock, written by Mussey's daughter, Catharine Hartwell.

Reuben Mussey letter to Edward Hitchcock, 1863 August 15
Orra White Hitchcock letter to Mary Hitchcock and Jane Hitchcock, 1850 July 28

Hitchcock, Orra White, 1796-1863

A letter from Orra White Hitchcock to her children, directed to "Mary and Jane in particular & the rest in general." Much of the letter is devoted to expressing her desire for more frequent letters and news, no matter how mundane, from her children. She also offers each of her children advice and direction about their individual endeavours. She reports on their father's ill health and her hope that the weather will be warmer when they reach "the continent." Orra inquires about things at home, initially scolding Kate for not writing, but relenting after receiving a letter from her a couple of days later. Orra describes her travel with her husband(accompanied, at times, by their friends the Tappans) throughout Ireland and Scotland in great detail, focusing especially on Belfast, Dublin, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. She writes extensively about their modes of travel, the landscape, the people, and the houses and dress. She shares her method for dealing with the many persistent "beggars" she encounters on the streets of Ireland, which is to go out with food in her pockets and when asked for money give out pieces of bread. She ends with a brief description of the meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science which she and Edward attended in Edinburgh. The letter was begun on July 28, 1850, with portions added over the next few days, with the final portion being written on August 1, 1850.

Orra White Hitchcock letter to Mary Hitchcock and Jane Hitchcock, 1850 July 28
Orra White Hitchcock letter to a Hitchcock daughter, 1850 June

Hitchcock, Orra White, 1796-1863

A letter from Orra White Hitchcock to one of her children describing her and Edward Hitchcock's journey in Great Britain thus far. Though it is unclear which child the letter is addressed to, the content of the letter suggests that the intended recipient is either Mary Hitchcock or Catharine Hitchcock [later Storrs]. Orra White discusses Edward Hitchcock's appointment to the board of commissioners for creating an agricultural college in Massachusetts and describes the visits he must make to similar institutions in Europe as part of that board. She indicates that the trip is becoming "irksome," due in part to the effects it is having on Edward's health. She passes along messages to her other children, Emily, Charlie, Jane, and Edward Jr. saying she hopes her youngest, Emily, will benefit from Orra's absence. Orra comments on local events back home and implores her children to write and share the news. The letter is continued on "Friday morn" with descriptions of the bells chiming in honor of the anniversary of the queen's coronation. Orra goes on to describe the news she heard at the breakfast table about an incident that had taken place the evening before at Buckingham Palace in which a "respectable looking man" hit Queen Victoria with his cane. She also describes various recent social engagements including lunch at the home of Lady Lyell, wife of Sir Charles Lyell. The letter appears to be incomplete.

Orra White Hitchcock letter to a Hitchcock daughter, 1850 June
Orra White Hitchcock letter to Edward Hitchcock, Jr., 1850 November 18

Hitchcock, Orra White, 1796-1863

A letter to Edward Hitchcock, Jr. in which Orra White Hitchcock responds to an inquiry from him about selling his two coats to get a better one. Orra advises him that the two coats will serve him better. She also informs him of his father's upcoming travel and notes that she has invited his uncles Charles and Henry Hitchcock and their wives for Thanksgiving, along with his aunt Emilia Hitchcock Billings and her husband Charles Hovey Billings.

Orra White Hitchcock letter to Edward Hitchcock, Jr., 1850 November 18
Elijah Barrows letter to Edward Hitchcock, 1863 May 30

Barrows, E. P., (Elijah Porter), 1807-1888

A letter of condolence to Edward Hitchcock from Elijah P. Barrows upon the death of Orra White Hitchcock. Signed "P." or "E.P. Barrows". It has been inferred that this refers to Elijah Porter Barrows.

Elijah Barrows letter to Edward Hitchcock, 1863 May 30
Eunice Huntington letter to Edward Hitchcock, 1863 May 30

Huntington, Eunice Hitchcock, 1825-1910

A letter of condolence to Edward Hitchcock from his niece Eunice [Kimberly] Hitchcock Huntington upon the death of Orra White Hitchcock. Huntington comments on how much of a support Orra was to her husband, Orra kindness to her, and her own father's [Henry Hitchcock] recent death.

Eunice Huntington letter to Edward Hitchcock, 1863 May 30