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Show moreLetter to Robert Stecher with a transcript of a letter written by Darwin from Down, Beckenham, Kent, England on October 23, 1880 [12771], in which Darwin outlines his writing of the Origin of Species. Transcription: "My Dear Bob: Had I been here when you came to speak on Darwin I would have shown you the original of this letter. Not Important (Altho its mention of his Origin of Species makes it "Desirable") But I thought you would like like to have this copy. My best always. Phil June 1, 1960 For my friend Bob Stecher:- Copy of a Hand-written letter of Charles Darwin In my possession October 23 1880 Dear Sir (Recipient's name not given.) I am much obliged for your courteous letter of Oct 8th.- I have no difficulty in answering your questions; But I cannot see how my answers can be of interest to anyone - I was born on Feb. 12th 1809.- On my return home after the voyage of the beagle, I opened my first note-book for facts .......... (p.2) Bearing on the Origin of Species in July 1837. In June 1842 I wrote a brief sketch of the notions then arrived at;& this was enlarged in 1844 into a sketch of 230 M.S. Pages. The Origin of Species was published near the close of 1859.- Dear Sir Yours Faithfully Charles Darwin" Letter, signed by sender. Sent from Rochester, Minnesota.
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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Show moreLetter to Thomas Edward Keys (Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota) to say that Keynes will have photographed for Dr. Stecher some caricatures of Darwin. Transcription: "120 Regent's Park Road Lammas House, Brinkley London NW1 Newmarket, Suffolk Primrose 4693 Stetchworth 268 25 Feb 1960 Dear Tom, I have been enjoying a month's break in tropical sunshine in Nigeria. No letters were forwarded which explains this dilatory answer to yours of 26 January. I have several Danish caricatures which I will have photographed for Dr Stecher. You say his lecture is due next March, which I am afraid means next month so it is urgent. Last year I acquired A.R.Wallis's copy of the first edition of the Origin given by Darwin. With Wallis's signature + notes + his inscription to another botanist friend. That seems to me to be the best association possible! As regards the new history of the Mayo Clinic, I don't feel that I am in a position to give advice of any value about a possible author. It should surely be done by an American who would have to spend many months on the spot so as to have access to the archives. He should also be medical if possible. Have you seen the new History of the Royal College of Surgeons by Sir Zachary Cope? It's to be had from the Libraria of the College for 3-3-0 [pounds]. Also the new catalogue of portraits & Hantenan paintings at 301 - Both very good! Yours sincerely Geoffrey Keynes" Letter, signed by sender. Sent from Lammas House, Brinkley, Newmarket, Suffolk.
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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Show moreLetter to Robert Stecher to request list of Darwin's Letters in the Stecher collection. Transcription: "By Air Mail Par Avion Air Letter Aerogramme Dr. Robert M. Stecher Metropolitan General Hospital 3395 Scranton Road Cleveland 9 Ohio U.S.A. Sir Gavin de Beer 39 Shrewsbury House Cheyne Walk London SW3 England The Royal Society Burlington House, London, W.1 Regent 3335 As from 39 Shrewbury House, Cheyne Walk, London S W 3 28 October 1960 Dear Dr Stecher, I am writing to thank you again for your kindness in taking time and trouble to telephone to me on your way through London when you only had so very little time to spare. I look forward very much to a meeting and longer conversation next time. In one of the letters which you wrote to me earlier, you very kindly offered to let me have a list of the Darwin letters in your magnificent collection. I should be extremely grateful if you could do this, because I am about to stack up me card- index of every dateable event in Darwin's life, and letters with their dates and the places from which they were written, the names of their addressees, and a very brief statement of the subject treated, are the material from which the man's running thoughts can be followed better than from any other source, If dates, place, addressee, and brief statement of subject, I think that I could make a real contribution to Darwinian studies, thanks to you. I might also be able to date undated letters for you, and to find the names of addressees where no specified. Even trivia are very valuable for these purposes With best wishes Yours sincerely [Cravin du Bur??]" Air letter, signed by sender. Sent from The Royalty Society, Burlington House, London.
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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Show moreLetter to Robert Stecher answering inquiries about Charles Darwin's health. Transcription: "Dr. Robert M. Stecher Metropolitan general Hospital 3395 Scranton Rd. Cleveland 9 Ohio USA Sender's name and address: N. Barlow Boswells Werdover Boswells, Werdover March 18, 1960 Dear Dr. Stecher, I was delighted to hear from you after all these years, and to know of your further Darwin activities. This will only be an interim letter to answer the immediate questions which do not need further enquiry. I am so glad your interest seems as keen as ever. all these matters, and I wonder whether you have kept abreast of the spate of literature about C.D. on both sides of the Atlantic in these centenary years? - Eisely, Himmelfarb, Gavin de Beer + the rest. I will take the questions in order. Starting with 1); I shall have no objection to your quoting my letter to you of 1948, if, as I hope, you get your discourse of March 3 this year printed. I look forward to reading what you said in your discourse, + hope you "[]" with approval + were a great success. 2); Baldness. I remember no suggestion that my grandmother was bald - I do not think that her cap was to conceal this; but merely the fashion of the day. She did have a very high forehad, as is shown in all photographs of her. 3)Health. I have just received a letter from Dr. Alvarez + his recent study of Darwin's health, + I expect you have also. I still think it rather inconclusive to harp on the inheritance. A "bad genes" from both sides, though I agree that the illness was probably largely psycho-somatic. His childrens' peculiarities did not prevent them from living active full lives - except in the case of Aunt [Effy?], Mrs Litchfield. But in the question of C.D's health, a newer suggestion has cropped up, which I like to think may be true, to remove C.D from these constant speculations of psychic disorder. (See Lancets-1934, i. p.129;1953, ii, p.1351;1054,i,pp.106, 414,467. [][ LXXX,1946,p.74. Biology of Human Affairs, Oct 1954,referring to these matters by Hubble, Good + myself.) The new suggestion comes from Dr. Adler, OBE, FRCP, FRS, Hebrew-University; Israel, who recently visited S. America, + was impressed by the similarity of the symptoms of the chronic Chagas disease caused by the triatomed bug, Triatoma intestans, with C.D's illnesses. The description C.D. gives of allowing the bug of [Meadga?] to bite him, was in march 1835, + therefore unless he had been previously infected, this rules out the Chagas disease accounting for the first serious illness in S. America in 1834. You will find an account of this in Nature Autumn 1959, but I can't lay my hands on the exact reference, Unfortunately one date is given wrongly*. The further questions I am pursuing are A) The origin of the unidentified cartoon; + B) The whereabouts of the certificate of C.D's [] membership to the Imperial Society of Naturalists of Moscow, 1870. I will write again if I can gain any information on these points. With all Good Wishes Yours Sincerely Nora Barlow *This will be under Gavin de Beer's name." Airmail letter, signed by sender. Sent from Boswells, Wendover.
The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts
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