Contents

Collection Overview

Biographical Note

Scope and Contents of the Collection

Organization of the Collection

Search Terms

Edward and Orra White Hitchcock Papers, ca. 1811-1864

Finding Aid

Finding aid prepared by Daria D'Arienzo, John Lancaster, Elaine Trehub, Peter Weis.

Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

© 2002

Biographical Note

Eminent 19th-century scientist, educator and minister, Edward Hitchcock (1793-1864) served Amherst College for almost forty years as a member of the faculty and as president. Hitchcock came to Amherst after serving as principal of Deerfield Academy and minister for the Congregational Church in Conway. Appointed Professor of Chemistry and Natural History in 1826, Hitchcock filled that position until 1845 when he was appointed President and Professor of Natural Theology and Geology. He served as President from 1845 until 1854. During that time, Hitchcock was responsible for Amherst's recovery from extreme financial depression. In 1854 Hitchcock retired from the presidency and became Professor of Natural History and Geology, the position which he held until his death in 1864. In addition to saving the College from financial disaster, Hitchcock is credited with providing Amherst with its reputation for scientific teaching and developing its scientific resources in support of the curriculum.

Professionally, Hitchcock was a noted figure in the development of the natural sciences during the 19th century. He was appointed State Geologist of Massachusetts in 1830, Geologist of the first district of New York in 1836, and Geologist of Vermont in 1857. While Hitchcock's most significant work was in geology, in the discipline of ornithichnology (the study of fossil footmarks), he studied botany, chemistry, mineralogy, and zoology, among other natural sciences. Hitchcock published numerous monographs, scientific studies, essays, and articles. He lectured widely and undertook significant scientific expeditions.

A deeply religious man, Hitchcock regularly gave religious lectures. He advocated temperance, and was a defender of evangelical christianity. In his professional writings and activities, Hitchcock sought to reconcile religion and science.

In 1821, Edward Hitchcock married Orra White (1796-1863). They had served together as instructors at Deerfield Academy. A scholar and artist in her own right, Orra accompanied Hitchcock on many of his scientific expeditions. She sketched in the field and illustrated many of his numerous works and lectures. After coming to Amherst Orra was active in both the College and greater town community. Together they had 8 children, two of whom were graduates of Amherst. Orra died in 1863. Both Edward and Orra White Hitchcock are buried in West Cemetery in Amherst.

Sources for chronologies:

Foose, Richard M., and John Lancaster, "Edward Hitchcock: News England Geologist, Minister, and Educator," in Northeastern Geology, vol. 3, January, 1981, pp. 13-17.

Worman, Eugene C. Jr., "The Watercolors and Prints of Orra White Hitchcock," in AB Bookman's Weekly, February 13, 1989, vol. 83, no. 7, pp. 646-668.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Edward and Orra White Hitchcock Papers document the professional activities and some of the personal life of Edward Hitchcock and Orra White Hitchcock and their family, spanning the years 1804-1910, with the bulk of the material falling into the period 1820-1864. The Papers occupy approximately 20 linear feet of shelf space.

The breadth of Edward Hitchcock's career and professional activities are represented in the Papers and reflect his multiple roles and interests as a scientist, educator, minister, college president, and family man. Hitchcock's career in the natural sciences brought him into the national arena as a noted geologist. His Final Report on the Geology of Massachusetts is well documented in the Papers as is the breadth of his scientific and religious works. His circle of colleagues and associates was extensive and his interests varied. Because of Hitchcock's overlapping professional and personal commitments, a researcher should check all series in the Papers for relevant material.

Although Orra White Hitchcock is less thoroughly represented in the Papers, the material that has survived documents her artistic and scientific activities as well as her family responsibilities. It provides a picture of her diverse roles as artist, scientific illustrator of her husband's works, wife, mother, and member of the College and town community. The diaries she kept when she accompanied her husband on their European trips, along with her ad hoc sketches, reflect the acuity with which she observed the world around her.

