Most of the correspondence is directed to Goode, with lesser amounts to True, Walcott, and Rathbun. Also, a small amount of correspondence is addressed to the Secretary
of the Smithsonian Institution, (Baird, 1878-1887; and Samuel P. Langley, 1887-1906) but is generally referred to the Assistant Secretary for response.
Much of the material is routine correspondence from the general public, and deals with offers to sell and collect specimens, the identification of artifacts and specimens,
museum administration, and requests for publications. Also evident is correspondence from contractors, publishing houses, and other firms conducting business transactions
with the United States National Museum. A large part of the international scientific community corresponded with the United States National Museum, and many letters concerning
19th century science and scientific affairs are contained in this collection. A large quantity of correspondence exists from museums, scientists, various scientific institutions,
and colleges and universities. Once again, much of the correspondence is routine, concerning exhibits, museum administration, requests for publications, and the exchange of
specimens. A voluminous amount of material regards United States National Museum publications. However, most of the correspondence concerns the technical production of the
manuscripts, rather than the content. Materials of special interest include correspondence from collectors and naturalists in the field, plans and accounts of scientific expeditions,
and data on significant accessions. A small amount of outgoing correspondence appears in the collection.
See Record Unit 112 for outgoing correspondence.
Historical Note:
These records comprise the primary incoming correspondence of the officer in immediate charge of the United States National Museum. Beginning in 1850 with the appointment
of Spencer F. Baird, the primary responsibility of the Assistant Secretary was the direction of the United States National Museum. The Assistant Secretary also performed other
functions at the direction of the Secretary, and for various periods of time was in charge of publications, exchanges, and other areas. Incumbents included: (1) Spencer F.
Baird, 1850-1878; (2) George Brown Goode, 1880-1896, including the years 1880-1887 when he served as assistant director of the museum without the title of Assistant Secretary;
(3) Charles D. Walcott, Acting Assistant Secretary, 1897-1898; (4) Richard Rathbun, 1897-1918. After Goode's death in 1896, the business of the office was administered for
a time by the executive curator, Frederick William True.
Restrictions:
Inquiries related to specimens should be directed to the appropriate museum registrar.
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 189, Smithsonian Institution. Assistant Secretary in charge of the United States National Museum, Correspondence and Memoranda
Dissertatio botanico-medica de Aloë : quam, adprob. exper. Facult. Med. Upsal. præside Carol. P. Thunberg ... / pro gradu doctoris publico examini subjicit Andreas Hesselius ... ; V.gothus. in audit. Gust. maj. d. I. Junii anno MDCCLXXXV
No access restrictions. Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
B. c. D. Amphibia Gyllenborgiana dissertatione academica ... praeside ... Carolo Linnæo ... ; et publico examini subjecta a Barth. Rudolpho Hast ... in audit. Carolino Majori die XVIII, Junii. anni MDCCXLV
De moxae atque ignis in medicina ratioanli usa : venia exper. facult. medicae sub moderamine Carol. Pet. Thunberg ... pro gradu medico / disserit Johannes Gustavus Hallman ... in Audit. Gust. Maj. d. XXIV. Maji MDCCLXXXVIII. h.a. et p.m.s
Dissertatio de viribus et usu atropae belladonnae / quam venia exp. fac. med. Upsal. praeside Carol. P. Thunberg ... pro gradu medico publicae submittit censurae auctor Olavus Lindbom ..
De gummi ammoniaco dissertatio / quam venia exp. fac. med. Upsal. praeside C.P. Thunberg ... pro gradu medico publicae censurae offert Ernestus Swartz ..
De lactucario dissertatio botanico-medica / quam venia exp. fac. med. Upsal. praeside C.P. Thunberg ... pro gradu medico publicae censurae offert auctor Adolphus Henricus Humble ..
Dissertatio de veneficiis per arsenicum / quam praeside Carol. Pet. Thunberg ... pro gradu medico publicae defert censurae auctor Laurentius Fredr. Gravander ..
Dissertationem pharmacologicam de cinchona p. II / venia exp. fac. med. Upsal. praeside Carol. P. Thunberg ... pro gradu medico publicae submittit censurae auctor Carolus Petrus Forsberg ..
Remedia sternutatoria / quae venia exper. ord. med. Upsal. praeside Carol. Pet. Thunberg ... pro gradu medico publice proponit Johannes Ericus Ulfsberg ..
De ipecacuanha dissertatio / quam venia exp. fac. med. Upsal praeside C.P. Thunberg ... pro gradu medico conscripsit et publicae censurae offert Immanuel Billberg ... pars prior-[altera] ..
De entozois humanis dissertatio nosologico-therapeutica / quam venia exp. fac. med. Upsal. praeside Carol. P. Thunberg ... pro gradu medico p. p. auctor Carolus Jacobus Lundborg ...
De entozois humanis dissertatio, physiologico-pathologica / quam venia exp. fac. med. Upsal. praeside Carol. P. Thunberg ... pro gradu medico publico examini proponit auctor Israel Kolmodin ..
Reformandae pharmacopoeae Svecicae : specimen primum[-decimum] / quod praeside Carol. Pet. Thunberg ... pro gradu medico exhibet auctor Laurentius Guilielmus Zethelius ..
Pharmaco-kritik, eller, Pröfning af läkemedlens åkthet och renhet : med uteslutande hänseende till svenska pharmakopéen : första-[andra] delen ... / med medicinska facultetens tillstånd under ... C.P. Thunbergs inseende ... af Carl Ulrik Sondén
Neat furniture, Butter's patent sofas, piano forte, fine prints, framed and in port folios, shells, minerals, &c. : a catalogue of a quantity of shells and minerals, prints, &c. and household furniture of the usual description, comprising two Butler's sofa bedsteads, handsome sideboard table, patent dining tables, piano forte, drawing room sofa and chairs, large bath, carpets, glasses, &c. which w...
