John Torrey Papers (PP), Archives, The New York Botanical Garden

Correspondence from Joseph Henry to John Torrey, dated 1834-1861. Beginning when Henry is a professor at Princeton University writing to Torrey in New York City, the early period of their correspondence brims with discussions of chemical and electrical experiments, news of family, friends, and favorite students, and chronicles of professional activities. In addition to a busy teaching schedule Henry spends a great deal of time researching available houses in Princeton for Torrey. His letters become slightly less frequent in the period when they are both living in Princeton, but pick up again after Henry has become Secretary of the new Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. Letter subjects turn from chemistry and academics to political negotiations and meetings with government officials. Henry's ambivalence about his new career and adopted city are palpable. While he enthusiastically champions Washington as a potential intellectual center ("No city in the Union in proportion to its inhabitants contains so many intelligent persons of moderate means..."), he clearly dislikes politics (as he wryly reports on one hotly contested appointment, "Our friend the cormorant ... did not swallow the Post Office") and admits to Torrey, "Still I cannot give up the idea of returning to Princeton and of resuming the quiet and tranquil life I led there." After a workman is accidentally killed at the Smithsonian in 1850 ("All the men have gone out with the body and I have seen nothing but the blood on the timbers..."), Henry reflects on his position: "My duties in connection with the Smithsonian are very arduous and in some cases very disagreeable. They require caution-- inflexible justice and in some instances moral courage. Still I do not think I did wrong to accept the position and I know that I am in the way of doing good." Later years bring an ongoing dispute with Samuel F.B. Morse and the looming threat of war. In 1860 he writes, presciently, "We have fallen on very dark times and I fear our present condition will be followed by one of civil war." Throughout his correspondence Henry makes mention of a "Rogers," which may refer to any of the four Rogers brothers, all scientists: William Barton Rogers (1804-1882), James Blythe Rogers (1802-1852), Henry Darwin Rogers (1808-1866), and Robert Empie Rogers (1813-1884)

Digitized under grant #PW-234827-16 from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)

Finding aid for the John Torrey papers available from the LuEsther T. Mertz Library, New York Botanical Garden and online

plus-circle Add Review

comment

Reviews