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Joseph Priestley letter

 Collection
Identifier: MS 304
Finding aid note: Stored onsite at the Woodson Research Center.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains a handwritten and signed letter, written January 5, 1802 and addressed to Samuel Mitchell, a member of the U.S. Congress, concerning publication of Priestley’s paper on “galvanism” to appear in the Medical Repository. Additionally, Priestly writes of problems in obtaining philosophical materials from his bookseller in London, and asks the congressman about living conditions in Washington. A typewritten transcript of the letter is included.

Dates

  • 1802

Creator

Access Restrictions

This material is open for research.

Conditions Governing Access

Stored onsite at the Woodson Research Center.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from the Joseph Priestley Letter must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.

Biographical / Historical

Joseph Priestley (1733-1804) English chemist, Nonconformist minister, and voluminous writer, was born on March 13, 1733, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. In 1772, after a series of clerical appointments, he was chosen a foreign associate of the French Academy of Science and accepted a position as librarian and literary companion to Lord Shelburne. He emigrated to America in 1794, settling in Northumberland, Pennsylvania.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet ( (1 folder))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

This collection contains a handwritten and signed letter, written January 5, 1802 and addressed to Samuel Mitchell, a member of the U.S. Congress, concerning publication of Priestley’s paper on “galvanism” to appear in the Medical Repository. Additionally, Priestley writes of problems in obtaining philosophical materials from his bookseller in London, and asks the congressman about living conditions in Washington. A typewritten transcript of the letter is included.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was a gift from Edgar Fahs Smith, former Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, and commencement speaker June 4, 1923.

Subjects

Record Groups

Related Names

Creator

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Joseph Priestly Letter, 1802
Status
Completed
Date
2008
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Woodson Research Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas Repository

https://library.rice.edu/woodson
Contact:
Fondren Library MS-44, Rice University
6100 Main St.
Houston Texas 77005 USA

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Harmful Content Statement
© 2023 Woodson Research Center
Fondren Library, Rice University
Physical Address: 6100 Main, Houston, Texas 77005-1827
Mailing Address: MS-44, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251-1892