Hiram Corson papers, 1842-1956.
Collection Number: 14-12-449

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library


DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Hiram Corson papers, 1842-1956.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
14-12-449
Abstract:
Thirty scrapbooks containing letters, clippings, photographs, and printed materials relating to Corson's travels, life, and career; correspondence exchanged between Corson and colleagues on Shakespeare, Chaucer, Tennyson, Browning, and other figures of English literature; reviews of books and articles by Corson and other scholars; announcements, programs, letters, notes, and reviews pertaining to Corson's activities as public lecturer and reader; letters from friends and family members dealing chiefly with personal matters: health, progress of career, daily activities; one scrapbook devoted to spiritualism, including letters from and about Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, co-founder of the American Theosophical Society. Unbound material includes large numbers of family letters with extensive comments on the early days of Cornell University and life in Ithaca, New York, accounts of the travels of Corson, his wife, Caroline, and their son Eugene, their daily work and activities; clippings, pamphlets, reprints of articles relating to Corson's work in the field of English literature and that of his son in medicine; drafts of lectures and articles; anatomical, physiological, and surgical drawings; photographs; a syllabus; and miscellaneous books. Also, a tape recorded interview with Signe Sjoegren conducted by Gould P. Colman concerning the activities of Corson during the last seven years of his life.
Abstract:
Correspondents include Louise Andrews, Matthew Arnold, Henry Ward Beecher, Madame Blavatsky, Edwin Booth, Robert Browning, Francis James Child, Mary Cowden Clarke, George William Curtis, Edward Everett, Willard Fiske, Jessie Fothergill, Horace Howard Furness, Frederick J. Furnivall, Daniel Coit Gilman, Samuel Stehman Haldeman, Edward Everett Hale, James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps, Bret Harte, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Oliver Wendell Holmes, William Dean Howells, Clement Mansfield Ingleby, William James, Pierre Janet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, James Russell Lowell, John M. D. Meiklejohn, J. Parker Norris, Goldwin Smith, Andrew D. White, Walt Whitman, John Greenleaf Whittier, and Woodrow Wilson.
Creator:
Corson, Hiram, 1828-1911.
Colman, Gould P. (Gould Patchin), 1926-
Sjoegren, Signe.
Quanitities:
4.8 cubic feet.
Language:
Collection material in English

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Thirty scrapbooks containing letters, clippings, photographs, and printed materials relating to Corson's travels, life, and career; correspondence exchanged between Corson and colleagues on Shakespeare, Chaucer, Tennyson, Browning, and other figures of English literature; reviews of books and articles by Corson and other scholars; announcements, programs, letters, notes, and reviews pertaining to Corson's activities as public lecturer and reader; letters from friends and family members dealing chiefly with personal matters: health, progress of career, daily activities; one scrapbook devoted to spiritualism, including letters from and about Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, co-founder of the American Theosophical Society. Unbound material includes large numbers of family letters with extensive comments on the early days of Cornell University and life in Ithaca, New York, accounts of the travels of Corson, his wife, Caroline, and their son Eugene, their daily work and activities; clippings, pamphlets, reprints of articles relating to Corson's work in the field of English literature and that of his son in medicine; drafts of lectures and articles; anatomical, physiological, and surgical drawings; photographs; a syllabus; and miscellaneous books. Also, a tape recorded interview with Signe Sjoegren conducted by Gould P. Colman concerning the activities of Corson during the last seven years of his life.
Correspondents include Louise Andrews, Matthew Arnold, Henry Ward Beecher, Madame Blavatsky, Edwin Booth, Robert Browning, Francis James Child, Mary Cowden Clarke, George William Curtis, Edward Everett, Willard Fiske, Jessie Fothergill, Horace Howard Furness, Frederick J. Furnivall, Daniel Coit Gilman, Samuel Stehman Haldeman, Edward Everett Hale, James Orchard Halliwell-Phillipps, Bret Harte, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Oliver Wendell Holmes, William Dean Howells, Clement Mansfield Ingleby, William James, Pierre Janet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, James Russell Lowell, John M. D. Meiklejohn, J. Parker Norris, Goldwin Smith, Andrew D. White, Walt Whitman, John Greenleaf Whittier, and Woodrow Wilson.

RELATED MATERIALS

Related collection:

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:

Hiram Corson papers, #14-12-449. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

Biographical / Historical

Professor of English literature. Hiram Corson taught literature courses at Girard College, St. Johns College in Annapolis, Maryland, and at Cornell University.

