| Biographical/historical note |
Wallace Goold Levison (1846-1924), scientist and inventor, was a member of the Brooklyn Institute from 1856 and founded its Departments of Mineralogy and Astronomy. |
| Summary |
The Introduction contains a description of the early years of the Brooklyn Institute, its predecessors and related institutions (1823-1858), including the Brooklyn Apprentices' Library, Brooklyn Lyceum and Lyceum of Natural History, Hamilton Literary Association, Long Island Historical Society, and the Youth's Free Library. |
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The Reminiscences section reproduces a paper read before the Department of Mineralogy of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences (4/16/1894), summarizing the information in the previous section and continues with more detailed memories of the period 1856-1866, when Levison lived next door to the Institute. It includes descriptions of the building and its interior, as well as detailed discussions of particular lectures and activities and information on the growth of the collections, particularly those related to science and natural history. A summary of various theories on the release of the English sparrow in the United States is also included, with transcriptions of letters and articles by the individuals involved. A detailed description of a trip to the copper mines of Lake Superior with Sam Ward, brother of Julia Ward Howe, is also included. |
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Throughout the manuscript, Levison includes photographs of the founders and members, as well as compiling biographies of several, among them Oliver Hull (1796-1869); Elias Lewis, Jr. (1820-1894); Harvey Rich (d. circa 1865); Charles S. Stone (1815-1889); John McGeorge (1801- ); George Bradford Brainerd (1845-1887); Edward L. Graef (1842- ); and Nicolas Pike. References to city directories and published biographies are provided for these and other individuals; in some cases living relatives were contacted for information. The manuscript also contains photographs of the Institute building. |
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Also included with the manuscript are letters relating to donations to the Institute by Levison and his family; clippings; articles; and letters and notes relating to the history of the Institute. |
| Cite as |
Wallace Goold Levison, Manuscript and notes for a history of the Brooklyn Institute, 1894-1922, The Brooklyn Museum Archives. |
| Access restrictions |
Access by appointment. Please consult Archivist. |
| Indexes |
Illustration and biography lists available in repository. |
| Source of acquisition |
N 04/15/1986 Levison manuscript Institute safe internal transfer |
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2 linear in. |
| Provenance |
Found among the vital documents series in "Institute safe," formerly under the care of the Office of the Treasurer, Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. Has been known, erroneously, as the "Littlejohn Manuscript" in the past, but is not connected with Duncan Littlejohn's Records of the Brooklyn Institute (typescript, 1879). |
| LC subject |
Brooklyn Lyceum.
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Youth's Free Library (Brooklyn, New York, N.Y.)
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Hamilton Literary Society (Brooklyn, New York, N.Y.)
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Brooklyn Historical Society.
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Apprentices' Library Association of the Village of Brooklyn.
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Levison, Wallace Goold, 1846-1924.
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Littlejohn, Duncan.
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Hull, Oliver, 1796-1869.
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Lewis, Elias, 1820-1894.
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Rich, Harvey, d. ca. 1865.
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Stone, Charles S., 1815-1889.
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McGeorge, John, 1801-
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Brainard, George Bradford, 1845-1887.
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Graeff, Edward L., 1842-
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Pike, Nicolas.
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Ward, Sam.
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Learned institutions and societies -- New York (State) -- Brooklyn (New York)
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Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.) -- History.
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Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences.
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| WorldCat no. |
122482200 |
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