Draper, Henry, 1837-1882.
Henry and Mary Anna Palmer Draper papers, 1859-1914 (bulk 1869-1914).
Collection consists of Draper's correspondence, 1869-1882 (one letter is dated 1859), with astronomers and others relating to astronomy, astronomical photography, spectroscopy, scientific work being carried out by Draper and his colleagues; evaluations of telescopes and other scientific instruments; Draper's work with the Transit of Venus Commission; mentions of the "Lick telescope," 1870s (the Lick Observatory was founded around that time); Dobbs Ferry political and other local matters; acceptances and regrets for the dinner held November 16, 1882 at Draper's Madison Avenue house for members of the National Academy of Sciences; personal matters. Also included are letters from dealers of optical and scientific instruments; scientific organizations and journals; and correspondence between Draper and his father, Dr. John William Draper. Included are page proofs of John William Draper's book History of the Conflict Between Religion and Science; photographs (including a carte de visite photograph of the transit of Venus taken December 6, 1882 by Maximilian [Tech]); sketches, diagrams, charts, certificates, clippings, and printed material. Mary Anna Palmer Draper's correspondence (bulk from 1879-1914) deals with her collection of antiquities, her husband's work and family matters. Chief correspondents are Edward S. Holden, at the United States Naval Observatory in Washington D.C., and Simon Newcomb, Secretary of the Transit of Venus Commission. Other correspondents include: Robert Amory, George F. Barker, F.A.P. Barnard, John Browning, Alvan G. Clark, J.H.G. Coffin, John William Draper (relating to both personal and scientific matters), William Francis, David Gill, J. Norman Lockyer, C.H.F. Peters, C. Piazzi-Smyth, Lyon Playfair, Giovanni Tacchini, and Thomas Edison. Much correspondence is from dealers, scholars and others relating to the purchase and authentication of her collection of ancient amulets, tablets, jewelry, coins, and other objects. Includes photographs, sketches and rubbings of these objects; translations of their writings; wax impressions of seals; a typescript of a prayer to be used with an amulet ("The witchcraft of saints and evangelists"); bills and invoices listing Mrs. Draper's purchases; clippings and printed material.
Henry Draper (1837-1882), an American astronomer, was a pioneer in astronomical photography. He was a professor at New York University from 1860 until his death in 1882; earlier that year he had taken over the chair in chemistry held by his father, chemist and historian John William Draper, 1811-1882. In 1874 Draper won a gold medal for his work supervising photographic operations for the government's Transit of Venus Commission. He spent winters at his house on Madison Avenue, and summers at Dobbs Ferry, NY, near his observatory at Hastings-on-Hudson. In 1867 he married Mary Anna Palmer, 1839-1914. Mrs. Draper assisted Draper with his work, and after his death donated his telescope to the Harvard College Observatory, financed the "Draper Catalogue of Stellar Spectra" produced there, and supported other scientific and astronomical work. She was also a collector of ancient objects--some of which she donated to the New York Public Library--from Greece, Egypt, Babylon, China and other civilizations. The bulk of the collection is between 1869-1914.
Amory, Robert, 1842-1910.
Barker, George F, (George Frederick), 1835-1910.
Barnard, Frederick A. P. (Frederick Augustus Porter), 1809-1889.
Clark, Alvan, 1804-1887.
Draper, Henry, 1837-1882.
Edison, Thomas A. (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931.
Francis, William, 1817-1904.
Gill, David, Sir, 1843-1914.
Holden, Edward S. (Edward Singleton), 1846-1914
Lockyer, Norman, Sir, 1836-1920.
Newcomb, Simon, 1835-1909.
Playfair, Lyon Playfair, Baron, 1818-1898.
Smyth, C. Piazzi (Charles Piazzi), 1819-1900.
Tacchini, Giovanni.
Lick Observatory.
National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)
United States. Commission on the Transit of Venus, 1874.
Antiquities -- Collection and preservation.
Astronomical photography.
Astronomy.
Scientific apparatus and instruments.
Spectrum analysis.
Photographic prints. aat aat
Scrapbooks. aat
Sketches. aat
Astronomers. lcsh
Browning, John.
Coffin, J.H.G.
Peters, C. H. F.
Draper, Mary Anna Palmer.
Draper, John W., 1811-1882.
AIP-ICOS
New York Public Library. Rare Books and Manuscripts Division. Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018, USA.