The administration of the United States National Museum required curators to submit regular reports on the activities of the departments, divisions, and sections. Prior
to about 1900 these reports were often made monthly and semiannually as well as annually. The reports were traditionally submitted to the Director of the National Museum to
be used in preparing the published Annual Report of the United States National Museum. The individual reports, however, were not reproduced in their entirety in the published
Annual Report and generally contain more information than is to be found in the published version.
Reports were stored by the Office of Correspondence and Reports (later known as the Office of Correspondence and Documents), and then by the Office of the Registrar.
Includes reports submitted to the Director of the United States National Museum by curators and administrators.
This series consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence of Richard Rathbun. The correspondence is both professional and personal and concerns the administration
of the United States Fish Commission and United States National Museum (USNM); paleontological and zoological research; Rathbun's activity in scientific societies and social
organizations; business concerns; and personal matters. Correspondents include Fish Commission, Smithsonian, and USNM staff members; professional colleagues; family members;
and friends. Subjects of special interest include Samuel P. Langley's aerodrome experiments, 1903; Charles D. Walcott's paleontological field work in the Canadian Rockies,
1912; Rathbun's work on the Geological Commission of Brazil, 1875-1878; and the early history of the American Association of Museums (see under Hermon Carey Bumpus, William
Jacob Holland, and William John McGee).
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7078, Richard Rathbun Papers
Folders 5-6 Derby, Orville A., 1873-1904. Includes correspondence concerning Derby's and Rathbun's work on the Geological Commission of Brazil, 1875-1878.
The papers of Richard Rathbun document his early investigations in geology and paleontology; his college career at Cornell University, 1871-1872; his work as geologist
on the Geological Commission of Brazil, 1875-1878; and his scientific and administrative careers with the United States Fish Commission and United States National Museum.
Of special interest is correspondence and other materials concerning Samuel P. Langley's aerodrome experiments of 1903. The papers consist of incoming and outgoing correspondence;
notebooks; manuscripts and research material; notes and sketches; photographs and lantern slides; and a manuscript on architecture by Rathbun's son, Seward Hume Rathbun.
Historical Note:
Richard Rathbun (1852-1918) was born in Buffalo, New York. He received his early education in the public schools of Buffalo and after graduation worked in his father's
stone quarry business. Rathbun developed an early interest in the geology and paleontology of western New York, and by 1870 had deposited large collections of fossils in the
Buffalo Society of Natural History. In 1871, Rathbun entered Cornell University on the advice of the distinguished Brazilian explorer, Charles F. Hartt. He left Cornell in
1873 to study the fossil collections at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University. In 1874, he was appointed assistant in zoology in the Boston Society of Natural
History. While serving in this position, Rathbun also worked as a volunteer assistant with the United States Fish Commission (USFC). In 1875, he became a geologist with the
Geological Commission of Brazil, under the direction of Hartt. He remained in Brazil until 1878, when he returned to the United States to accept the position of scientific
assistant with the USFC. Rathbun remained on the staff of the USFC until 1896. His association with the Smithsonian Institution and United States National Museum began in
1881, when he was made honorary curator of the Department of Marine Invertebrates, a position he held until 1914. In 1897, Rathbun accepted the position of assistant secretary
of the Smithsonian Institution, in charge of Office and Exchanges. In 1898, Rathbun's duties were expanded to include certain aspects of museum administration, and in 1901
his title was changed to Assistant secretary, in charge of the National Museum, a position he held until his death in 1918.
This series consists of photographs and lantern slides collected by Richard Rathbun. Included are photographs of Brazil taken while Rathbun served as geologist on
the Geological Commission of Brazil, 1875-1878; landscapes of British Columbia; an album of photographs documenting seal rookeries on the Pribilof Islands, 1895; and lantern
slides of corals and Brazilian scenes.
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7078, Richard Rathbun Papers
This series consists of notes and sketches by Richard Rathbun concerning invertebrate zoology, geology, and paleontology. Included are extensive notes and sketches
made by Rathbun while he served as geologist on the Geological Commission of Brazil, 1875-1878.
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7078, Richard Rathbun Papers
This accession consists of field notes of Richard Rathbun (1852-1918), a geologist and paleontologist. Most of these notes occurred during his time as a geologist with
the Geological Commission of Brazil. Materials also include scientific illustrations and a few pressed plants.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
