Thomas Egleston papers, 1857-1901

Summary Information

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

Material is arranged into three series.

• Series I: Correspondence, 1868-1901
• Series II: Research and Documents, 1868
• Series III: Metric System Materials, 1893-1895

Description

Summary

Professional correspondence of Egleston, consisting of incoming letters and technical reports relating to mining engineering and metallurgy; and carbon copies of correspondence between Egleston and Seth Low for the years 1890 to 1900.

1996 Addition: Large drawings and engravings from his student days at the Ecole Impériale des Mines in Paris (both engineering and architecture). Large maps of coal and iron land in Virginia and West Virginia.

• Series I: Correspondence, 1868-1901

  The Correspondence series consists of professional correspondence. Most of the letters are incoming correspondence, but the series does include one letterbook of Egleston's outgoing correspondence, and carbons of some of his correspondence with Seth Low, President of Columbia University during the latter part of Egleston's tenure at the school.

• Series II: Research and Documents, 1868

  The Research and Documents series is comprised of printed material related to metallurgy that Egleston collected, as well as Egleston's professional work such as metallurgical analyses and some of his student work from his time at the Ecole Imperiale des Mines, Paris.

• Series III: Metric System Materials, 1893-1895

  This series consists of material arguing in favor of the United States moving to the metric system. The series includes correspondence between Egleston and other metric advocates, as well as published pamphlets, speeches, and reports relating to the metric system and its uses and advantages.

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

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 has no restrictions.

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies 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); Thomas Egleston papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Selected Related Material-- At Columbia

Columbia University School of Mines Records, Rare book & Manuscript Library

Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Egleston, Thomas. Method of acquisition--Bequest; Date of acquisition--1900. Accession number--M-1900.

Letterbook, 1864-69: Source of acquisition--Lamont-Doherty Geoscience Library. Method of acquisition--Transfer; Date of acquisition--1977. Accession number--M-1977.

Oversize drawings & engravings: Source of acquisition--Columbiana. Method of acquisition--Transfer; Date of acquisition--02/--/1997. Accession number--M-97-02.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn.

Letterbook, 1864-6 Cataloged HR 1977.

Series III: Metric System Materials processed 06/02/2011 by Carrie Hintz. Finding aid written 06/02/2011 by Carrie Hintz.

Oversize drawings & engravings Processed HR 03/26/1997.

Revision Description

2009-06-26 File created.

2011-06-03 File edited by Carrie Hintz to include the addition gift of Series III

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Subject Headings

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

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Genre/Form

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical Note

Thomas Egleston was a noted metallurgist and professor of metallurgy and mineralogy at Columbia University's School of Mines, which he helped found along with Charles F. Chandler and Francis Vinton in 1864.

Egleston was born in New York City in 1832 and received his scientific training first at Yale, and then at the Ecole Imperiale des Mines in Paris. He worked for several years at the Smithsonian Institute before returning to New York City to join the faculty of Columbia University.

He was instrumental in founding the Columbia University School of Mines, one of the earliest schools devoted to practical and applied science in the country. He continued to teach at Columbia until his death in 1900.