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Artist:

Auguste Edouart, 1788 - 1861  Search this

Sitter:

James Hosken, 1798 - 1885  Search this

Medium:

Lithograph, pencil and cut paper on paper

Dimensions:

Image/Sheet: 27.8cm x 19.9cm (10 15/16" x 7 13/16")

Type:

Silhouette

Place:

United States\New York\Saratoga

Date:

1841

Topic:

Exterior\Waterscape\Seascape  Search this

Equipment\Optical Devices\Telescope  Search this

Vehicle\Boat\Sailboat  Search this

Nature & Environment\Animal\Bird  Search this

Silhouette  Search this

James Hosken: Male  Search this

James Hosken: Military\Navy\Officer\Vice Admiral  Search this

James Hosken: Science and Technology\Navigator\Ship\Steamship  Search this

Portrait  Search this

Credit Line:

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Robert L. McNeil, Jr.

Object number:

S/NPG.91.126.129.A

Restrictions & Rights:

CC0

See more items in:

National Portrait Gallery Collection

Data Source:

National Portrait Gallery

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4e796241f-61bc-4759-a6a2-6fe56dfd9d4b

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:npg_S_NPG.91.126.129.A

Maker:

Grunow, William  Search this

Measurements:

base: 17 1/2 in x 6 in; 44.45 cm x 15.24 cm

overall: 9 3/4 in x 8 5/8 in x 18 1/4 in; 24.765 cm x 21.9075 cm x 46.355 cm

Object Name:

spectrometer

Place made:

United States: New York, New York City

Date made:

1873-1881

Subject:

Science & Scientific Instruments  Search this

Credit Line:

U.S. Military Academy

ID Number:

PH.315432

Catalog number:

315432

Accession number:

217544

See more items in:

Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences

Science & Mathematics

Optics

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-10a7-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1463863

Measurements:

overall: 3 5/8 in x 6 9/16 in x 6 7/16 in; 9.2075 cm x 16.66875 cm x 16.35125 cm

Object Name:

scioptic ball

Scioptic ball

ID Number:

PH.315377

Catalog number:

315377

Accession number:

218984

See more items in:

Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b2-55a2-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1818029

Measurements:

overall: 17 in x 10 in; 43.18 cm x 25.4 cm

overall: 17 1/4 in x 10 in; 43.815 cm x 25.4 cm

Object Name:

Optical Apparatus

optical apparatus

Subject:

Science & Scientific Instruments  Search this

Credit Line:

United States Military Academy

ID Number:

PH.316422

Catalog number:

316422

Accession number:

223721

See more items in:

Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b2-6fc1-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1818038

Measurements:

overall: 1 1/4 in x 14 in x 3 1/4 in; 3.175 cm x 35.56 cm x 8.255 cm

Object Name:

anemometer

ID Number:

PH.314951

Catalog number:

314951

Accession number:

212903

See more items in:

Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ae-117b-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1167532

Maker:

Duboscq, Jules  Search this

Physical Description:

brass (overall material)

Measurements:

overall: 14 in x 19 1/2 in; 35.56 cm x 49.53 cm

overall: 18 7/8 in x 10 3/4 in x 21 1/2 in; 47.9425 cm x 27.305 cm x 54.61 cm

Object Name:

polarimeter

Place made:

France: Île-de-France, Paris

Date made:

ca 1864-1886

Subject:

Chemical Industry  Search this

Science & Scientific Instruments  Search this

Sugar  Search this

France  Search this

Optics  Search this

Worlds Fair  Search this

Credit Line:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

ID Number:

PH.314955

Catalog number:

314955

Accession number:

212903

See more items in:

Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences

Measuring & Mapping

Saccharimeters

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-3a18-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1184184

Measurements:

overall: 10 1/2 in x 5 in x 4 1/2 in; 26.67 cm x 12.7 cm x 11.43 cm

overall: 10 1/4 in x 4 1/2 in x 3 13/16 in; 26.035 cm x 11.43 cm x 9.68375 cm

Object Name:

double mill

ID Number:

PH.314619

Catalog number:

314619

Accession number:

208046

See more items in:

Medicine and Science: Physical Sciences

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-301c-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1391021

Creator:

Thompson, Daniel V. (Daniel Varney), 1902-1980  Search this

Names:

