The Edward Claudius Herrick Papers date from 1827 to 1862 and are arranged in five series: I. CORRESPONDENCE, II. SCIENTIFIC FILES, III. YALE UNIVERSITY FILES, IV. FINANCIAL AND LEGAL FILES, and V. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES AND MEMORABILIA.
With few exceptions, CORRESPONDENCE is only incoming letters. Most of the letters deal with scientific subjects; in particular there is a great deal of correspondence about the aurora borealis. Among the important correspondents are Louis Agassiz, James D. Dana, Thaddeus William Harris, Elias Loomis, Lambert-Adolphe Jacques Quetelet, William C. Redfield, Samuel H. Scudder, Benjamin Silliman, Benjamin Silliman, Jr., and William Tully.
SCIENTIFIC FILES is primarily concerned with Herrick's work in astronomy and entomology. His memoranda, notes, and observations of the aurora borealis constitute a major part of the astronomical papers. Herrick's entomological specialty was the Hessian fly, which he spent nine years studying. The papers representing this study include notes, observations, and drawings.
Herrick served as librarian of Yale College from 1843 to 1858. In YALE UNIVERSITY FILES are many records concerning the early years of the Yale College Library. Included are catalogues, invoices, and memoranda regarding books Yale had or wanted to purchase.
After the death of James Kingsley, Herrick assumed responsibility for the Yale College triennial catalogues. His papers include memoranda on the writing and publishing of the catalogue, and information for Yale classes 1847, 1850, 1853, 1856, 1859, and 1862.
FINANCIAL AND LEGAL FILES contains both personal financial records and the business records of Herrick and Noyes, Booksellers.
Of interest in MISCELLANEOUS NOTES AND MEMORANDA are memoranda concerning New Haven, especially the bicentennial celebration and the colonial burial ground.
The papers were transferred from Beinecke Rare Book Library in 1973. Herrick's papers as Yale University treasurer will be found in the Yale archives record group, Finance and Administration, Treasurer's Records (YRG 5-B).