Finding Aid for the John Fiske Papers, 1865-1917

Processed by Manuscripts Division staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
© 2002
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Finding Aid for the John Fiske Papers, 1865-1917

Collection number: 303

UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections

Manuscripts Division



Los Angeles, CA

Contact Information

  • Manuscripts Division
  • UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
  • Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
  • Box 951575
  • Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
  • Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific Time)
  • Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
  • URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
Processed by:
Manuscripts Division staff
Text converted and initial container list EAD tagging by:
Apex Data Services
Supplementary encoding by:
Caroline Cubé
Online finding aid edited by:
Josh Fiala, March 2002
© 2002 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: John Fiske Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1865-1917
Collection number: 303
Creator: Fiske, John, 1842-1901
Extent: 5 boxes (2.5 linear ft.) 1 oversize box
Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: John Fiske (1842-1901) was born Edmund Fisk Green in Hartford, Connecticut. He wrote books on a variety of subjects including: Darwinism and Other Essays (1879), The Critical Period of American History, 1783-1789 (1888), and Essays Historical and Literary (1902). The collection consists of John Fiske's correspondence with various persons about historical and philosophical writings, as well as letters from various persons to his wife, Abbey (Brooks) Fiske. It also includes Fiske's manuscripts on historical, theological, and philosophical subjects.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Language: English.

Administrative Information

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction

Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Restrictions on Access

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Provenance/Source of Acquisition

  • Purchased from Fiske Library, 1926.
  • Purchased from Mrs. Otis D. Fisk, 1955.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], John Fiske Papers (Collection 303). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 1218101 

Biography

John Fiske was born Edmund Fisk Green on March 30, 1842 in Hartford, Connecticut attended Betts Academy; graduated from Harvard, 1863; married Abby Morgan Brooks in 1864; lecturer in history beginning 1879; served temporary appointments at Harvard and Washington University (St. Louis); wrote books on a variety of subjects: Darwinism and Other Essays (1879), The Idea of God as Affected by Modern Knowledge (1885), The Critical Period of American History, 1783-1789 (1888), Through Nature To God (1899), and Essays Historical and Literary (1902); died on July 4, 1901.

Scope and Content

Collection consists of John Fiske's correspondence with various persons about historical and philosophical writings, as well as letters from various persons to his wife, Abbey (Brooks) Fiske. It also includes Fiske's manuscripts on historical, theological, and philosophical subjects, including The Bacon-Shakespeare Folly, Evolution of Language, The Jesus of History, and various essays. Also contains catalog cards of Fiske's library.

Organization and Arrangement

Arranged in the following series:
  1. Correspondence of John Fiske and his wife, Abbey M. (Brooks) Fiske with various persons (Box 1).
  2. Holograph writings of John Fiske (Boxes 1-2).
  3. Misc. books and papers (Boxes 1-2).
  4. Catalog cards of Fiske's library (Boxes 3-5).
  5. Photographs illustrating a tour through Europe (Box 6).

Indexing Terms

Subjects

Fiske, John,--1842-1901--Archives.
Historians--United States--Archival resources.
Philosophers--United States--Archival resources.


 

Part 1 - Correspondence

 

Correspondence of John Fiske and His Wife, Abby M. (Brooks) Fiske With Various Persons, 1873-1917

Box 1, Folder 1

Letters of John Fiske to various persons, 1873-1897.

Physical Description: 8 pieces.

Scope and Content Note

2 letters to [Moncure D.?] Conway concerning Fiske lecture on Darwinism in London and personal matters; letter to Colonel Stone concerning war ballads; letter to James E. Pray concerning the columbine as a national flower; letter to his wife concerning his writing, lecturing and traveling; letter to Little Brown and Company concerning an introduction tothe works of Francis Parkman, two letters to Hemenway on Bacon-Shak. book.
Box 1, Folder 2

Letters to John Fiske from various persons, 1879-1901.

Physical Description: 33 pieces.