Courtauld Institute of Art -- Faculty  Search this

Berenson, Bernard, 1865-1959  Search this

Greene, Belle da Costa, 1883-1950  Search this

McKean, Mary Sargeant  Search this

Thompson, Randall, 1899-1984  Search this

Winslow, Henry, b. 1874  Search this

Extent:

10.1 Linear feet

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Notebooks

Diaries

Sketchbooks

Drawings

Watercolors

Photographs

Poetry

Musical scores

Prints

Oil paintings

Manuscripts

Date:

1848-1979

bulk 1923-1979

Summary:

The papers of art conservator and historian, engineer, and professor Daniel Varney Thompson (1902-1980) are dated 1848-1979, with the bulk of the material dated 1923-1979. The collection measures 10.1 linear feet and consists of biographical material, correspondence, subject files, writings, artwork, printed material, and photographs.

Scope and Content Note:

The papers of art conservator and historian, professor, engineer, and writer Daniel Varney Thompson (1902-1980) are dated 1848-1979, with the bulk of the material dated 1923-1979. The collection measures 10.1 linear feet and consists of biographical material, correspondence, subject files, writings, artwork, printed material, and photographs.

Biographical information includes certificates and diplomas, passports, and wills. Correspondence documents Daniel Varney Thompson's personal and professional life. Personal correspondence centers heavily on family members including his brother, the composer Randall Thompson. Professional correspondence concerns Thompson's academic career, research, writing, and work as a technical consultant and engineer. Among the correspondents are colleagues from Harvard, Yale, the Courtauld Institute, publishers, and academic and technical journals, in addition to corporate clients.

Subject files are comprised of varying correspondence, printed matter, photographs, notes and writings relating to Thompson's areas of interest. Personal and professional subject files include many relating to his research interests and engineering consulting projects. Of particular interest are numerous letters from Bernard Berenson. There is also correspondence with Belle da Costa Greene, as well as files concerning the Kermes beetle (a source of crimson dyes in the middle ages). Food and gardening subject files reflect Thompson's career as a writer and columnist on these subjects.

Writings consist mainly of manuscripts, drafts, research and miscellaneous notes; also included are diaries, poems, miscellaneous items, and a music score. Daniel Varney Thompson's personal and professional writings include two diaries, poems, and student writings. Most of his extant writings are on art-related topics, science and technology. Among the notes is an index to medieval manuscripts on craftsmanship in major European libraries was compiled by Thompson in 1935. His work on the subject remains unpublished and his notes are extremely valuable since some of the materials noted were lost in World War II. Scientific and technical notebooks, along with various wirings and reports, document projects undertaken as a technical consultant and engineer. The food and gardening writings are extensive and consist of manuscripts and notes for articles and columns, and for a book-length compilation of these writings. Among the writings by other authors are diaries of his mother and wife, and a music score by his brother, Randall Thompson.

Artwork by Daniel Varney Thompson, Mary Sargent McKean, and Henry Winslow consists of drawings, prints, watercolors, a sketchbook, and an oil painting. Printed material includes articles and book reviews by Daniel Varney Thompson, and items about or mentioning him and his family. Also found are articles and books about art, history, medieval studies, science and technology, and food and gardening topics.

Photographs are of artwork, people, places and miscellaneous subjects. Images of people are mainly Thompson and family members.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged as 7 series.

Series 1: Biographical Information, 1848-1970s (Box 1, OV 11-12; 0.3 linear ft.)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1914-1979 (Boxes 1-3; 2.0 linear ft.)

Series 3: Subject Files, 1925-1979 (Boxes 3-6; 3.0 linear ft.)

Series 4: Writings, 1907-1970s (Boxes 6-9; 2.85 linear ft.)

Series 5: Artwork, 1923-1934 (Box 9, OV 13; 5 folders)

Series 6: Printed Material, 1917-1979 (Box 9; 0.75 linear ft.)

Series 7: Photographs, circa 1900-1972 (Box 10; 0.4 linear ft.)

Biographical Note:

Daniel Varney Thompson (1902-1980) was an art conservator and historian, professor, engineer, and writer. A noted authority on medieval painting, Varney lived and worked primarily in the Boston area and London.

