Alexander Anderson Diary, 1793-1799

Summary Information

At a Glance

Call No.:
X92 An
Bib ID:
12916473 View CLIO record
Creator(s):
Anderson, Alexander, 1775-1870
Repository:
Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Physical Description:
0.42 linear feet (3 volumes)
Language(s):
English .
Access:
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Description

Summary

Anderson's connections to Columbia are many. He received an M.D. from Columbia's College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1796, engraved Columbia's commencement ticket in 1794, and a bookplate for the College Library. As noted in his diary, he began sketching the design for the bookplate on March 14, 1795, delivered the finished work to President Johnson on March 25th, and was, after some effort on his part, paid £2, 8s on May 7th.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Alexander Anderson Diary; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Existence and Location of Copies

A typescript of the diaries is available in the Columbiana Manuscripts collection, item 119.

Microfilm for volume 1 is available.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Transfer from the John B. Pine Papers #3001F by BRC Letters from 1911/1912 in the Collection File

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Local identifier (call number) changed from MS#1861 to X92 An. kws 2022-12-13

Biographical / Historical

Alexander Anderson has long been considered the father of wood engraving in America, being the first in this country to adopt the technique developed in England by Thomas Bewick. Wood engraving produces a finer image than the standard woodcut by working on the denser end-grain section of the wood. Anderson acknowledged his debt to Bewick in 1804 by creating an American edition of Bewick's A General History of Quadrupeds (1790) with his own re-engraved blocks, adding "some American animals not hitherto described.".

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

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Genre/Form
Diaries CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Name
Anderson, Alexander, 1775-1870 CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Columbia University CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Place
New York (N.Y.) -- Social life and customs -- 18th century CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Subject
Engravers CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID
Wood-engraving CLIO Catalog ArchiveGRID