Family-related material includes correspondence with Edward and Orra's children, and some material about Edward's parents and siblings.

Materials in the Papers include correspondence, drawings, legal documents, sermons, drafts of published and unpublished works, printed articles, autographs, artwork, and images.

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Search Terms

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Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized into fourteen series:

• 1. Edward Hitchcock: Personal Affairs [1811-1864]
• 2. Edward Hitchcock: Correspondence [1815-1863]
• 3. Edward Hitchcock: Sermons [1819-1861]
• 4. Edward Hitchcock: Amherst College Classroom Lecture Notes [1826-1855]
• 5. Edward Hitchcock: Published Writings - Major Works [1830-1863]
• 6. Edward Hitchcock: Published Writings - Other Works [1812-1863]
• 7. Edward Hitchcock: Unpublished Writings [1809-1864]
• 8. Edward Hitchcock: Images [1853-1863]
• 9. Orra White Hitchcock: Personal Affairs [1863, n.d.]
• 10. Orra White Hitchcock:Correspondence [1816-1860]
• 11. Orra White Hitchcock: Art [ca. 1812- ca. 1854]
• 12. Orra White Hitchcock: Unpublished Writings [1810-1854]
• 13. Orra White Hitchcock: Images [ca. 1860]
• 14. The Family of Edward Hitchcock [ca. 1805-1910]

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Series 1: EDWARD HITCHCOCK: PERSONAL AFFAIRS [1811-1864] 1.5 linear feet

Biographical Materials (sub-series A) contains miscellaneous items arranged by type. Traditional details are provided by a newspaper notice of his marriage to Orra White in 1821 and by his diploma from Yale (1818). More unusual is the manuscript "phrenological description" of Hitchcock by L.N. Fowler, completed in 1847. Hitchcock is also mentioned in a diary (1824; present in typescript) and five letters written in 1833, 1835, 1846, 1850, and 1854 -- all of which provide insight about how he was perceived by others. The rest of this sub-series relates principally to his possessions, described in lists of books, catalogues of minerals, and listings of items which Hitchcock owned which are now part of the Objects Collection.

Professional Life (sub-series B) is grouped by body of affiliation, including his ministry in Conway, his teaching at Deerfield, his connection with Mount Holyoke Seminary in South Hadley, his multiple roles at Amherst College and his affiliations as state geologist with Massachusetts, New York and Vermont. The material which relates to the Amherst College years provides some insight into Hitchcock's role as an academic administrator and fund-raiser. For additional information about Hitchcock's Amherst College presidency, see the President's Office Records: Edward Hitchcock. The most complete information about his role as a state geologist is found among the Massachusetts materials and relating to the publications of his state surveys in the 1830s and 1850s, in Series 5, PUBLISHED WRITINGS--MAJOR WORKS.

Awards and Honors (sub-series C), is a straightforward presentation of Hitchcock's affiliations with various national and international scientific and educational associations and societies. Included are eight certificates of life membership from religious societies and organizations presented to him as gifts by members of his parish in Conway and by the faculty and students of Amherst College. The certificates and related material are arranged alphabetically by name of organization.

The Death of Edward Hitchcock (in 1864) (sub-series D) contains the funeral sermon by long-time colleague W.S. Tyler; obituaries; 55 letters of condolence addressed to the family as a group or to individual family members and to William A. Stearns, who was President of Amherst College in 1864; and details relating to expenses -- a particular Hitchcock concern. This sub-series is divided into two groups, Obituaries and funeral, and Condolences and memorials.

Financial Records (sub-series E) contains almost 40 years of financial documentation of running a 19th-century household. This sub-series is further broken down into two groups: Expense and Payment Records; and Real Estate Records. Four account books record both expenses and payments, and there is daily documentation of grocery and drygood purchases included in the Bills and Receipts section. Records from Amherst and Williston Academies show the cost of educating younger children, while similar records from Amherst College record tuition, room, and fuel costs for the two Hitchcock sons, Edward, Jr. (AC 1849) and Charles Henry (AC 1856), at that institution. The Real Estate Records section contains legal documents for land exchange transactions between the Hitchcock family and other members of the Amherst community and represents a wide range of formats including mortgages, quitclaims, warranties and "cemetery lots", as well as records of town, county, and state tax expenses.

