2 Microfilm reels (200 items on 2 partial microfilm reels)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Microfilm reels
Date:
circa 1783-1845
Scope and Contents:
The microfilmed John James Audubon and Audubon family letters contain letters from John James Audubon to his wife, Lucy, and his son Victor. Letters refer to personal affairs, ornithology, and publications. Also included is a fragment of Audubon's journal from New Orleans, 1821.
Biographical / Historical:
John James Audubon (1785-1851) was an ornithologist, naturalist, painter, and illustrator born in Haiti to a French plantation owner. His work, The Birds of America was originally published as a four-volume elephant folio with 435 hand-colored plates of life-size depictions of individual bird species. The accompanying text was published separately in five volumes as Ornithological Biography.
Audubon married educator and philanthropist Lucy Bakewell (1787-1874). Bakewell supported the family financially while Audubon worked on The Birds of America.
Audubon's sons Victor Gifford and John Woodhouse Audubon were also artists and assisted their father with the business of publishing his work.
Related Materials:
The Archives of American Art also holds the microfilmed letters to Samuel G. Morton from Victor and John James Audubon, 1836-1840, and the microfilmed Victor Audubon letters to John L. Le Conte, 1852.
Harvard University Houghton Library holds the John James Audubon papers, 1813-1880 and the John James Audubon letters and drawings, 1805-1892. The American Philosophical Society holds the John James Audubon Papers, 1821-1845. Tulane University Special Collections holds the John James Audubon papers, 1807-1927. Princeton University Library Special Collections holds the John James Audubon Collection, 1788-1970. The New York Public Library Archives & Manuscripts Division holds the John James Audubon correspondence, 1827-1857. Yale University Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library holds the Victor Gifford Audubon collection, 1845-1859.
Provenance:
Lent for microfilming, 1955, by the American Philosophical Society.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
