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Brasch (Frederick Edward) papers
M0275
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Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Frederick E. (Frederick Edward) Brasch Papers
Creator:
Brasch, Frederick E. (Frederick Edward), 1875-1967
Identifier/Call Number: M0275
Physical Description:
65 Linear Feet
(118 boxes, one oversize folder)
Date (inclusive): 1745-1963
Abstract: Frederick Edward Brasch (1875-1967) was a librarian and bibliographer with an interest in the history of science, particularly
the history of astronomy from Isaac Newton to the modern period.
Language of Material:
English
.
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns. Some of
these materials are believed to be in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use of public domain materials.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the Brasch family, 1967 and 1987.
Frederick Edward Brasch, librarian and bibliographer, was employed by numerous institutions including the Library of Congress,
where he served as Chief of the Scientific Collection from 1925 to 1943. From 1948 until his death in 1967 he was a consultant
in bibliography at Stanford University. Brasch's lifelong interest in the history of science was reflected in his personal
life as well as his chosen occupation.
Frederick Edward Brasch was born December 18, 1875, the son of Otto Wilhelm and Carolyn E. (Johannsen). He attended Stanford
University from 1897-1899; Univ. of California, 1899-1901, Harvard, 1916. On August 5, 1903 he married Winnifred E. Orpin
(who died June 11, 1938). The marriage produced two children, Carolyn Mildred and Maxwell Frederick.
The following is a list of F. E. Brasch's occupations:
Asst. observer, Harvard College Observatory, 1903-1904
Computer, Lick Observatory, Mt. Hamilton, CA. 1905
Asst. at Stanford Library, 1912-16
Asst. reference librarian, John Cresar Library, Chicago. 1917-1921
Reference librarian, James Jerome Hill Reference Library, St. Paul, Minn. 1921-1922
Bibliographic research, National Research Council, Wash., D.C. 1922-1923
Librarian, Dept. of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution, Wash. 1923-1924
Secretary of the history of science section, A.A.A.S. 1920-1928
Secretary of Isaac Newton commemoration, 192-
Chief of Scientific Collection, Library of Congress. 1925-1943
Consultant in history of science, 1944-1948
Consultant in bibliography, Stanford University, 1948-1967
The following is a list of F. E. Brasch's associations:
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Royal Astronomical Society
History of Science Society
International Astronomical Union
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
American Astronomical Society
American Antiquarian Society
Phi Beta Kappa
Sigma Xi
Unitarian Church
In 1941, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Stanford University, F. E. Brasch donated his entire Newton Collection
to the University, in gratitude for the opportunity of pursuing scientific astronomical studies there (1897-9).
Frederich Brasch died on October 26, 1967.
Correspondence and manuscript notes of Brasch and article reprints, photographs, and memorabilia collected by Brasch on the
history of science in general and the history of astronomy from Isaac Newton to the modern period.
In 2024 the collection and finding aid were given an overhaul. Some boxes were renumbered and their contents rearranged. There
is improved access to the Correspondence series and Library of Congress files, among others. Over 25 linear feet of unprocessed
addenda were added to the collection as well.
Box 1 contains items removed from other series during initial processing. This division was retained. See the following note:
"Box 1 contains a miscellaneous assortment of gems extracted from the collection in August, 1975. Because there were no references
as to the original location of the individual items within the collection as a whole, they remain separate, a hodge-podge
of items of widely varying significance ranging from the 17th to the 20th centuries. The catagories of manuscripts listed
above are anything but representative of every item within a given subset. The original integrity within the individual boxes
has been generally respected, except in cases where the contents clearly have no reasonable order. In this situation I have
relocated material according to the afore mentioned subject guidelines."
-- Catalogued during the academic year of 1980/81 by Kenneth B. Wolf Dept. of History
[Identification of item] Frederick E. (Frederick Edward) Brasch Papers , M0275, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford Libraries,
Stanford, Calif.
M1341 Frederick E. Brasch pamphlet collection, circa 1700-1969
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4083614
M0132 Frederick E. Brasch collection of Sir Isaac Newton manuscripts and related materials on the history of scientific thought,
1684-1949
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4082935
SCM0386 Frederick E. Brasch correspondence, 1962-1965
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/8448285
M0176 Brasch family papers, 1891-1920
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4082791
MISC 1561 Frederick Brasch letters to his family from Harvard, 1902
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/7927792
Brasch, Frederick E. Stanford University Photographic Department portraits
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/yh109wg2939
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/cd067cf7567
Lowood, Henry. Frederick E. Brasch and the history of science (Stanford, Calif. : Department of Special Collections and University
Archives, Stanford University Libraries, 1987)
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/1658288
M0133 Scientists and science collection, 1870-1948
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4082779
M0218 Thomas Jefferson Jackson See papers, 1891-1970
https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/4082803
Publications by Brasch have been cataloged, and most of his Newton collection has also been cataloged.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Astronomy -- History
Science -- History
Librarians.
Newton, Isaac, Sir
See, T. J. J., 1866-1962
Library of Congress.
Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955