Benson John Lossing papers addenda 2, 1843-1898

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Summary

Creators:
Lossing, Benson John, 1813-1891
Abstract:
A collection of material related to Benson John Lossing, American artist and historian.
Extent:
3 Linear Feet (3 boxes, 2 oversize folders)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Benson John Lossing papers addenda 2, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

A collection of material related to the life and career of Benson John Lossing. The collection includes correspondence, documents, drawings, photographs, a ciphering book, printed material, and ephemera. The correspondence deals with Lossing's business and social affairs; also included are letters written by his son, Edwin Lossing, concerning his position and the loss of it in the United States Navy. The drawings range from rough pencil sketches to finished ink wash drawings; a majority of them are identified. The eighteen photographs were probably used as illustrations in his books. There are also miscellaneous photographic prints, newspaper clippings, and ephemera.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Mrs. Ann B. Chamberlain, October 1979.
Processing information:

Processed by Huntington Library Staff, circa 1980. In 2022, Gayle Richardson created the finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.

Arrangement:

Arranged by subject and format.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

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]. Benson John Lossing papers addenda 2, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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