Biographical Materials (sub-series A) contains miscellaneous items arranged by type. Traditional details are provided by a newspaper notice of his marriage to Orra White in 1821 and by his diploma from Yale (1818). More unusual is the manuscript "phrenological description" of Hitchcock by L.N. Fowler, completed in 1847. Hitchcock is also mentioned in a diary (1824; present in typescript) and five letters written in 1833, 1835, 1846, 1850, and 1854 -- all of which provide insight about how he was perceived by others. The rest of this sub-series relates principally to his possessions, described in lists of books, catalogues of minerals, and listings of items which Hitchcock owned which are now part of the Objects Collection.

Professional Life (sub-series B) is grouped by body of affiliation, including his ministry in Conway, his teaching at Deerfield, his connection with Mount Holyoke Seminary in South Hadley, his multiple roles at Amherst College and his affiliations as state geologist with Massachusetts, New York and Vermont. The material which relates to the Amherst College years provides some insight into Hitchcock's role as an academic administrator and fund-raiser. For additional information about Hitchcock's Amherst College presidency, see the President's Office Records: Edward Hitchcock. The most complete information about his role as a state geologist is found among the Massachusetts materials and relating to the publications of his state surveys in the 1830s and 1850s, in Series 5, PUBLISHED WRITINGS--MAJOR WORKS.

Awards and Honors (sub-series C), is a straightforward presentation of Hitchcock's affiliations with various national and international scientific and educational associations and societies. Included are eight certificates of life membership from religious societies and organizations presented to him as gifts by members of his parish in Conway and by the faculty and students of Amherst College. The certificates and related material are arranged alphabetically by name of organization.

The Death of Edward Hitchcock (in 1864) (sub-series D) contains the funeral sermon by long-time colleague W.S. Tyler; obituaries; 55 letters of condolence addressed to the family as a group or to individual family members and to William A. Stearns, who was President of Amherst College in 1864; and details relating to expenses -- a particular Hitchcock concern. This sub-series is divided into two groups, Obituaries and funeral, and Condolences and memorials.

Financial Records (sub-series E) contains almost 40 years of financial documentation of running a 19th-century household. This sub-series is further broken down into two groups: Expense and Payment Records; and Real Estate Records. Four account books record both expenses and payments, and there is daily documentation of grocery and drygood purchases included in the Bills and Receipts section. Records from Amherst and Williston Academies show the cost of educating younger children, while similar records from Amherst College record tuition, room, and fuel costs for the two Hitchcock sons, Edward, Jr. (AC 1849) and Charles Henry (AC 1856), at that institution. The Real Estate Records section contains legal documents for land exchange transactions between the Hitchcock family and other members of the Amherst community and represents a wide range of formats including mortgages, quitclaims, warranties and "cemetery lots", as well as records of town, county, and state tax expenses.

This significant series reveals the breadth of Hitchcock's professional activities, career, and acquaintances. Many of the letters are to and from contemporary scientists, including one from Charles Darwin, 5 from Nevil Maskelyne, 15 from Justin Perkins, and several between Hitchcock and Edmund Blunt regarding errors in Blunt's edition of the Nautical Almanac and Astronomical Ephemeris for the Year 1816. There is correspondence with James Deane of Greenfield relating to the controversy about the importance of the fossil footmarks discovered along the Connecticut River. While Hitchcock did not claim to be the discoverer of the footmarks, he maintained that he was the first to recognize their significance and age. Twelve letters between Hitchcock and Henry Van Lennep (AC 1837) relate peripherally to Hitchcock's scientific activities, since Van Lennep illustrated some of Hitchcock's published works, including Illustrations of Surface Geology.

Hitchcock's official role as a state geologist is reflected in 18 letters from Massachusetts Governor Edward Everett and 3 letters to New York Governor William L. Marcy.

The most significant group of letters in Series 2 is the correspondence between Hitchcock and Benjamin Silliman, editor of the American Journal of Science, and Hitchcock's professor of chemistry at Yale's Sheffield Scientific School. There are 158 letters from Silliman to Hitchcock ( read transcripts of letters from 1817-1829 here) and 77 letters from Hitchcock to Silliman ( read transcripts of letters from 1817-1829 here), which constitute a rich resource for the study of the history of science and of the nature of scientific collegial relationship at that time. These letters are detailed in the series listing. (All transcripts were prepared by Robert Herbert in 2010.)

Approximately 200 sermons have survived in the Papers. As a group, they illuminate Hitchcock's religious philosophy. Many were delivered on multiple occasions; the dates of delivery are noted on each. Hitchcock's ministry in Conway is well documented by numerous sermons dating from the 1820s.

Numbered Sermons (sub-series A) are arranged by the numbering which Hitchcock assigned to them. They are further identified by title in the listing. Most often, the numbering relates to chronological order, but not always. For example, Sermon #10 (1841) is followed by Sermon #11 (1820); and #119 (1824) is followed by #123 (1822). This may be explained by the fact that sermons were preached at a succession of different locations, on different dates. Sermon #10 could have been first preached as much as 20 years earlier, but the notation added only for a later delivery.

