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Stephen Henry Bronson papers

 Collection
Call Number: MS 1282

Scope and Contents

The papers contain Stephen Henry Bronson's diaries (originals and typescripts) and letters (typescripts) to his parents, which date from 1867-1871 while Bronson was studying and traveling in Europe and Great Britain. Two diary volumes cover the entire period of Bronson's studies, 1867-1870, as well as an 1871 trip abroad, while the typescripts of letters cover the period from October 1867 - March 1869. The bi-weekly letters contain fuller descriptions of matters outlined in the daily diary entries.

Bronson travelled to Paris in order to pursue his scientific education, and the papers contain numerous references to his laboratory work in comparative anatomy at the Jardin des Plantes and with Milne Edwards. The papers also document the growth of Bronson's friendship with George Pouchet, his interests in paleontology, zoology, and other biological sciences, and his attendance at lectures in the medical sciences and natural history. The diaries record Bronson's attempts to learn French, and from the end of June, 1868 through February, 1870 all diary entries are in French. The diaries and letters also contain Bronson's observations on the national character, politics, scenery, museums, theatre, churches, and cultural events of France and Germany, and the cities of Prague, and Vienna. Diary entries for an 1871 trip note Bronson's travels in Great Britain.

In addition, the papers include a biographical sketch of Bronson, attributed to his father Henry Bronson, and a diary (original and typescript) kept by the elder Bronson on a trip to Europe in 1839-1840. This diary describes in great detail a long and arduous sea voyage from New York to Genoa and travels in Italy, France, Great Britain, and Ireland, including visits to Rome, the Vatican, Naples, and Pompeii.

Dates

  • 1827-1881

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection are in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Transferred from the Yale University Medical Historical Library, 1980; gift of the Eli Whitney Museum, 1988.

Extent

0.75 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/mssa.ms.1282

Abstract

The papers consist of the diaries and letters of Stephen Henry Bronson (with typescripts) and a diary of his father Henry Bronson (with typescript). The material documents the younger Bronson's three years of scientific and medical study in Paris, in addition to his European travels, 1867-1871. Henry Bronson's diary details his European voyage, 1839-1840.

Biographical / Historical

Stephen Henry Bronson was a graduate of the medical class of Yale College in 1866. He was a physician, founder of the New Haven Dispensary, and Yale College lecturer.

Title
Guide to the Stephen Henry Bronson Papers
Status
Under Revision
Author
compiled by Diane E. Kaplan, William E. Brown, Jr., and Carol King
Date
August 1985
Description rules
Finding Aid Created In Accordance With Manuscripts And Archives Processing Manual
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)

Location

Sterling Memorial Library
Room 147
120 High Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Opening Hours