Biographical materials, 1834-1937

Biographical materials, writings, materials relating to the Elliott Society of Science and Art, astronomical charts, specimens, prints, and other assorted papers of Lewis R. Gibbes, Professor of mathematics, astronomy, and physics at the College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina, from 1838-1892. Biographical materials include assorted class notes, pamphlets, miscellaneous receipts for room and board, and other ephemera relating to Gibbes' studies in France. Also included is a glass plate negative portrait of Gibbes, assorted obituaries, eulogies and memorials on his death, and a typescript for the play "Lewis Gibbes: A Legend for Tomorrow," written by Emmett Robinson for the centennial anniversary of the College of Charleston. Gibbes' writings make up a majority of the papers and consist of published papers and newspaper articles (collected into several scrapbooks) on his scientific work, natural history, inventions, mathematics, science, astronomy, natural history, poetry, local events, the Great Comet of 1861, and the Civil War for assorted newspapers and scientific journals including the Charleston Mercury, the Charleston Daily Courier, and the Proceedings of the Elliott Society of Natural History of Charleston, South Carolina. The are also assorted Elliott Society of Natural History materials including a handwritten membership list, handwritten reports of the corresponding secretary, foreign science society memberships, issues of the Proceedings of the Elliott Society of Natural History of Charleston, South Carolina, a broadside re reorganization, and a notice of meeting. Astronomical charts and calculations consist of a number of charts diagramming the parallel of declination, time, and other calculations of total and partial eclipses of the sun and moon, including additional calculations on the verso of each, as well as assorted miscellaneous calculations. There are also assorted cartes de visites, cabinet cards, and daguerreotype images of prominent physicians, naturalists, botanists, biologists, geologists, and astronomers including a daguerreotype of the Swiss-American biologist and geologist Louis Agassiz and a carte de visite of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Prints collected by Gibbes include assorted images of French aristocracy, physicians, politicians, generals, and artists as well as prints of the Turkish-Armenian and Crimean wars, assorted maps of France (including several street maps of Paris), the Neva river, the Black Sea, and North America. There are also prints of assorted European and American locales including images of Wales, United Kingdom, and Paris, France. Correspondence consists of drafts of two letters (1890 July 14 and December 6) from Gibbes to C. S. Sargent at the Arnold Arboretum in Brookline, Massachusetts, stating that Gibbes is sending Sargent papers for publication. Gibbes also asks Sargent for plant specimens. Also included is a volume containing copies of letters in French with an index. Copies of letters are to family members and others in Charleston, South Carolina, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Havana, Cuba, Paris, France, and elsewhere.