1.25 cu. ft. (2 document boxes) (1 half document box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Signatures (names)
Scientific illustrations
Diaries
Manuscripts
Date:
1870-1871, 1873, 1881-1897
Introduction:
This finding aid was digitized with funds generously provided by the Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee.
Descriptive Entry:
These papers concern Casey's work in entomology, especially the creation of his collection of Coleoptera. A fragment of the papers relates to Casey's earlier work in
astronomy. Included in the papers are letters from Casey's father, 1870-1871; observations and computations made while accompanying Simon Newcomb on an expedition to observe
the transit of Venus, 1882; letters received from entomologists, 1887-1897, regarding specimen identifications, purchase and exchange of Coleoptera specimens, and relating
to the publication of Casey's papers; an autograph collection, mostly of public or military figures; and drawings of fossil Diatomaceae done by Casey in 1873.
Historical Note:
Thomas Lincoln Casey (1857-1925) graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1879 and went into the Corps of Engineers. In his early years in the military
he was engaged in astronomy, but his interest later turned to entomology, and he became an intense student of the Coleoptera. His first paper appeared in 1884. At first his
study was confined to North America, but after 1910 he studied the Coleoptera of Central and South America as well. His collection of specimens and his library were given
to the United States National Museum after his death. See Thomas Lincoln Casey and the Casey Collection of Coleoptera, Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Volume
94, Number 3, publication 3330.