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Lossing (Benson John) Papers Addenda 1
mssLS1
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Benson John Lossing papers addenda 1
Creator:
Lossing, Benson John,
1813-1891
Identifier/Call Number: mssLS1
Physical Description:
16.5 Linear Feet
(31 boxes, 1 volume)
Date (inclusive): 1740-1928
Date (bulk): 1855-1885
Abstract: A collection of material related to
Benson John Lossing, American artist and historian.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
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.
[Identification of item]. Benson John Lossing papers addenda 1, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Seven Gables Bookshop, September 1973.
Benson John Lossing (1813-1891) was an American artist and historian. Lossing was born in
Beekman, New York, his father was descended from a family of old Dutch stock and his mother
was a Quaker; they both died during his childhood. He had little formal education and was
mainly self-taught through reading history books. At the age of thirteen he was apprenticed
to a Poughkeepsie watchmaker and was soon taken into partnership; at twenty-two, he became
joint owner and editor of two local papers: "The Telegraph" and "The Casket," a monthly,
which Lossing illustrated with wood engravings. Throughout his career he was
author-illustrator of some thirty major works of history, as well as a collaborator on many
other publications. He received several honorary degrees and was a member of numerous
learned societies. On June 18, 1833, Lossing married his first wife Alice Barrit, who died
in 1855; he married Helen Sweet in 1868. During his life, Lossing collected over 5,000 books
and documents related to the American Revolution and the framing of the Constitution. He
died at home in Dover Plains, New York, in June 1891.
A collection of material related to Benson John Lossing; the collection includes
correspondence, manuscripts, diaries, notebooks, drawings, photographs, and ephemera. The
correspondence includes letters written by Lossing, many illustrated with sketches, which he
wrote to his family during his travels in preparation for his "Pictorial Field Book of the
Revolution." There are also letters by Lossing, chiefly retained copies, to his scholarly
associates and publishers. The miscellaneous material includes printed biographical
pamphlets, a small scrapbook related to Lossing, genealogical materials concerning the
Lossing and other related families, photographs, newspaper clippings, forms, and other
ephemera. The collection also includes some unidentified and uncataloged manuscripts,
drawings, photographs, sketches, notes, and ephemera.
Processed by Harriet McLune, July 1975. In 2022, Gayle Richardson created the finding aid
derived from a legacy summary report.
Arranged chronologically.
Individual call numbers included in the collection: mssLS 290-2149.
Benson John Lossing papers (mssLS); Benson John Lossing papers addenda 2 (mssLS2); Benson
John Lossing papers addenda 3 (mssLossing3).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Artists -- United States
Historians -- United States
Illustrated books -- United States -- History -- 19th
century
Travelers' writings, American
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
Diaries -- United States -- 19th century
Drawings (visual works) -- United States -- 19th century
Family papers -- New York (State) -- 19th century
Genealogies (histories) -- United States -- 19th century
Histories (literary works) -- United States -- 19th
century
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century
Personal papers -- United States -- 19th century
Professional papers -- United States -- 19th century
Research (documents) -- United States -- 19th century