Babson College's Grace K. Babson Collection of the Works of Sir Isaac Newton:
Manuscripts mssBAB
Finding aid prepared by Laura R. Rips.
The Huntington Library
2015
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Note
Finding aid last updated on September 1, 2023 by Mari Khasmanyan.
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Babson College's Grace K. Babson Collection of the Works of Sir Isaac Newton:
Manuscripts
Creator:
Newton, Isaac, 1642-1727
Identifier/Call Number: mssBAB
Physical Description:
12.66 Linear Feet
(8 boxes); (54 items)
Date (inclusive): 1660-1750
Date (bulk): 1660-1726
Abstract: Babson College's Grace K. Babson
Collection of the Works of Sir Isaac Newton: Manuscripts contains research notes,
correspondence, and documents of Isaac Newton. The collection also includes correspondence
and legal documents related to Newton written by his contemporaries.
Language of Material: The records are primarily in
English and Latin, with a few items in French.
Conditions Governing Access
RESTRICTED. Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and delivery
time. Please view digital surrogates.
Conditions Governing Use
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The
responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining
necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of Item], Babson College's Grace K. Babson Collection of the Works of Sir
Isaac Newton, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
On long-term loan: Babson College's Grace K. Babson Collection of the Works of Sir Isaac
Newton, November 2006.
Biographical / Historical
Sir Isaac Newton, an English polymath, is one of the most influential scientists of all
time. His Principia Naturalis Principia Mathematica of 1687 set forth a new system of the
world based on universal gravitation, and revolutionized the study of physics, mechanics and
astronomy. Newton discovered the principles of the calculus before he was 25 years of age
(along with co-discoverer Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz). He also made fundamental contributions
to optics, including the nature of light and color, and the invention of the first practical
reflecting telescope.
Newton devoted an extensive amount of research to theology and the Bible, as well as
chemistry and alchemy. He kept most of these studies hidden from his contemporaries, who
were largely unaware of his deep interest in these subjects.
Newton was the second Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge
from 1669 to 1702. He also held the office of Master of the Royal Mint from 1669 until his
death in 1727. He was President of the Royal Society from 1703 until 1727.
Scope and Contents
Most of the manuscripts in this collection came from Sotheby's 1936 Portsmouth sale of
Newton's papers. They include correspondence, research notes, and documents, over 30 of
which are in Newton's hand. The collection demonstrates the wide range of Newton's
activities: his extensive studies of alchemy and theology, his work for the Royal Mint and
the Royal Society, as well as his personal records. Highlights include: "A Treatise or
Remarks on Solomon's Temple," with commentary and six sketches of plans and architectural
details drawn by Newton, "Praxis," considered one of his most important alchemical
manuscripts, and an illustrated alchemical text picturing the Philosopher's Stone. Another
notable manuscript is "Lib. Chem," Newton's inventory of over 100 alchemical books in his
personal library, with shelf marks.
The collection also contains correspondence and documents written by Newton's
contemporaries. Of particular note is a letter from Gottfried Leibniz to Nicolas Bernoulli
written in June 1713, in which Leibniz entreats Bernoulli to help justify his claim to
priority over Newton in the discovery of the calculus.
The collection maintains the arrangement in which it was received from The Burndy Library
at The Dibner Institute for the History of Science. Items are arranged in the following
order:
Boxes 1–4: Manuscripts, arranged sequentially according to the Grace K. Babson Collection
of the Works of Sir Isaac Newton catalog numbers.
Boxes 5-7: Oversize Manuscripts, arranged sequentially according to the Grace K. Babson
Collection of the Works of Sir Isaac Newton catalog numbers.
Box 8: A Treatise or Remarks on Solomon's Temple.
Processing Information
Processed by Laura R. Rips in 2015. In 2023, Mari Khasmanyan updated the finding aid to
include linear feet and links to digitized material.
General
Cataloger's Notes
Babson numbers from the Catalogue of the Grace K. Babson Collection of the Works of Sir
Isaac Newton (1950) and printed supplements (1955; 2002) are located at the end of each
item's title in the finding aid's container list.
General
Former call number: mssBAB 1-53.
Related Materials
-
Newton, Isaac.
Representation of the gold and silver coin, upon the lowering Guineas to 21
shi's,
mssHM 76721.
Existence and Location of Copies
Arrangement
The collection maintains the arrangement in which it was received from The Burndy Library
at The Dibner Institute for the History of Science. Items are arranged in the following
order:
Boxes 1–4: Manuscripts, arranged sequentially according to the Grace K. Babson Collection
of the Works of Sir Isaac Newton catalog numbers.
Boxes 5-7: Oversize Manuscripts, arranged sequentially according to the Grace K. Babson
Collection of the Works of Sir Isaac Newton catalog numbers.
