- Scope and Contents
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The collection consists of the papers of Josiah Willard Gibbs (1839-1903), which include correspondence, scientific papers, lecture notes taken by one of Gibbs' students, photographs, scientific illustrations, and honors and awards, as well as correspondence of his father, J. Willard Gibbs (1790-1861). Series I., Josiah Willard Gibbs Correspondence, consists almost entirely of professional and scientific correspondence. Major correspondents include Wilder Dwight Bancroft; Hugo Buchholz; Franklin Bowditch Dexter; Timothy Dwight; Smith B. Goodenow; Wilhelm Ostwald; Karl Planck; and Sir Joseph Thomson. Series II., Notebooks and Scientific Papers, includes documentation of Gibbs' work in vector analysis of orbits; statistical mechanics; and electromechanics. Series III., Class Notes by George P. Starkweather, contains lecture notes taken by Starkweather on subjects including electricity and magnetism; thermodynamics; the electromagnetic theory of light; and vector applications. Series IV., Portraits and Illustrations, contains portraits of J. Willard and of Josiah Willard Gibbs, among other subjects. Series V., Correspondence of J. Willard Gibbs, contains personal and professional correspondence of Josiah Willard Gibbs' father, a theologian and Yale professor. Correspondents include William Henry Beecher; Elijah Coleman Bridgeman; George Edward Day; William Allen Macy; and Benjamin Silliman.
- Conditions Governing Access
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The materials are open for research.
This collection may be housed off-site at Yale's Library Shelving Facility (LSF). To determine if all or part of this collection is housed off-site please check the library's online catalog, Orbis; material for which the location is given as "LSF" must be requested 36 hours in advance. Please consult with Beinecke Access Services for more information. - Conditions Governing Use
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The Josiah Willard Gibbs Papers are the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
- Immediate Source of Acquisition
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The Josiah Willard Gibbs Papers are almost entirely the bequest of Addison Van Name, 1922. A few items were donated to Beinecke Library by Theodora Van Name Palmer in 1961.
- Arrangement
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Organized into five series: I. Josiah Willard Gibbs Correspondence, 1876-1915; II. Josiah Willard Gibbs Notebooks, Scientific Papers and Personal Papers, 1863-1947; III. Lecture Notes by George P. Starkweather, 1892-1896; IV. Photographs and Illustrations, 1860s; V. Letters by and to J. Willard Gibbs (1790-1861), 1811-1860.
- Dates
- 1811 - 1947
- Majority of material found within 1863 - 1903
- Extent
- 11.09 Linear Feet (25 boxes)
- Related Names
- Gibbs, J. Willard (Josiah Willard), 1839-1903
- Language of Materials
- English