Series 1, EDWARD HITCHCOCK: PERSONAL AFFAIRS is divided into five sub-series, as follows:

Sub-series A: Biographical Materials

Sub-series B: Professional Life (arranged by body of affiliation)

Sub-series C: Awards and Honors

Sub-series D: Death of Edward Hitchcock

Sub-series E: Financial Records

Series 2: EDWARD HITCHCOCK: CORRESPONDENCE [1815-1863] 1.25 linear feet

This significant series reveals the breadth of Hitchcock's professional activities, career, and acquaintances. Many of the letters are to and from contemporary scientists, including one from Charles Darwin, 5 from Nevil Maskelyne, 15 from Justin Perkins, and several between Hitchcock and Edmund Blunt regarding errors in Blunt's edition of the Nautical Almanac and Astronomical Ephemeris for the Year 1816. There is correspondence with James Deane of Greenfield relating to the controversy about the importance of the fossil footmarks discovered along the Connecticut River. While Hitchcock did not claim to be the discoverer of the footmarks, he maintained that he was the first to recognize their significance and age. Twelve letters between Hitchcock and Henry Van Lennep (AC 1837) relate peripherally to Hitchcock's scientific activities, since Van Lennep illustrated some of Hitchcock's published works, including Illustrations of Surface Geology.

Hitchcock's official role as a state geologist is reflected in 18 letters from Massachusetts Governor Edward Everett and 3 letters to New York Governor William L. Marcy.

The most significant group of letters in Series 2 is the correspondence between Hitchcock and Benjamin Silliman, editor of the American Journal of Science, and Hitchcock's professor of chemistry at Yale's Sheffield Scientific School. There are 158 letters from Silliman to Hitchcock ( read transcripts of letters from 1817-1829 here) and 77 letters from Hitchcock to Silliman ( read transcripts of letters from 1817-1829 here), which constitute a rich resource for the study of the history of science and of the nature of scientific collegial relationship at that time. These letters are detailed in the series listing. (All transcripts were prepared by Robert Herbert in 2010.)

Series 2, EDWARD HITCHCOCK: CORRESPONDENCE is divided into two sub-series:

Sub-series A: Incoming Correspondence

Sub-series B: Outgoing Correspondence

Series 3: EDWARD HITCHCOCK: SERMONS [1819-1861] 2 linear feet

Approximately 200 sermons have survived in the Papers. As a group, they illuminate Hitchcock's religious philosophy. Many were delivered on multiple occasions; the dates of delivery are noted on each. Hitchcock's ministry in Conway is well documented by numerous sermons dating from the 1820s.

Numbered Sermons (sub-series A) are arranged by the numbering which Hitchcock assigned to them. They are further identified by title in the listing. Most often, the numbering relates to chronological order, but not always. For example, Sermon #10 (1841) is followed by Sermon #11 (1820); and #119 (1824) is followed by #123 (1822). This may be explained by the fact that sermons were preached at a succession of different locations, on different dates. Sermon #10 could have been first preached as much as 20 years earlier, but the notation added only for a later delivery.

Un-Numbered Sermons (sub-series B) contains 27 sermons arranged in chronological order by the date the sermon was first known to have been preached.

Occasional Sermons (sub-series C) includes sermons preached on the Fourth of July, at ceremonies for naming mountains, including the exercises for Mt. Norwottuck, and at the ordinations and installations of fellow ministers.

Sermon Subjects (sub-series D) are arranged alphabetically by the title assigned to the text and contain notes for sermon topics.

Sermon Notes (sub-series E) are divided into those prepared for Amherst College (sorted by date) and those (unsorted) identified as "texts and subjects for sermons."