Box 8: A Treatise or Remarks on Solomon's Temple.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Alchemy -- Early works to 1800
Coinage -- Great Britain -- Early works to 1800
Liturgics -- Early works to 1800
Metals -- Early works to 1800
Minerals -- Early works to 1800
Theology, Doctrinal -- Early works to 1800
Great Britain -- History -- 17th century
Great Britain -- History -- 18th century
Correspondence
Documents
Notes
Trade cards (advertising)
Newton, Isaac, 1642-1727
Bernoulli, Nicolas, 1687-1759
Biot, Jean-Baptiste, 1774-1862
Brougham and Vaux, Henry Brougham, Baron, 1778-1868
Castillon, Jean, 1708-1791
De Mairan, Dortous, 1678-1771
Flamsteed, John, 1646-1719
George, Prince, consort of Anne, Queen of Great Britain,
1653-1708
Hevelius, Johannes, 1611-1687
Hooke, Robert, 1635-1703
Jacquier, Francois, 1711-1788
Le Neve, Peter, 1661-1729
Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm, Freiherr von, 1646-1716
Maupertius, 1698-1759
Menshikov, Alexsandr Danilovich, 1673-1729
Newton, John, 1651-1734
Oldenburg, Henry, approximately 1615-1677
Great Britain. Royal Mint
Royal Society (Great Britain)
Manuscripts
Conditions Governing Access
RESTRICTED. Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and
delivery time.
Box 1
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Ex Lumine de tenebris BAB 1
[approx.
1690]
Notes
Includes "Foliation of Babson MS 416, B:1," prepared by James R. (James Robert)
Voelkel, 1962–.
Box 1
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Miscellaneous alchemical notes and
emblems
BAB 2
[undated]
Box 1
"Lib. Chem," an inventory of alchemical works in Newton's private library,
with shelf marks
BAB 3
[approx.
1690-1700]
Box 1
"Notes out of ye Diary of ye Parliamt 1660" BAB 4
1660
Box 1
Draft of a testimonial letter to John Flamsteed, 1646–1719, on behalf of
Edward Paget
BAB 5
1682, Apr. 3
Box 1
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Note to John Grigsby BAB 6
1713, Sep. 1
Notes
Attached to document for Thorpe's catalogue (2 p.).
Box 1
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Note for ₤100 lent to Thomas Ayscough BAB 7
1720-1722/23
Notes
Note dated October 3, 1720, with memoranda by Newton dated March 16, 1722/23.
Box 1
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Letter to Robert Hooke, 1635–1703 BAB 8
1678, June 8
Box 1
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Letter to Thomas Mason BAB 9
1726, May 10
Manuscripts
Conditions Governing Access
RESTRICTED. Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and
delivery time.
Box 2
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Representation of the gold, and silver coin, upon
the lowering Guineas to 21 shi's
HM 76721
1717, Sept. 21
Box 2
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Certificate of ₤300 bail for John Irish, charged
with clipping coin
BAB 10
1696/[97], Jan.
2
Box 2
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Summons for Thomas Crawford upon suspicion of
counterfeiting coin
BAB 11
1699, Aug. 27
Box 2
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Draft of a letter asking for minerals from Bohemia
or Hungary
BAB 12
[approx.
1669]
Box 2
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Notes on the chief rulers of ancient
synagogues
BAB 13
[approx.
1709]
Notes
Sealed with red wax.
Box 2
Draft notes on Athanasian doctrines BAB 14
[approx.
1690]
Box 2
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Notes on 2 Kings 17 BAB 15
[approx.
1670]
Box 2
Draft notes on early Church rites and the Creed BAB 16
[approx.
1710]
Notes
With remains of red wax seal.
Box 2
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Newton family pedigrees with genealogical
trees
BAB 17
[approx.
1705]
Box 2
Le Neve, Peter, 1661–1729. Letter to Isaac Newton, 1642–1727 BAB 18
1705, Nov. 24
Notes
With remains of red wax seal.
Box 2
[Newton, John, 1651–1734]. Draft of an affidavit (in the hand of Peter Le
Neve, 1661–1729)
BAB 19
1705, Nov.
Manuscripts
Conditions Governing Access
RESTRICTED. Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and
delivery time.
Box 3
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Draft of an affidavit (in the hand of Peter Le
Neve, 1661–1729, with autograph additions by Newton) drawn up for the College of
Heralds
BAB 20
1705, Nov.
Box 3
Menshikov, Alexsandr Danilovich, 1673–1729. Letter in French to Isaac Newton,
1642–1727, asking that he be admitted to the Royal Society
BAB 21
1714, Aug. 23
Box 3
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. First draft of a signed letter in Latin to
Alexsandr Danilovich Menshikov, 1673–1729
BAB 22
1714, Oct. 21
Box 3
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Second draft of a signed letter in Latin to
Alexsandr Danilovich Menshikov, 1673–1729
BAB 23
1714, Oct. 24
Box 3
Biot, Jean-Baptiste, 1774–1862. Letter to George Peacock,
1791–1858
BAB 24
1818, Jan. 12
Notes
With red wax seal. Includes typed English translation.
