Description:

Autograph Letters by Prominent Nineteenth-Century Scientists

This collection of documents by famous scientists includes two letters addressed to Emma Rogers, the widow of William Barton Rogers, founder and first president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Emma Rogers, Collection of Letters by Scientists, 1796-1889. 15 pp. All except Arago's letter attached to paper frames; some toning; very good.

Contents:
- Jérôme Lalande (1732-1807), French astronomer, Autograph Letter Signed, December 10, 1796. In French. 1 p., 3.375" x 5.25".

- François Arago (1786-1853), French mathematician and astronomer, Partially Printed Document Signed as Secretary of the Royal Academy of Science, to [Isaac-Charles?] Cellérier, April 20, 1840, Paris, France. In French. 1 p., 7.75" x 10.25".
Isaac-Charles Cellérier (1818-1889) was a famous mathematician and physicist in Geneva.

- Alexander Bain (1818-1903), Scottish philosopher who founded Mind, the first psychology journal, Autograph Letter Signed, to Lady Combermere, February 12, 1885, Aberdeen, Scotland. 4 pp., 4.5" x 7.125".
"In these skeptical days, it is not often that one meets such a cheerful assurance of the [?] life, as your contemporary Baroness is able to entertain. Perhaps she is fortunate in dating her birth so far back, as to fall in the ages of faith, which seem now to be passing away."
Lady Mary Woolley Cotton (ca. 1799-1889) became the third wife of British Field Marshal Stapleton Cotton (1773-1865), first Viscount Combermere in 1838.

- Archibald Geikie (1835-1924), Scottish geologist, Autograph Letter Signed, to Mrs. [Emma] Rogers, October 15, 1885. 2 pp., 4.5" x 7".

- John Wesley Powell (1834-1902), American geologist and explorer, Autograph Letter Signed, to Mrs. Emma Rogers, January 13, 1888, Washington, D.C. 2 pp., 5" x 8".

- William Huggins (1824-1910), British astronomer, Autograph Letter Signed, October 1, 1889. 1 p., 4.25" x 6.875".

- John Tyndall (1820-1893), Irish physicist, Autograph Letter Signed, to "Gentlemen," April 6, [no year]. 4 pp., 4.5" x 7".
"my desire just now is to keep clear of the literary side of science and devote myself exclusively to research. Still there is something in the tone of your letter and in the appearance of your beautiful journal which render me reluctant to decline compliance with your request. I shall endeavour therefore during my coming vacation in Switzerland to put a few pages together for you.
"Science, however, covers so vast a field, and has so many departments, all of which can be grasped by no single mind, that the title ‘How to study Science' would imply a task that I should not like to undertake. I fear I must ask you to leave the choice of a subject to myself."
"I would recommend you to abandon the idea that a scientific article worthy of your journal could be written either in two hours or two days."

Emma Savage Rogers (1824-1911) was born in Boston to a prominent banker and his wife. She married professor of geology and natural philosophy William Barton Rogers (1804-1882) in 1849. He founded and served as the first and third president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1862 to 1870, and again from 1878 to 1881. After his death, she edited and published two volumes of her husband's correspondence and a volume of her father's family letters. She spent the rest of her life living in Boston and Newport, Rhode Island.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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