Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Records of the Robert Mills Papers Project, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
This collection consists of records, mostly dated 1816-1830, concerning the founding and operation of the Columbian Institute by Edward Cutbush, Thomas Law, and others.
Records document efforts to raise money for a building, publishing projects, and a botanical garden; and to collect natural history specimens. Also included are minutes of
meetings and committee reports; treasurer's records; and correspondence of French naturalist Francois de Laporte, Count Castelneau de Laporte.
Researchers should also consult the Peter Force Collection in the Library of Congress, which contains various minutes, papers, and correspondence of the Institute.
Historical Note:
The Columbian Institute (1816-1838) was first organized as the Metropolitan Society, with the professed purpose of reducing the United States' dependence on a purely
European cultural heritage. Its principal goal was utilitarian; the society concentrated on encouraging, by correspondence, exchanges, and a program of publication, the diffusion
of information about agriculture, manufacturing, and natural resources. Though initially conceived as a local body, the Society soon decided to expand its operations, and
so, still in 1816, changed its name to the Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences, under which name it was incorporated by Congress in 1818.
The Institute led a desultory existence. Its first president, Edward Cutbush, a naval surgeon, was energetic; but the Institute was never able to establish itself on a
sound footing. Much of its membership seems to have been only casually interested in the Institute's work. Perhaps for this reason, and certainly because Congress gave no
aid, there was always a dearth of money. Nor did an 1818 reorganization which added the fields of the liberal arts to its interests prove useful. In 1820 the Institute obtained
a plot of land on the Mall and laid out a small botanical garden, virtually its only concrete accomplishment. A few natural history specimens and a small library were collected.
The Institute's charter expired in 1838 and, in 1841, it was absorbed by the National Institute.
Folder 3: Letter from Dr. Cuttbush [sic] signifying his compliance with the wishes of the members of the Columbian Institute to have a copy of his oration for the Press. Dated 12 January 1817.
Container:
Box 1 of 5
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7051, Columbian Institute, Records
Folder 3: Letter from Nathaniel Cutting to Dr. Cutbush, thanking him for his address and asking that a copy of his oration be released to the Press. Dated 12 January 1817.
Container:
Box 1 of 5
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7051, Columbian Institute, Records
Folder 3: Letter from Edward Cutbush to Benjamin Homans relative to a discourse to be delivered by the President of the Columbian Institute. Dated 13 December 1816.
Container:
Box 1 of 5
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7051, Columbian Institute, Records
Folder 4: Letter from William Fitzhugh to Asbury Dickins, Esquire, accepting his nomination as a member of the Columbian Institute, and inclosing $5 for the membership fee. Note from W.L. [William Lambert] Rec'd five dollars. Dated 10 November 1826. Re...
Container:
Box 1 of 5
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7051, Columbian Institute, Records
Folder 4: Letter from Edward Cutbush, resigning his membership in the Columbian Institute. Dated and read 9 December 1826. Note from W.L. [William Lambert] Rec'd the check. Abstract recorded, Vol. 1 Page 233.
Container:
Box 1 of 5
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7051, Columbian Institute, Records
Folder 4: Letter from William Cranch to Asbury Dickens acknowledging the receipt of a letter informing him of his election as a resident member of the Columbian Institute. Dated 19 October 1826.
Container:
Box 1 of 5
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7051, Columbian Institute, Records
Folder 4: Letter from William Tell Poussin to Asbury Dickens acknowledging the receipt of a letter informing him of his election as a resident member of the Columbian Institute, dated 18 October 1826.
Container:
Box 1 of 5
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7051, Columbian Institute, Records
Folder 4: Letter from G. Ducatel to Asbury Dickens accepting his nomination as a corresponding member of the Columbian Institute. Dated 18 October 1826.
Container:
Box 1 of 5
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7051, Columbian Institute, Records
Folder 4: Letter from Dr. James Lovell to Asbury Dickens, accompanied with a meteorological register? [sic] Dated 18 October 1826, presented 4 November 1826.
Container:
Box 1 of 5
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7051, Columbian Institute, Records
Folder 4: Letter from Brigadier General Simon Bernard, acknowledging the receipt of a notification of his election as a resident member of the Columbian Institute. Dated 23 August 1826. Read 2 September 1826.
Container:
Box 1 of 5
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7051, Columbian Institute, Records
Folder 4: Letter from Mr. Adams, dated Quincy, 6 August 1826, [sic] acknowledging the receipt of resolutions in honor of the memory of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Communicated to the Institute 12 August, 1826.
Container:
Box 1 of 5
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7051, Columbian Institute, Records
Folder 4: Form of a letter from the Secretary to the relatives of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Dated July 27 1826. Accompanying the minutes of the Institute, 12 August 1826.
Container:
Box 1 of 5
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7051, Columbian Institute, Records
Folder 4: Letter accompanying a requisition to call a special meeting of the Institute, from Dr. Nathanial P. Causin, Reverend Obadiah Brown, and Dr. Tobias Watkins. Dated 17 July 1826. Read 19 July 1826. Recorded Vol 1, page 223.
Container:
Box 1 of 5
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7051, Columbian Institute, Records
Folder 4: Requisition for a special meeting of the Columbian Institute, on Saturday 15 July 1826, made by Robert Little, William Elliot, William W. Seaton, Thomas Law; sent to Asbury Dickens. Dated 15 July 1826.
Container:
Box 1 of 5
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7051, Columbian Institute, Records
