Augustus William Smith papers, 1816-1918

(bulk 1820-1860)

John Hay Library , Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2013

Collection Overview

Title:	Augustus William Smith papers
Date range:	1816-1918, (bulk 1820-1860)
Creator:	Smith, Augustus William, 1802-1866
Extent:	3.5 Linear feet
Abstract:	Augustus William Smith was a school teacher, university professor (astronomy and mathematics), president of Wesleyan University and professor of Natural Philosophy at the United States Naval Academy. Smith's papers contain extensive correspondence with contemporary astronomers, mathematicians and meteorologists, along with several manuscripts. There is also correspondence between Smith and others concerning affairs of the Methodist-Episcopal Church.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library , Special Collections
Collection number:	Ms.Smith

Scope & content

The Augustus William Smith papers consist of approximately 335 items with inclusive dates 1816-1918. Included in the collection are correspondence, autograph manuscripts written by Smith while at Hamilton College and Wesleyan, a notebook (part of which records Smith's journey to Labrador in 1860) diplomas, civilian commissions, deeds, and photographs.

The bulk of the material dates from the mid-1820's to 1860. It consists of personal correspondence between Smith and members of his family, former classmates and pupils. There is scientific correspondence between Smith and contemporary astronomers, mathematicians and meteorologists. Finally, there are many letters between Smith and various members of the Methodist-Episcopal Church.

Some of the more important historical figures represented in the collection as recipients and authors are: Westel Willoughby, Jr. (U.S. Representative from New York), Joseph Henry (Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution), Wilbur Fisk (President of Wesleyan University), Daniel Denison Whedon (Methodist minister) and Landon Cabell Garland (educator).

Series 4 through 6 of the collection contain manuscripts (by others), documents, and printed materials primarily related to Smith's years at Hamilton College, Oneida Conference Seminary, Wesleyan University, and the United States Navy.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Alexander, Stephen, 1806-1883
• Andrews, Edward G. (Edward Gayer), 1825-1907
• Baker, Osmon C. (Osmon Cleander), 1812-1871
• Buchanan, James, 1791-1868
• Cuyler, Theodore L. (Theodore Ledyard), 1822-1909
• Davis, Charles Henry, 1807-1877
• Davis, Henry, 1771-1852
• Dwight, H.G.O. (Harrison Gray Otis), 1803-1862
• Emerson, G. (Gouverneur), 1795-1874
• Fisk, Wilbur, 1792-1839
• Floy, James, 1806-1863
• Garland, Landon C. (Landon Cabell), 1810-1895
• Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878
• Herrick, Edward Claudius, 1811-1862
• Hicks, Thomas Holliday, 1798-1865
• Holcomb, Amasa, 1787-1875
• Humphrey, Andrew Atkinson, 1810-1883
• Larrabee, William C. (William Clark), 1802-1859
• Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--As statesman
• Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--Election, 1860
• Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--Relations with Afro-Americans
• Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--Views on slavery
• Mahan, Asa, 1799-1889
• Mather, W.W. (William Williams), 1804-1859
• Miller, Oliver, 1824-1892
• Millington, John, 1779-1868
• Olmsted, Denison, 1791-1859
• Peck, George, 1797-1876
• Peirce, Benjamin, 1809-1880
• Porter, D.D. (David Dixon), 1813-1891
• Runkle, John Daniel, 1822-1902
• Ruter, Martin, 1785-1838
• Silliman, Benjamin, 1816-1885
• Toucey, Isaac, 1796-1869
• Whedon, D.D. (Daniel Denison), 1808-1885
• Willoughby, Westel, 1769-1844
• Winlock, Joseph, 1826-1875

Subject Organizations

• Hamilton College (Clinton, N.Y.)
• Wesleyan University (Middletown, Conn.)

Subject Topics

• African Americans--Politics and government
• Astronomy
• Cosmogony
• Eclipses
• France--History--Restoration, 1814-1830
• Meteorology--Observations
• Methodist Episcopal Church
• Methodists--Canada
• Methodists--Education
• Methodists--Government
• Methodists--United States
• Science--History
• Scientists--Correspondence
• Slavery--United States
• Telescopes
• United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Causes
• United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Economic aspects

Occupations

• Astronomers
• College presidents
• College teachers
• Mathematicians

Document Types

• Letters (Correspondence)
• Manuscripts
• Photographs

Subject Topics

• Science and Technology

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in seven series:

• Series 1. Correspondence
• Series 2. Manuscripts written by Augustus William Smith
• Series 3. Diary of Augustus William Smith
• Series 4. Manuscripts by others
• Series 5. Documents
• Series 6. Printed material
• Series 7. Photographs

Biographical note

Augustus William Smith was born in Newport, New York on May 12, 1802. He attended Hamilton College, from which he graduated in 1825, and went on to teach at Oneida Conference Seminary in Cazenovia (located southeast of Syracuse). In 1831, Smith was among the founding faculty of Wesleyan University. He taught astronomy and mathematics at Wesleyan for twenty years before his selection as Fifth President of the university in 1851. After eight years at the helm of Wesleyan, Smith accepted a position as Professor of Natural Philosophy at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. He remained in this post until his death on March 26, 1866.

Smith was an accomplished scholar. In 1860 he was selected by the U. S. government to be one of the corps of astronomers sent to Labrador to observe the annular eclipse of the sun. He was reputed to be an excellent mathematician, and authored of several text-books, including an "Elementary Treatise on Mechanics" (New York, 1846). He married Catherine Rachel Childs, by whom he had several children including a daughter, Katherine Louisa. A convert to the Methodist-Episcopal Church, Smith also held a life-long interest in denominational affairs and was active in that capacity.

Chronology

Date		Event
1802		Born in Newport, Herkimer County, New York.
1825		Recieved B.A. from Hamilton College, Clinton, New York.
1825-1831		Teacher and later principal of the Oneida Conference Seminary, Cazenovia, New York.
1828		Received M.A. from Hamilton College.
1831-1857		Professor of Astronomy and Mathematics , Wesleyan University.
1850		Honorary degree of LL.D. from Hamilton College.
1852-1857		President of Wesleyan University.
1859-1866		Professor of Natural Philosophy, United States Naval Academy.
1860		Member of U.S. expedition to Labrador to observe annular eclipse.
1866		Died at Annapolis, Maryland.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials:	Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Augustus William Smith papers, Ms. Smith, Brown University Library.
Contact information:	John Hay Library , Special Collections Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 email: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	The Augustus William Smith papers were donated to the Brown University Library in 1969 by Mrs. Katharine (Hill) Ostrander, daughter of Perry Hill, granddaughter of Katharine Louisa Smith and Walter Nickerson Hill, and great-granddaughter of Augustus William Smith.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Daniel Mejia
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-03-27

Additional Information

Related material:	RESOURCES AT BROWN UNIVERSITYSmith, Augustus William, AN ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON MECHANICS:1855 edition1857 edition1867 editionThe Brown University Library is the repository for the papers of Augustus William Smith's son-in-law:Walter Nickerson Hill papers, Ms. HillRESOURCES BEYOND BROWN:Papers of Katherine Louisa Smith Hill (Schlesinger Library)
Other information:	Brown University Library catalog record for this collection: Augustus William Smith papers

Inventory

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