Daniel Varney Thompson was born in New Jersey in 1902. He was the son of Grace Randall Thompson and Daniel Varney Thompson, Sr., a classics teacher at the Lawrenceville School and later headmaster of Boston Latin School. American composer Randall Thompson was his older brother. Following family tradition, Thompson attended Harvard, earning the A.B. in 1922 and A.M. in 1926, focusing his attention on fine arts, physical chemistry, and literature. Daniel V. Thompson stopped using the designation Jr. after his father's death in 1932.

Between 1922 and 1925 Thompson was employed in the Fogg Museum's laboratory devoted to analyzing art materials for the purposes of detecting forgeries, preserving works of art, and devising methods to aid working artists. During this period, Thompson went to Italy as a Sheldon Fellow in Fine Arts, to learn medieval fresco painting techniques from Edward W. Forbes, Director of the Fogg Museum. He also had an opportunity to study medieval and Renaissance painting techniques with Inicio Federico Joni, and while in Italy began life-long friendships with the Forbes family and Bernard Berenson. Thompson served as a technical advisor to the 1924-1925 Second Harvard China Expedition; he traveled to China by way of India, where he studied wall paintings in caves at Ajanta and Elura and researched newly discovered scrolls.

Daniel Varney Thompson was on the faculty of Yale from 1926-1933, where he taught art history, and tempera painting courses, and laid the foundation for the Department of Fine Arts when Yale became a university in 1932. During his time at Yale, Thompson married Cecile [Cecily] de Luze Simonds.

When The American Council of Learned Societies awarded Thompson a research fellowship for the academic year 1933/34, he returned to Europe and surveyed major libraries for materials concerning the history of technology of the arts. Thompson was then invited to be Professor of the History of Technology at the University of London. He was on the faculty from 1934-1946, and also served as research and technical advisor, developing a laboratory at the Courtauld Institute for analysis of art materials.

During World War II, the Courtauld's laboratory - which had facilities for emission, absorption, and x-ray spectrography - was offered to the Ministry of Aircraft Production. To avoid compromising the University's tax-free status, Thompson formed and served as managing director of Daniel Varney Limited, a private company which leased the premises and equipment. From 1940 to 1945, the company was operated in the name of the Courtauld Institute, employing 200 people in tool making, gauge making, fine mechanisms, and development and production of optics instruments. After the war, Daniel Varney Limited shifted its interests to high vacuum diffusion pumps, gas manipulation, and glassblowing.

Upon returning to the United States in 1947, Thompson settled in the Boston area, becoming a technical consultant. He worked on projects for E-Z Mills, Inc., Sylvania Eloctronics, Comstock & Wescott, Inc., and other corporations. He was chief engineer of Jarrell-Ash Co., 1953-1955, redesigning optical instruments, spectrography, and schlieren systems. Between 1955 and 1957, Thompson served as Vice President of Swett & Sibley, involved with the design and development of optical instruments, scanning spectrometers, and densistometers. He then moved to Avco Corporation, where for the next decade he was a Senior Staff Consultant working on optical design in rocket instrumentation. Thompson retired from his engineering career in 1967.

Daniel V. Thompson wrote and published extensively. Art-related writings include translations and a monograph published by Yale University Press, and numerous articles and reviews. Translations are: Cennino Cennini's Il Libro dell'Arte (3 volumes: Text of Il Libro dell'Arte, 1932; The Craftsman's Handbook, 1933; and The Practice of Tempera Painting, 1936), and An Anonymous Fourteenth Century Treatise ( De arte illuminadi) (with his student George Heard Hamilton), 1936. A monograph, The Materials and Techniques of Medieval Painting (foreword by Bernard Berenson) appeared in 1936.

Most of Thompson's scientific and technical writings are unpublished and relate to projects for which he served as a consulting engineer.

Soon after retiring, Thompson began a new career that he continued for the remainder of his life. A serious cook and long-time gardener, he began writing about these topics, producing weekly columns that were published by newspapers from Maine to Chicago and contributing articles to Gourmet, Horticulture, and similar periodicals. Thompson also lectured to garden clubs and judged garden and flower competitions.

Daniel Varney Thompson died on January 4, 1980, following an automobile accident in Malaga, Spain.

Related Material:

Also found in the Archives of American Art are oral history interviews conducted with Daniel V. Thompson by Robert Brown, September 25, 1974-November 2, 1976. There are also three letters from Thompson to his sister-in-law Edith Simonds Moore.

Provenance:

The Daniel Varney Thompson papers were donated to the Archives of American Art in increments between 1974-1981 by Mr. Thompson and his estate.