Un-Numbered Sermons (sub-series B) contains 27 sermons arranged in chronological order by the date the sermon was first known to have been preached.

Occasional Sermons (sub-series C) includes sermons preached on the Fourth of July, at ceremonies for naming mountains, including the exercises for Mt. Norwottuck, and at the ordinations and installations of fellow ministers.

Sermon Subjects (sub-series D) are arranged alphabetically by the title assigned to the text and contain notes for sermon topics.

Sermon Notes (sub-series E) are divided into those prepared for Amherst College (sorted by date) and those (unsorted) identified as "texts and subjects for sermons."

The series includes the topics of Bible studies, botany, chemistry, and geology, and documents Hitchcock's classroom lectures and teaching style.

The most complete set of lecture notes exists for chemistry. The geology, mineralogy and natural science notes taken by students reflect their analysis of Hitchcock's lectures. The lectures are interesting throughout as they reflect Hitchcock's continuing efforts to reconcile science and religion.

This series contains the working notes, manuscript drafts, correspondence, illustrations and other materials and information relating to writing and publishing Hitchcock's major scientific and religious works.

Elementary Anatomy and Physiology (sub-series A), written with his son Edward Hitchcock, Jr. (AC 1849), contains only two letters regarding editorial changes to the book and a review of the work.

Elementary Geology (sub-series B) is also scant. There are three items relating to royalties and several published announcements, notices, and reviews of the work.

Final Report on the Geology of Massachusetts (sub-series C) is richly documented. Material relating to the work, which was written at the request of the Massachusetts State Legislature, includes extensive notebooks kept by Hitchcock recording both his observations and his expenses; plates and maps; catalogues of specimens collected for the survey; and correspondence regarding various editions. Material in this sub-series is arranged by type.

Ichnology of New England (sub-series D) contains a virtually complete manuscript draft and several proofs for illustrating plates.

Supplement to the Ichnology of New England (sub-series E) is documented by a preliminary version, a manuscript draft, and original drawings for many of the plates. This sub-series also includes a report, notice, and addenda to the work.

Illustrations of Surface Geology (sub-series F) is represented by numerous drawings for the illustrations. There is also an account book of expenses for exploration related to the book.

The Power of Christian Benevolence (sub-series G) contains only a few letters and an outline for the book.

The Religion of Geology (sub-series H) contains a complete manuscript draft and several reviews of the work.

Reminiscences of Amherst College (sub-series I) contains a manuscript draft for the preface, letters from Hitchcock asking for comments, a notice of publication, and a map of the geology around Amherst College.

Series 6, EDWARD HITCHCOCK: PUBLISHED WRITINGS--OTHER WORKS contains articles, reports, reviews, papers, letters, sermons and news articles written and prepared by Edward Hitchcock over a period of more than 40 years. Formats include manuscript drafts, printed material (originals and photocopies). Hitchcock writes on a range of topics including politics, religion, temperance, astronomy, meteorology, natural sciences, ichnology (fossil footmarks), and most often geology.

Hitchcock was a frequent contributor to the American Journal of Science where his new geological discoveries and reports were often published. There are articles about the geology of Massachusetts and Vermont. Maps from 1840-60 are represented as well. The American Journal of Science printed an exchange between Hitchcock and James Deane about the controversy regarding the discovery and priority of investigation of the fossil footmarks in the Connecticut River Valley. Hitchcock's religious and scientific roles were often combined in his articles seeking to reconcile religion and science, such as "The connection between geology and the Mosaic history of creation," written in 1835.

Hitchcock's inaugural address as President of Amherst College is included here as are a few sermons presented at funerals of friends and loved ones. Two unusual items include Hitchcock's endorsements for Ayers cherry pectoral, from 1851, and an advertisement recommending an exhibition of submersion diving apparatus, from 1854.

The series also includes a scrapbook containing clippings of more than 70 newspaper articles by Edward Hitchcock written between 1793 and 1864. The clippings cover a breadth of topics and are arranged chronologically. The original scrapbook pages have been removed for preservation and replaced by photocopies. Finally, there are announcements and reviews of Hitchcock's works, written by others, and a single folder of contemporary published material mentioning Hitchcock.

Notes at New Haven [Yale?] (sub-series A) contains Hitchcock's notes of "Silliman's chymical lectures," dated 1819-1820, and "Notes 1819," describing his religious activities, travel, and lectures by Silliman and others while he was in New Haven in 1819 and 1820. Series 2, Edward Hitchcock: CORRESPONDENCE contains 235 letters between Hitchcock and Silliman.

Commonplace books (sub-series B) includes scientific calculations, essays, notes, poetry, and letters kept by Hitchcock early in his life, ca. 1811-1819. He also kept a book of quotations, and extracts from religious and literary readings. Some of these are interesting for their early decorated paper covers.

Diaries (sub-series C) cover a period of more than 40 years (ca. 1820-1864) and include personal and religious reflections, his so-called "private notes," and his scientific and travel notes from his European trip in 1850. These demonstrate Hitchcock's ongoing pattern of reflecting on his life.