Series 3, EDWARD HITCHCOCK: SERMONS is divided into five sub-series:

Sub-series A: Numbered Sermons

Sub-series B: Un-Numbered Sermons (In order of first known date preached)

Sub-series C: Occasionals

Sub-series D: Sermon Subjects

Sub-series E: Sermon Notes

Series 4: EDWARD HITCHCOCK: AMHERST COLLEGE CLASSROOM LECTURE NOTES [1826-1855] 0.5 linear feet

The series includes the topics of Bible studies, botany, chemistry, and geology, and documents Hitchcock's classroom lectures and teaching style.

The most complete set of lecture notes exists for chemistry. The geology, mineralogy and natural science notes taken by students reflect their analysis of Hitchcock's lectures. The lectures are interesting throughout as they reflect Hitchcock's continuing efforts to reconcile science and religion.

Series 4, EDWARD HITCHCOCK: AMHERST COLLEGE CLASSROOM LECTURE NOTES is arranged alphabetically by subject. Classroom notes by students fall at the end of the series. Most of the material in this series is undated.

Series 5: EDWARD HITCHCOCK: PUBLISHED WRITINGS--MAJOR WORKS [1830-1863] 1.25 linear feet

This series contains the working notes, manuscript drafts, correspondence, illustrations and other materials and information relating to writing and publishing Hitchcock's major scientific and religious works.

Elementary Anatomy and Physiology (sub-series A), written with his son Edward Hitchcock, Jr. (AC 1849), contains only two letters regarding editorial changes to the book and a review of the work.

Elementary Geology (sub-series B) is also scant. There are three items relating to royalties and several published announcements, notices, and reviews of the work.

Final Report on the Geology of Massachusetts (sub-series C) is richly documented. Material relating to the work, which was written at the request of the Massachusetts State Legislature, includes extensive notebooks kept by Hitchcock recording both his observations and his expenses; plates and maps; catalogues of specimens collected for the survey; and correspondence regarding various editions. Material in this sub-series is arranged by type.

Ichnology of New England (sub-series D) contains a virtually complete manuscript draft and several proofs for illustrating plates.

Supplement to the Ichnology of New England (sub-series E) is documented by a preliminary version, a manuscript draft, and original drawings for many of the plates. This sub-series also includes a report, notice, and addenda to the work.

Illustrations of Surface Geology (sub-series F) is represented by numerous drawings for the illustrations. There is also an account book of expenses for exploration related to the book.

The Power of Christian Benevolence (sub-series G) contains only a few letters and an outline for the book.

The Religion of Geology (sub-series H) contains a complete manuscript draft and several reviews of the work.

Reminiscences of Amherst College (sub-series I) contains a manuscript draft for the preface, letters from Hitchcock asking for comments, a notice of publication, and a map of the geology around Amherst College.

Series 5, EDWARD HITCHCOCK: PUBLISHED WRITINGS--MAJOR WORKS is divided into 9 sub-series arranged by title of the work:

Sub-series A: Elementary Anatomy and Physiology, with Edward Hitchcock, Jr.

Sub-series B: Elementary Geology

Sub-series C: Final Report on the Geology of Massachusetts

Sub-series D: Ichnology of New England

Sub-series E: Supplement to the Ichnology of New England

Sub-series F: Illustrations of Surface Geology

Sub-series G: The Power of Christian Benevolence Illustrated in the Life of Mary Lyon

Sub-series H: The Religion of Geology and its Connected Sciences Illustrated

Sub-series I: Reminiscences of Amherst College

Series 6: EDWARD HITCHCOCK: PUBLISHED WRITINGS--OTHER WORKS [1812-1863] 2 linear feet

Series 6, EDWARD HITCHCOCK: PUBLISHED WRITINGS--OTHER WORKS contains articles, reports, reviews, papers, letters, sermons and news articles written and prepared by Edward Hitchcock over a period of more than 40 years. Formats include manuscript drafts, printed material (originals and photocopies). Hitchcock writes on a range of topics including politics, religion, temperance, astronomy, meteorology, natural sciences, ichnology (fossil footmarks), and most often geology.

