Benson John Lossing Papers Addenda 2: Finding Aid mssLS2
Gayle Richardson
The Huntington Library
July 2022
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Note
Last updated by Brooke M. Black in January 2024.
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Benson John Lossing papers addenda 2
Creator:
Lossing, Benson John, 1813-1891
Identifier/Call Number: mssLS2
Physical Description:
3 Linear Feet
(3 boxes, 2 oversize folders)
Date (inclusive): 1843-1898
Abstract: A collection of material related to Benson John Lossing, American artist and historian.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more
information.
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]. Benson John Lossing papers addenda 2, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Mrs. Ann B. Chamberlain, October 1979.
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.
Scope and Contents
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.
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.
General
Individual call numbers included in the collection: mssLS 2150-2262.
Related Materials
Benson John Lossing papers (mssLS); Benson John Lossing papers addenda 1 (mssLS1); Benson John Lossing papers addenda 3 (mssLossing3).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Artists -- United States
Historians -- United States
Illustrated books -- United States -- History -- 19th century
United States -- History
Ciphers (codes) -- United States -- 19th century
Drawings (visual works) -- United States -- 19th century
Ephemera -- United States -- 19th century
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 19th century
Photographs -- United States -- 19th century
Research (documents) -- United States -- 19th century
Lossing, Edwin John
United States. Navy -- Officers -- Correspondence
Box 1
Correspondence: A-Z; documents, ciphering book
Box 2
Benson John Lossing drawings
Box 3
Photographs, notes, sketches, colored prints, bills, receipts, pamphlets, clippings, and ephemera
Folder Oversize 1
Benson John Lossing. "Jonathan Harrington," ink wash and pencil drawing
approximately 1855
Folder Oversize 2
Print of George Washington, presented to Benson John Lossing
1859 June