Scope and Content Note

  • Letter from Francis Parkman concerning an American history proposed by J.F..
  • 2 letters from Thomas C. Amory concerning the papers of Major General John Sullivan of the Revolution, their contents and use.
  • Letter from Anne Wall in praise of a lecture by J.F.
  • Letter from John Jay concerning the statements and sources of historian Lord Acton.
  • Letter from William Smith exchanging copies of their publications.
  • Letter from Francis W. Newman to Joseph H. Allen presented to and endorsed by J.F. with reference to Epes Sargent.
  • Letter from E.P. Powell sending a copy of his writings.
  • Letter from H.S. Shurtleff sending copy of Massachusetts Convention, 1788.
  • Letter from Kentaro Keneko of Japanese legation to Mr and Mrs. F promising a visit.
  • Letter from Claude B. Hoyt sending his father's brief on a Pennsylvania-Connecticut controversy.
  • Letter from Charles Francis Adams concerning his work in Massachusetts history and comparing it with J.F.'s writing on the same subject.
  • Letter from E. Barnes sending a work on Lord Chathan.
  • Letter from O. Reich offering copies of cuts for J.F.'s Discovery of America.
  • Letter from Edna D. Proctor concerning Fiske's introduction to her poem.
  • Letter from Caleb W. Loring concerning his work on nullification and secession and acknowledging copies of Fiske's histories.
  • Letter from Caroline Hazard sending book and praising J.F.'s work.
  • Letter from William L. Stone concerning Burgoyne ballads.
  • Letter from S.B. Herrick concerning his book.
  • Letter and card from Joseph G. Rosengarten concerning portraits of German generals and a biographical sketch of General Kuyphausen.
  • Letter from Y.E. Suguira from Japan concerning Chritian mission activity in that country.
  • Eliza S. Parkman concerning J.F.'s introduction to an edition of her brother, Francis', work.
  • Letter from Peter J. Hamilton sending his work on colonial Mobile, letter from Lyon G. Tyler questioning Fiske's characterization of a Virginian.
  • Letter from Boyd Vincent concerning his book on prayer and Fiske's connection with it.
  • Letter from Sir John Bourinot concerning the transactions of the Royal Society of Canada.
  • Letter from Clarence H. Esty concerning the Salem Witchcraft trials and his connection with one of the victims.
  • Note from C. Palmer concerning a pamphlet on Thomas Paine. From A. Lewis Smith, sending History of Delaware Company, Pennsylvania.
Box 1, Folder 3

Letters to Abby M (Brooks) Fiske from various persons, 1895-1917.

Physical Description: 5 pieces.

Scope and Content Note

  • Letter from Elisa A. Youmans concerning a lecture by J.F.
  • 2 letters from Katherine H. Stone concerning poem by Proctor.
  • Letter from son, Harold, concerning J.F. writings.
  • Letter from Houghton Mifflin Company concerning loan of a portrait.
 

Part 2 - Holograph Writings Of John Fiske

 

Manuscripts and Annotated Volumes by John Fiske

Box 1, Folder 4

Manuscripts by John Fiske, 1870-1887.

Physical Description: 1p. 3 pieces.

Scope and Content Note

  • Class record from History of the Middle Ages course at Harvard, 1870- with annotations in holograph of J.F.
  • Holograph list of persons whose biographics in Appelton's Cyclopedia of American Biography were written by J.F.
  • Holograph note on John Hancock and Samuel Adams.
Box 1, Folder 5

Essays by John Fiske, 1865-1869.

Scope and Content Note

3 volumes bearing the book plate of J.F.'s library and annotated extensively throughout on interleaves in his holograph.
 

Annotated Volumes by John Fiske

Box 2

1 - Typescript copy of The Bacon-Shakespeare Folly, signed by author and containing letter from Charles Bowditch to Hemenway on same.

Box 2

2 - Evolution of Language, interleaved with holograph annotations by J.F.

Box 2

3 - Fallacies of Buckle's History, interleaved with annotations by J.F.

Box 2

4 - The Jesus of History, printers copy with corrections and annotations in holograph of J.F.

 

Part 3 - Miscellaneous Books and Papers of John Fiske

Box 1

Volume entitled The Destiny of Man, by J.F., 1887.

Box 1

Volume entitled The Idea of God, by J.F., 1887.

 

Printed Writings of John Fiske

Box 2

5 - The Harvard Magazine, vol.9 (1863).

Box 2

6 - The Laws of History.

Box 2

7 - The Doctrine of Evolution, clippings from newspaper pasted in bound scrapbook.

Box 2

8 - The Positive Philosophy, clippings from New York World, pasted in bound scrapbook.

 

Catalog Cards

Boxes 3-5

7 boxes containing catalog cards of the library of John Fiske.

Physical Description: Approximately 1700 cards.
Box 6

Volume entitled Views Illustrating a Tour Through Europe, 1873-1874, containing photographs captioned by J.F.

Physical Description: 82pp.
 

Volume, Harvard College, Class Album, 1863, containing photographs of officers and students of the class, including J.F., and some portraits signed by the subjects, rest captioned by J.F.

Physical Description: 174pp.

Removed or Separated Material

This item has been removed from the collection and cataloged separately as *TR 16.8 H261h 1863a.