The Papers of Joseph Henry

January 1850–Decenber 1853
The Smithsonian Years

Editor: Marc Rothenberg
Assistant Editor: Kathleen W. Dorman
Historian: Deborah Y. Jeffries
Historian: Frank R. Millikan

Volume 8, The Smithsonian Years: January 1850-December 1853 (Washington, 1998: ISBN 1-56098-891-6) reveals a difficult period in Henry's life. During these years, he suffered constant personal and financial woes, clashed with subordinates, and faced significant public criticism of his leadership. When Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois attacked the Smithsonian for its preoccupation with research of "no practical bearing," such as studies of "sea weeds and such trash," Henry mounted a vigorous and eloquent defense of basic research. To ensure the Smithsonian's adherence to what Henry saw as its central mission, he remained at the institution despite the criticism and despite offers of prestigious positions at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Virginia, and the College of New Jersey at Princeton.

The volume records several milestones in the Smithsonian's history. The first was Henry's hiring of assistant secretary Spencer Baird, who energetically expanded the institution's collections of animal, plant, mineral, and fossil specimens. Also during this period, Henry established a system with institutions abroad for the exchange of publications in the biological and physical sciences, ethnology, archaeology, and paleontology. The international exchange program became a fundamental Smithsonian enterprise for more than a century. In addition, Henry began to campaign to place scientific research, publishing, and a meteorological observation network ahead of museum and library collections in terms of funding priorities.

1998, 496 pp., illustrated,
ISBN 1-56098-891-6, $60.00

All other volumes in the series are still available. For contents, prices and description information, click the links below.

Volume 1
Volume 2
Volume 3
Volume 4
Volume 5
Volume 6
Volume 7
Volume 9
Volume 10
Volume 11
Volume 12 (cumulative index)

Additional information is available from
The Joseph Henry Papers Project: http://www.siarchives.si.edu/history/jhp/jhenry.html



Douglas, engraving by A. B. Walter. Smithsonian Archives.		Volume 8 January 1850–Decenber 1853 The Smithsonian Years Editor: Marc Rothenberg Assistant Editor: Kathleen W. Dorman Historian: Deborah Y. Jeffries Historian: Frank R. Millikan Contents and Front Matter (1,221 K) Volume 8, The Smithsonian Years: January 1850-December 1853 (Washington, 1998: ISBN 1-56098-891-6) reveals a difficult period in Henry's life. During these years, he suffered constant personal and financial woes, clashed with subordinates, and faced significant public criticism of his leadership. When Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois attacked the Smithsonian for its preoccupation with research of "no practical bearing," such as studies of "sea weeds and such trash," Henry mounted a vigorous and eloquent defense of basic research. To ensure the Smithsonian's adherence to what Henry saw as its central mission, he remained at the institution despite the criticism and despite offers of prestigious positions at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Virginia, and the College of New Jersey at Princeton. The volume records several milestones in the Smithsonian's history. The first was Henry's hiring of assistant secretary Spencer Baird, who energetically expanded the institution's collections of animal, plant, mineral, and fossil specimens. Also during this period, Henry established a system with institutions abroad for the exchange of publications in the biological and physical sciences, ethnology, archaeology, and paleontology. The international exchange program became a fundamental Smithsonian enterprise for more than a century. In addition, Henry began to campaign to place scientific research, publishing, and a meteorological observation network ahead of museum and library collections in terms of funding priorities. 1998, 496 pp., illustrated, ISBN 1-56098-891-6, $60.00 All other volumes in the series are still available. For contents, prices and description information, click the links below. Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 Volume 4 Volume 5 Volume 6 Volume 7 Volume 9 Volume 10 Volume 11 Volume 12 (cumulative index) Additional information is available from The Joseph Henry Papers Project: http://www.siarchives.si.edu/history/jhp/jhenry.html Excerpts from Reviews