Personal Papers
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 7078, Richard Rathbun Papers
Richard Rathbun (1852-1918) was born in Buffalo, New York. He received his early education in the public schools of Buffalo and after graduation worked in his father's stone quarry business. Rathbun developed an early interest in the geology and paleontology of western New York, and by 1870 had deposited large collections of fossils in the Buffalo Society of Natural History. In 1871, Rathbun entered Cornell University on the advice of the distinguished Brazilian explorer, Charles F. Hartt. He left Cornell in 1873 to study the fossil collections at the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University. In 1874, he was appointed assistant in zoology in the Boston Society of Natural History. While serving in this position, Rathbun also worked as a volunteer assistant with the United States Fish Commission (USFC). In 1875, he became a geologist with the Geological Commission of Brazil, under the direction of Hartt. He remained in Brazil until 1878, when he returned to the United States to accept the position of scientific assistant with the USFC. Rathbun remained on the staff of the USFC until 1896. His association with the Smithsonian Institution and United States National Museum began in 1881, when he was made honorary curator of the Department of Marine Invertebrates, a position he held until 1914. In 1897, Rathbun accepted the position of assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, in charge of Office and Exchanges. In 1898, Rathbun's duties were expanded to include certain aspects of museum administration, and in 1901 his title was changed to Assistant secretary, in charge of the National Museum, a position he held until his death in 1918.
The papers of Richard Rathbun document his early investigations in geology and paleontology; his college career at Cornell University, 1871-1872; his work as geologist on the Geological Commission of Brazil, 1875-1878; and his scientific and administrative careers with the United States Fish Commission and United States National Museum. Of special interest is correspondence and other materials concerning Samuel P. Langley's aerodrome experiments of 1903. The papers consist of incoming and outgoing correspondence; notebooks; manuscripts and research material; notes and sketches; photographs and lantern slides; and a manuscript on architecture by Rathbun's son, Seward Hume Rathbun.
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
This series consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence of Richard Rathbun. The correspondence is both professional and personal and concerns the administration of the United States Fish Commission and United States National Museum (USNM); paleontological and zoological research; Rathbun's activity in scientific societies and social organizations; business concerns; and personal matters. Correspondents include Fish Commission, Smithsonian, and USNM staff members; professional colleagues; family members; and friends. Subjects of special interest include Samuel P. Langley's aerodrome experiments, 1903; Charles D. Walcott's paleontological field work in the Canadian Rockies, 1912; Rathbun's work on the Geological Commission of Brazil, 1875-1878; and the early history of the American Association of Museums (see under Hermon Carey Bumpus, William Jacob Holland, and William John McGee).
This series consists of letters of condolence addressed to Mrs. Richard Rathbun on the death of her husband in 1918. Correspondents include family members, professional colleagues, and friends. Also included are xerox copies of obituaries.
This series consists of one letterpress book containing copies of outgoing correspondence of Richard Rathbun, 1885-1889. While the volume is marked personal, most of the correspondence deals with Rathbun's work with the United States Fish Commission. Of particular interest are several letters from Rathbun to George Brown Goode concerning administrative changes in the Fish Commission after the death of Spencer F. Baird in 1887. Also included is correspondence written by Rathbun in his capacity as honorary curator of the Department of Marine Invertebrates, United States National Museum. The volume is partially indexed, alphabetically by correspondent.
This series includes class notebooks maintained by Richard Rathbun at Cornell University; notebooks dealing with his research on paleontology and invertebrate zoology; notebooks and daybooks kept by Rathbun in his administrative capacity with the United States Fish Commission; notebooks containing material concerning the Fur Seal Tribunal at Paris, 1891; and miscellaneous notebooks.
In 1917, the United States National Museum published Bulletin #101, The Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences, by Richard Rathbun. This series consists of notes, annotated drafts, and related research material used by Rathbun in the preparation of the bulletin.
Richard Rathbun did extensive research on collections exhibited in Washington, D.C. before the establishment of the United States National Museum (USNM), with the purpose of preparing a series of bulletins on the origins of the national collections. USNM Bulletin #101, The Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences, 1917, was the only monograph he completed (see series 5). This series consists of notes, a draft of a manuscript, and related material compiled by Richard Rathbun for a projected monograph on the National Institute. Also included is correspondence of Mary Jane Rathbun and Frederick L. Lewton concerning Rathbun's research on the national collections.
Seward Hume Rathbun (1886-1965), son of Richard Rathbun, was an architect, artist, teacher, and writer. This series consists of a manuscript, "A Background to Architecture" by Seward Hume Rathbun. Also included is biographical material on Rathbun.
This series consists of notes and sketches by Richard Rathbun concerning invertebrate zoology, geology, and paleontology. Included are extensive notes and sketches made by Rathbun while he served as geologist on the Geological Commission of Brazil, 1875-1878.
Bazilian marine fauna, 1875-1878 (Folder 11)
Bazilian marine fauna, 1875-1878 (Folder 12)
Bazilian marine fauna, 1875-1878 (Folder 10)
Bazilian marine fauna, 1875-1878 (Folder 9)
Brazilian marine fauna, 1875-1878 (Folder 1)
Brazilian marine fauna, 1875-1878 (Folder 2)
Brazilian marine fauna, 1875-1878 (Folder 3)
Brazilian Paleontology, 1875-1878
This series consists of photographs and lantern slides collected by Richard Rathbun. Included are photographs of Brazil taken while Rathbun served as geologist on the Geological Commission of Brazil, 1875-1878; landscapes of British Columbia; an album of photographs documenting seal rookeries on the Pribilof Islands, 1895; and lantern slides of corals and Brazilian scenes.
Album containing photographs of Brazil, 1875-1878, and British Columbia, undated