Hitchcock was a frequent contributor to the American Journal of Science where his new geological discoveries and reports were often published. There are articles about the geology of Massachusetts and Vermont. Maps from 1840-60 are represented as well. The American Journal of Science printed an exchange between Hitchcock and James Deane about the controversy regarding the discovery and priority of investigation of the fossil footmarks in the Connecticut River Valley. Hitchcock's religious and scientific roles were often combined in his articles seeking to reconcile religion and science, such as "The connection between geology and the Mosaic history of creation," written in 1835.

Hitchcock's inaugural address as President of Amherst College is included here as are a few sermons presented at funerals of friends and loved ones. Two unusual items include Hitchcock's endorsements for Ayers cherry pectoral, from 1851, and an advertisement recommending an exhibition of submersion diving apparatus, from 1854.

The series also includes a scrapbook containing clippings of more than 70 newspaper articles by Edward Hitchcock written between 1793 and 1864. The clippings cover a breadth of topics and are arranged chronologically. The original scrapbook pages have been removed for preservation and replaced by photocopies. Finally, there are announcements and reviews of Hitchcock's works, written by others, and a single folder of contemporary published material mentioning Hitchcock.

The material is arranged chronologically by date of publication.

Series 7: EDWARD HITCHCOCK: UNPUBLISHED WRITINGS [1809-1864] 2.5 linear feet

Notes at New Haven [Yale?] (sub-series A) contains Hitchcock's notes of "Silliman's chymical lectures," dated 1819-1820, and "Notes 1819," describing his religious activities, travel, and lectures by Silliman and others while he was in New Haven in 1819 and 1820. Series 2, Edward Hitchcock: CORRESPONDENCE contains 235 letters between Hitchcock and Silliman.

Commonplace books (sub-series B) includes scientific calculations, essays, notes, poetry, and letters kept by Hitchcock early in his life, ca. 1811-1819. He also kept a book of quotations, and extracts from religious and literary readings. Some of these are interesting for their early decorated paper covers.

Diaries (sub-series C) cover a period of more than 40 years (ca. 1820-1864) and include personal and religious reflections, his so-called "private notes," and his scientific and travel notes from his European trip in 1850. These demonstrate Hitchcock's ongoing pattern of reflecting on his life.

Essays, lectures, notes, maps, charts, and sketches (sub-series D), though never published, reflect Hitchcock's ongoing interests in religion, geology, and more. Local history, health and temperance, agriculture, and meteorology were among his interests. Astronomy, botany, and philosophy are also represented.

Like his published religious works, the unpublished essays reflect Hitchcock's continued attempts to reconcile science and religion, a notebook on "Natural religion defended and illustrated," for example.

In the Geology section of Essays, the geological notebooks contain observations and geology essays are of particular note. Notes and material relating to essays and lectures about fossil footmarks and geological maps are heavily represented. It is possible that the geological and religious writings relate in some way to Hitchcock's published works, but specific relationships have not been identified.

Plays (sub-series E) contains only a single work, a lengthy play called "Never despair; or the siege of Berne."

Poetry (sub-series F) contains more than two dozen poem fragments, and notes quoting poetry, most of which are undated. Of particular note is "The portrait of Miss Orra White" written for his future wife.

Works of others: notes, commentaries and quotations by Hitchcock (sub-series G) contains four sets of notebooks, with Hitchcock's observations and notes on the works of Joseph Butler, Gregory Olinthus, William Paley, and Gottlob Storr. This sub-series represents Hitchcock's lifelong practice of making notes on writings he found inspirational.

Series 7, EDWARD HITCHCOCK: UNPUBLISHED WRITINGS is further divided by subject or format into seven sub-series:

Sub-series A: Notes at New Haven [Yale?]

Sub-series B: Commonplace Books

Sub-series C: Diaries

Sub-series D: Essays, lectures, notes, maps, charts and sketches