Box 3
Brougham and Vaux, Henry Brougham, Baron, 1778–1868. Letter to M.
Ward
BAB 25
1838, Dec. 12
Box 3
George, Prince, consort of Anne, Queen of Great Britain, 1653–1708. "A Coppy
of His late Royall Highness Warrt. to pay to Francis Roberts Esqur. & otherns not
exceeding 1000 pounds. Paid in pt. to Sr Isaac Newton 384.7.6.."
BAB 26
1705, Nov. 30
Box 3
Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm, Freiherr von, 1646–1716. Letter to Nicolas
Bernoulli, 1687–1759
BAB 27
1713, June 28
Box 3
Engraved trade card of "James Simons, at Sir Isaac Newton's Head" BAB 28
[between 1771 and
1790]
Box 3
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Notes on Church history, drawn mainly from the
Annales of Baronius
BAB 29
[undated]
Box 3
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. "Experiments of refining Gold with Antimony, made
by Dr. Jonathan Goddard"
BAB 30
[undated])
Manuscripts
Conditions Governing Access
RESTRICTED. Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and
delivery time.
Box 4
Grindall, William. Bill for household goods to Isaac Newton,
1642–1727
BAB 31
1712/13,
Feb.
Box 4
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Fragment of a table possibly relating to time
differences
BAB 32
[approx.
1699]
Box 4
Oldenburg, Henry, approximately 1615–1677. Letter to Johannes Hevelius,
1611–1687, informing him of Newton's invention of the Reflecting Telescope
BAB 33
1672/[73], Mar.
18
Box 4
Maupertius, 1698–1759. Letter signed "Jeudy" at top, regarding critics of
Freiherr von Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, 1646–1716, and Jacob Hermann,
1678-1733
BAB 34
[approx.
1750]
Box 4
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Table of time variations in various European
cities
BAB 35
[after
1687]
Notes
With typed transcription.
Box 4
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Notes on Biblical chronology BAB 36
[undated]
Box 4
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. "Loca difficilia in Novo Lumine Chymico
explicata"
BAB 37
[approx.
1668]
Box 4
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Letter to an unnamed friend regarding Woolsthorpe
Manor
BAB 38
1687/88, Jan.
11
Notes
Previously thought to be in Newton's hand (probably is not).
Box 4
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Fragments of calculations BAB 39
[undated]
Oversize Manuscripts
Conditions Governing Access
RESTRICTED. Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and
delivery time.
Box 5
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Notes "Ex Rosario Magno" BAB 40
[undated]
Box 5
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. "Operationum Ordo, etc.," including a large
compilation of alchemical citations
BAB 41
[approx.
1690]
Box 5
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. "Of Chemicall Authors & their
writings"
BAB 42
[between 1670 and
1675]
Notes
Also includes foliation mock-up prepared by James R. (James Robert) Voelkel,
1962–.
Box 5
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. "Praxis," an alchemical treatise, with notes and an
earlier draft
BAB 43
[1690s?]
Oversize Manuscripts
Conditions Governing Access
RESTRICTED. Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and
delivery time.
Box 6
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Three sets of miscellaneous chemical and alchemical
notes
BAB 44
[undated]
Box 6
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. "Henricus Sextus" BAB 45
[approx.
1661]
Notes
Not in Newton's hand.
Box 6
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Receipt in coinage duty from John Smith BAB 46
1723, July
Box 6
Castillon, Jean, 1708-1791. Letter to the Secretary of the Royal
Society
BAB 47
1748
Notes
With printed title page of Opera Omnia by Francis Bacon, 1561-1626, edited by
Castillon.
Box 6
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. "Miscellanea," Latin notes on experiments, chiefly
from Codicillus and Testamentum by Ramon Llull, 1232?-1316, and the Theatrum Chemicum
of Lazarus Zetzner, –1616
BAB 48
[before
1695]
Oversize Manuscripts
Conditions Governing Access
RESTRICTED. Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and
delivery time.
Box 7
Jacquier, François, 1711-1788. Letter to Dortous de Mairan,
1678-1771
BAB 49
1740, Oct. 1
Box 7
Great Britain. Royal Mint. Indenture pertaining to Isaac Newton's role as
Master of the Mint
BAB 50
1700, Dec. 23
Box 7
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. "An Argument perswading yt ye Queens Majtie ought
to have in Conscience a great care of ye safety of her own Person"
BAB 51
[undated]
Notes
Not in Newton's hand.
Box 7
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. Series of Latin anagrams and list of authors cited
in the Ludus Puerorum, Scala Philosophorum, and Rosarium Magnum, and draft of a letter
presumably to the Treasury
BAB 52
[undated]
A Treatise or Remarks on Solomon's Temple
Conditions Governing Access
RESTRICTED. Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and
delivery time.
Box 8
Newton, Isaac, 1642–1727. A treatise or remarks on Solomon's Temple.
"Prolegomena ad lexici prophetic partem secundam in quibus agitur De forma sancturaii
Judaici…Commentarium."
BAB 53
[after
1690]