Essays, lectures, notes, maps, charts, and sketches (sub-series D), though never published, reflect Hitchcock's ongoing interests in religion, geology, and more. Local history, health and temperance, agriculture, and meteorology were among his interests. Astronomy, botany, and philosophy are also represented.

Like his published religious works, the unpublished essays reflect Hitchcock's continued attempts to reconcile science and religion, a notebook on "Natural religion defended and illustrated," for example.

In the Geology section of Essays, the geological notebooks contain observations and geology essays are of particular note. Notes and material relating to essays and lectures about fossil footmarks and geological maps are heavily represented. It is possible that the geological and religious writings relate in some way to Hitchcock's published works, but specific relationships have not been identified.

Plays (sub-series E) contains only a single work, a lengthy play called "Never despair; or the siege of Berne."

Poetry (sub-series F) contains more than two dozen poem fragments, and notes quoting poetry, most of which are undated. Of particular note is "The portrait of Miss Orra White" written for his future wife.

Works of others: notes, commentaries and quotations by Hitchcock (sub-series G) contains four sets of notebooks, with Hitchcock's observations and notes on the works of Joseph Butler, Gregory Olinthus, William Paley, and Gottlob Storr. This sub-series represents Hitchcock's lifelong practice of making notes on writings he found inspirational.

Portraits of Edward Hitchcock (sub-series A) contains more than a dozen distinct images of Hitchcock, in a range of formats including engravings, lithographs, and albumen prints. Many of the portraits were taken for yearly Class Albums compiled for the students at Amherst College. All the images are of Hitchcock as an adult. Amherst College owns two formal portraits of President Hitchcock; one hangs in Johnson Chapel and one in the Pratt Museum.

General (sub-series B) includes snapshots of Hitchcock's family homes and a photograph of Hitchcock's gravestone. There is also one photograph album which includes identified photographs of Edward and Orra White Hitchcock and some immediate family members. It may contain ancestors, relatives and friends of Edward and Orra White Hitchcock and includes pictures of Crego, Childs, and Huntington family members.

Biographical materials (sub-series A) includes general biographical material.

Death of Orra White Hitchcock (sub-series B) includes W.S. Tyler's funeral oration for Orra White Hitchcock, Our Wife and Mother, and an obituary, "A virtuous woman," from The Congregationalist. Most significant are the condolences written to her husband Edward and her daughters. These letters reflect the high esteem in which Orra White Hitchcock was held by family, friends, and the greater community.

This small series contains very few letters.

Incoming correspondence (sub-series A) includes seven letters from Edward Hitchcock, Jr. (AC 1849), to his mother describing his life at Williston Seminary. It also includes miscellaneous letters from several correspondents.

Outgoing correspondence (sub-series B) contains fifteen letters from Orra White Hitchcock to her son, Edward, for the years 1849 through 1860. The little additional family correspondence includes letters to her children, brother, and cousin.

Most of the art was not dated at the time it was created. Dates have been attributed to some items while processing the Papers.

Art, General (sub-series A) contains items owned by, attributed to, or created for Orra White Hitchcock. The sub-series includes a blank artist's book from France, and a watercolor of an eagle and other patriotic symbols, "executed by Jane Inglee at Mrs. Haswell's Academy Boston 1812." Material is arranged by type.

Art by Subject (sub-series B) is further divided into five subject categories: Amherst College; Flowers; Fruit; Fungi; and Leaves. Amherst College contains some of the earliest sketches of the young college, ca. 1821. Flowers contains 18 watercolors and 2 pencil drawings of flowers, organized by name of the flower, when identified. Fruit contains two watercolors of a bowl of strawberries. Fungi includes only two pen and ink drawings. Leaves contains 5 pastels and one watercolor drawing, which include drawings of a birch sprig, a cedar sprig, a sugar maple sprig, and an oak leaf.

Drawings and Prints for Edward Hitchcock's Scientific Works (sub-series C) is further divided by the title of the work they were created for. This series contains printed plates and photographic reproductions of plates. A highlight from this sub-series is the original pen and ink drawing for plate 27, "Fossil vegetables from Mansfield," for the Final Report of the Geology of Massachusetts. There are additional plates from the Final Report and items from Plates Illustrating the Geology and Scenery of Massachusetts.

"The Traveler's Return" (sub-series D) includes photographic reproductions of the painting by Orra White Hitchcock and the original on which her work was based. There is also a folder of printed material about the painting.

Art from Edward Hitchcock Autograph Album (sub-series E) is further divided into three categories: Landscapes; Portraits; and Tableaux. Each category is arranged alphabetically as appropriate. All the items are pen and ink drawings. The 5 Landscapes include "Bath, near Bristol," "Dickinson College," "The great bend of the Susquehannah River," "Mitchell Lighthouse on Long Island," and "View of the East River." The 8 Portraits include "James Abercrombie," "Maria Louisa," "Count Plantoff," "Commodore Preble," "Philip Schuyler," "Ezra Stiles," and two unidentified portraits, one male, one female. The 3 Tableaux include "The arts," "Nor heaven nor seas now roaring ..." and "Kate is Craz'd."

This series contains much of the art created by Orra White Hitchcock that has survived at the College.