Charles Eastwick Smith letters from botanists

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: ANSP-Coll-0132

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Charles Eastwick Smith Letters from Botanists collection contains letters from botanists, a number of booksellers, and other correspondents. In addition to the botanical contents, a good deal of information can be obtained about Smith's activities in the social life of Philadelphia, his editorial work and his philanthropies, but very little about his businesses. The collection even includes the letter informing Smith of his election as a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (located under the name of the signer – Rand).

The collection begins with a list of the signers of the letters, compiled by Smith himself. The letters are organized alphabetically by last name of the author. Letters by the same author are organized chronologically. Each letter is marked with a number (usually in blue pencil), probably assigned by Smith himself.

Dates

n.d., 1862-1899

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright restrictions may apply. Please contact the Archives with requests for copying and for authorization to publish, quote or reproduce the material

Biographical / Historical

Charles Eastwick Smith was born November 1, 1820 in Philadelphia to Charles Eastwick Smith (d. ca. 1828) and Mary Ogden (d. ca. 1837). Mary Ogden's ancestors had arrived in Pennsylvania along with William Penn.

At age fifteen Smith began attending the Westtown Boarding School (still in existence) where he first became interested in botany. After leaving school at the age of eighteen, he began working for Tioga Navigation Company. By 1842 he was Superintendent of the road and Mining Engineer for the coal company of the Blossburg and Corning Railroad in New York, but he returned to Philadelphia before the end of that year. In 1844 Smith became a member of the Franklin Institute. Through that association he eventually created a new design for a rolling mill and established Fairmount Rolling Mill, but sold out to his partners in 1847, just a year after operations began. Shortly after selling out he became manager of the Rensselaer Iron Works in Troy, N.Y. until late 1848 when he returned to Philadelphia briefly before heading to Europe to learn more about ironworks. Upon his return Smith took a leading role in establishing a convention of iron men. In 1850 he became manager of the iron works of Reeves, Buck & Company. During this time he was also elected a manager of the Schuylkill Navigation Company, a manager of the Franklin Institute, and became one of the incorporators of the Academy of Music.

In 1852 Smith purchased the land that had once supported the Fairmount Rolling Mill, updated the abandoned mill, and began operations once again under the new name Charles E. Smith & Company. Smith continued with this company, even inventing a piece of equipment – a railroad 'chair,' to be used in the connecting of trail rails – until 1861 when he became president of the Reading Railroad Company. Smith put the company on a solid footing and made it profitable until 1869 when he resigned for health reasons and traveled through Europe focusing much of his time on botanical studies. After his return to Philadelphia in 1870 he began proofreading articles, many botanical papers from the Academy of Natural Sciences. This proofreading filled up much of his time for the remainder of his life. In 1877 and 1878 he was elected President of the Union League.

Smith was elected a member of the Academy in 1851 and served in several offices until his death. He was appointed to the Publication Committee of the Academy in 1892, the Finance committee in 1890, and served on the Council beginning in May of 1891. He served many years as Vice-Director of the Botanical Section until his death. He was an authority on carices, grasses and rushes. He assisted the Ladies' Botanical Club of Syracuse, N.Y. Over the years Smith compiled an herbarium of specimens found within 15 miles of Philadelphia, which he bequeathed to the Academy.

Smith died on April 15, 1900.

Source: Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, January 1901 "Memoir of Charles E. Smith: President of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad"

Extent

3.5 linear feet (2663 items)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Overview

Charles Eastwick Smith (1820-1900) was an engineer and inventor involved in railroad, ironworks and steel. His interest in botany led him to membership at the Academy of Natural Sciences where he held several positions from 1851 until his death. Over the years Smith compiled an herbarium of specimens found within 15 miles of Philadelphia, which he bequeathed to the Academy. The collection contains letters from botanists, a number of booksellers, and other correspondents. In addition to the botanical contents, a good deal of information can be obtained about Smith's activities in the social life of Philadelphia, his editorial work and his philanthropies, but very little about his businesses.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Bequeathed by Charles Eastwick Smith in 1900 as accession MS 132.

Related Materials

Coll 131 Charles Eastwick Smith Letterbooks

Letters or reports signed by Charles Eastwick Smith can also be found in: Coll 1 Joseph Leidy Correspondence; Coll 5 ANSP Buildings: Construction Plans; Coll 164 John Howard Redfield correspondence; Coll 328 Edward Drinker Cope papers; Coll 444 John William Harshberger Correspondence; Coll 488 ANSP Committee On Communications Read, Papers; Coll 567 ANSP. Correspondence 1812-1920; Coll 585 ANSP Reception Committees Papers; Coll 940 ANSP Special Committee Reports Documents and Papers