Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Fiske, John, 1842-1901.
- Abstract:
- This collection chiefly contains correspondence of American philosopher and historian John Fiske (1842-1902) and his family. Subjects include: Fiske and his work and writings, Ignatius Donnelly, Miguel de Cervantes' novel Don Quixote, Prince Kropotkin, and the assassination of Alexander II in 1881.
- Extent:
- 119 items in 1 box
- Language:
- English.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The majority of the collection is made of up correspondence by John Fiske and his family. It includes letters by his mother Mary Fiske Bound Green Stoughton. There are several letters written to Fiske's step-father E. W. Stoughton. Prominent participants in the collection include: editor George S. Hellman, writer and literary critic William Dean Howells, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State Daniel Webster, Charles Francis Adams, artist James E. Taylor, Reverend Samuel Longfellow, artist Carl L. Brandt, and artist Albert Bierstadt. There are letters by Secretary of State William M. Evarts appointing Edwin Stoughton as minister to Russia (1877) and the letter accepting Stoughton's resignation from that position (1879). Subjects include: Fiske and his work and writings, Ignatius Donnelly, Miguel de Cervantes' novel Don Quixote, Prince Kropotkin, and the assassination of Alexander II in 1881. Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by author.
There are several folders of ephemera relating to both E. W. Stoughton and John Fiske. Stoughton’s ephemera relates to his time as minister to Russia including his passport and invitations to events. The “Photographs” folder contains five photographic items related to Russia as well. Fiske’s ephemera includes copies of publications with articles by Fiske in them (including Appleton’s Journal).
- Biographical / historical:
-
John Fiske (1842-1901) was an American philosopher and historian. He was born Edmund Fiske Greene in Connecticut in 1842. He later assumed his maternal great-grandfather's surname Fiske. He graduated from Harvard College in 1863 and Harvard Law School in 1865. He began his career as author by publishing his first article in 1861 in the National Quarterly Review. After that he was a frequent contributor to American and British periodicals. He was a lecturer at Harvard University, Washington University and other schools. He also taught history. Fiske also became a supporter of Charles Darwin and the doctrine of evolution. Fiske published several books including The Discovery of America (1892). He died in Massachusetts in 1901. He was married to Abby Morgan and they had six children: Maud, Ralph, Ethel, Harold, Clarence, and Herbert.
Fiske's mother Mary Greene married Edwin W. Stoughton in 1852 after the death of John's father Edmund Brewster Green. Edwin W. Stoughton was a lawyer in New York and U.S. minister to Russia from 1878 to 1879.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Mrs. John Fiske, October 18, 1991.
- Arrangement:
-
Correspondence arranged alphabetically by author, followed by ephemera, photographs, and publications.
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
- Location of this collection:
-
1151 Oxford RoadSan Marino, CA 91108, US
- Contact:
- (626) 405-2191