Restrictions:

Use of original papers requires an appointment.

Rights:

The Daniel Varney Thompson papers are owned by the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Literary rights as possessed by the donor have been dedicated to public use for research, study, and scholarship. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.

Occupation:

Conservators  Search this

Art historians  Search this

Topic:

Food  Search this

Gardening  Search this

Engineers -- United States  Search this

Authors -- Massachusetts  Search this

Kermes (Insect)  Search this

Genre/Form:

Notebooks

Diaries

Sketchbooks

Drawings

Watercolors

Photographs

Poetry

Musical scores

Prints

Oil paintings

Manuscripts

Citation:

Daniel Varney Thompson papers, 1848-1979, bulk 1923-1979. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier:

AAA.thomdani

See more items in:

Daniel Varney Thompson papers

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aaa-thomdani

Creator:

National Air and Space Museum  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2013-11-01T19:16:46.000Z

YouTube Category:

Education  Search this

Topic:

Aeronautics;Flight;Space Sciences  Search this

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airandspace

Data Source:

National Air and Space Museum

YouTube Channel:

airandspace

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_3z7JFrBgK-A

Creator:

National Air and Space Museum  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2020-03-17T13:51:03.000Z

YouTube Category:

Education  Search this

Topic:

Aeronautics;Flight;Space Sciences  Search this

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airandspace

Data Source:

National Air and Space Museum

YouTube Channel:

airandspace

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_H09bZCuwEzM

Creator:

National Air and Space Museum  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2017-05-31T13:42:53.000Z

YouTube Category:

Education  Search this

Topic:

Aeronautics;Flight;Space Sciences  Search this

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airandspace

Data Source:

National Air and Space Museum

YouTube Channel:

airandspace

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_LkTiEyW-rC0

Creator:

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2020-07-20T13:00:05.000Z

YouTube Category:

Education  Search this

Topic:

Art, modern  Search this

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hirshhornmuseum

Data Source:

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

YouTube Channel:

hirshhornmuseum

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_Cmz8gAi61SY

Creator:

Smithsonian Channel  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2012-08-13T19:26:08.000Z

YouTube Category:

Entertainment  Search this

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smithsonianchannel

Data Source:

Smithsonian Channel

YouTube Channel:

smithsonianchannel

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_hhJb_vlmnaM

Creator:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2011-06-07T17:21:12.000Z

YouTube Category:

Science & Technology  Search this

Topic:

Astronomy  Search this

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Data Source:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

YouTube Channel:

ITAMPhysics

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_-_ZvTsnIYmQ

Creator:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2011-05-24T20:11:11.000Z

YouTube Category:

Science & Technology  Search this

Topic:

Astronomy  Search this

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ITAMPhysics

Data Source:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

YouTube Channel:

ITAMPhysics

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_2vsm_2MZuWk

Creator:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory  Search this

Type:

Conversations and talks

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2011-04-21T13:53:56.000Z

YouTube Category:

Science & Technology  Search this

Topic:

Astronomy  Search this

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ITAMPhysics

Data Source:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

YouTube Channel:

ITAMPhysics

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_EsOLWr9W6dY

Creator:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory  Search this

Type:

Conversations and talks

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2011-04-11T18:52:55.000Z

YouTube Category:

Science & Technology  Search this

Topic:

Astronomy  Search this

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ITAMPhysics

Data Source:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

YouTube Channel:

ITAMPhysics

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edanmdm:yt_QO7JdhkF5EM

Creator:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2011-05-17T19:43:37.000Z

YouTube Category:

Science & Technology  Search this

Topic:

Astronomy  Search this

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ITAMPhysics

Data Source:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

YouTube Channel:

ITAMPhysics

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_T79ASPZFIFk

Creator:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory  Search this

Type:

Conversations and talks

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2011-04-20T13:42:43.000Z

YouTube Category:

Science & Technology  Search this

Topic:

Astronomy  Search this

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Data Source:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

YouTube Channel:

ITAMPhysics

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_dblkG79ItN4

Creator:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory  Search this

Type:

YouTube Videos

Uploaded:

2011-05-24T20:09:51.000Z

YouTube Category:

Science & Technology  Search this

Topic:

Astronomy  Search this

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ITAMPhysics

Data Source:

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

YouTube Channel:

ITAMPhysics

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:yt_mvHg5PcXb6k