New York State Museum of Natural History State Museum Director's, State Geologist's, and State Paleontologist's Correspondence, Drafts of Publications, and Photographs B0579

New York State Museum of Natural History State Museum Director's, State Geologist's, and State Paleontologist's Correspondence, Drafts of Publications, and Photographs

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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:

This series consists of correspondence; drafts publications; notes; photographs of fossils and geological features and formations; maps; pamphlets; and drawings of geological sections. The records were accumulated by James Hall, State Geologist, State Paleontologist, Curator of the State Cabinet of Natural History, and Director of the State Museum of Natural History. Much of the material concerns the preparation and publication of the Paleontology of New York.

Creator:

New York State Museum of Natural History

Title:

State Museum Director's, State Geologist's, and State Paleontologist's correspondence, drafts of publications, and photographs

Quantity:

2 cubic feet

Inclusive Dates:

1844-1900

Series Number:

B0579

Arrangement

Arranged by type of material (correspondence, drafts of publications, photographs). Correspondence is arranged by incoming to Hall (thereunder alphabetically by author), outgoing from Hall (thereunder chronological by date), and others (non-Hall, thereunder chronological by date). Rest of series is arranged as "Miscellany" (mostly drafts of publications), "Pictures", "Large Plates" (large drawings), and "Drafts of Books and Scientific Papers."

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of correspondence, drafts of publications, notes, photographs, and occasional maps, pamphlets, and drawings accumulated by James Hall, State Geologist (1837-1898), State Paleontologist (1843-1898), Curator of the State Cabinet of Natural History (1866-1870), and Director of the State Museum of Natural History (1870-1894). Much of the material concerns the preparation and publication of the Paleontology of New York, prepared by Hall over several decades.

Other subjects of the correspondence include: preparation of otherpublications by Hall; legislative and other funding sources for Hall's work; acquisition and disposal of fossils by Hall (including sales and donations by Hall and purchase of the Ford Collection); discussion of geologic formations and stratigraphy; preparation of the geologic map of New York State (1894); allocation of Hall's work space; progress reports by Hall; historical background of the Museum and its procedures; Hall's appointment to a committee to study the Hoosac Tunnel; suggestions by Hall of suitable stone for the State Capitol; and field collecting activities by Hall's assistants.

The drafts and related items concern State Museum publications, reports by the State Geologist to various State officials, field work, and other activities of State Museum staff. The photographs depict fossils and geological features and formations. The drawings and "plates" are mostly geological sections, some colored, illustrating the stratigraphy of specific areas.

Related Material

B0561 State Museum Director's, State Geologist's, and State Paleontologist's correspondence files, and

11843 Assistant Commissioner's Correspondence and Subject Files, contain additional Museum correspondence. Series B1511, A4211, and B0582 contain writings of other New York State Paleontologists.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

Note: This correspondence is not included in the card index to Hall's correspondence in series B1815.

Folder list (prepared by New York State Library?) is available at the repository.

Processing Information

Originally accessioned from State Library as old collection # 129, accession number -90. It is unclear why these materials are separate from the rest of Hall's correspondence.