SUBJECTS

Names:
Andrews, Louise.
Arnold, Matthew, 1822-1888.
Beecher, Henry Ward, 1813-1887.
Blavatsky, H. P. (Helena Petrovna), 1831-1891.
Booth, Edwin, 1833-1893.
Browning, Robert, 1812-1889.
Browning, Robert, 1812-1889 -- : Criticism and interpretation.
Chaucer, Geoffrey, -1400 -- : Criticism and interpretation.
Child, Francis James, 1825-1896.
Clarke, Mary Cowden, 1809-1898.
Corson, Caroline.
Corson, Eugene.
Curtis, George William, 1824-1892.
Everett, Edward.
Fiske, Willard.
Fothergill, Jessie, 1851-1891.
Furness, Horace Howard, 1833-1912.
Furnivall, Frederick James, 1825-1910.
Gillman, Daniel Coit.
Haldeman, Samuel Stehman, 1812-1880.
Hale, Edward Everett, 1822-1909.
Halliwell-Phillipps, J. O. (James Orchard), 1820-1889.
Harte, Bret, 1836-1902
Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804-1864.
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894.
Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920.
Ingleby, C. M. (Clement Mansfield), 1823-1886.
James, William, 1842-1910.
Janet, Pierre, 1859-1947.
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth, 1807-1882.
Lowell, James Russell, 1819-1891.
Meiklejohn, John M. D.
Norris, Joseph Parker, 1847-1916.
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- : Criticism and interpretation.
Smith, Goldwin, 1823-1910.
Tennyson, Alfred Tennyson, Baron, 1809-1892 -- : Criticism and interpretation.
White, Andrew Dickson, 1832-1918.
Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892.
Whittier, John Greenleaf, 1807-1924.
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924.
Theosophical Society in America
Cornell University -- : Faculty.
Cornell University -- : History.
Places:
Ithaca (N.Y.) -- Description and travel.
Subjects:
College teachers.
Women mystics.
Spiritualism.
Medicine.
English literature.
Authors.
Form and Genre Terms:
Photographs.
Drawings.

CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Series I. Correspondence
Scope and Contents
Includes letters from Eugene, Pauline, and Caroline Corson. Note: some of the letters were written to Eugene or Mrs. Corson. Many letters refer to spiritualism.
Box 1 Folder 1
Old storage envelopes from correspondence
Undated
Box 1 Folder 2
Correspondence
Expression
Box 1 Folder 3
Correspondence
1855-1860
Creator: Includes Henry Wadsworth Longfellow letters to Caroline Rollin Corson: March 9, 1855-Regrets his publisher declined the translation on grounds of expense of printing in foreign language. Information about certain poems. Grieved about misfortuen which has
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth
Box 1 Folder 4
Correspondence
1861-1864
Creator: Includes Nathaniel Hawthorne letter, dated February 17, 1964: Hawthorne thanks Corson for gift of Chaucer's "Legende of Goode Women" with hopes expressed for American edition of Chaucer's "Canterbury Pilgrims" edited in the same manner. Also includes some
Hawthorne, Nathaniel
Box 1 Folder 5
Correspondence
1865-1866
Creator: Includes address of Hiram Corson on occasion of his induction as professor at Girard College.
Everett, Edward
Box 1 Folder 6
Correspondence
1867-1869
Creator: Includes James Russell Lowell letter, dated October 24, 1867, to "my dear child" in which he regrets delay in publishing Mr. Corson's work and gladly would double subscription if it would help.
Lowell, James Russell
Box 1 Folder 7
Correspondence
1870
Box 1 Folder 8
Correspondence
1871
Box 1 Folder 9
Correspondence
1872
Box 1 Folder 10
Correspondence
1873
Box 1 Folder 11
Correspondence
1874-01-1874-05
Creator: Includes letter from Bret Harte, and letter from Edwin Booth with references to Hamlet.
Harte, Bret
Booth, Edwin
Box 1 Folder 12
Correspondence
1874-06-1874-12
Creator: Includes printed pamphlets and posters for performances, correspondence on Pauline's death.
Box 1 Folder 13
Correspondence
1875
Box 1 Folder 14
Correspondence
1876-01-1876-09
Box 1 Folder 15
Correspondence
1876-10-1876-12
Box 1 Folder 16
Correspondence
1877-01-1877-05
Box 1 Folder 17
Correspondence
1877-06
Box 1 Folder 18
Correspondence
1877-07
Box 1 Folder 19
Correspondence
1877-08-1877-12
Box 1 Folder 20
Correspondence
1878-01-1878-07
Box 1 Folder 21
Correspondence
1878-08-1878-09
Box 1 Folder 22
Correspondence
1878-10-1878-11
Box 1 Folder 23
Correspondence
1878-12
Box 1 Folder 24
Correspondence
1879-01-1879-04
Box 1 Folder 25
Correspondence
1879-05-1879-12
Box 1 Folder 26
Correspondence
1880
Box 1 Folder 27
Correspondence
1881-1882
Creator: Includes two letters from Robert Browning: one inviting the Corsons' to lunch and another setting a convenient time to call.
Browning, Robert
Box 1 Folder 28
Correspondence
1883
Box 1 Folder 29
Correspondence
1884
Box 1 Folder 30
Correspondence
1885
Box 1 Folder 31
Correspondence
1886
Creator: Includes a letter from Robert Browning expressing thanks and letter from Walt Whitman sending notes and mentioning Woodruff's visit. Also includes letter from Edward Everett Hale.
Browning, Robert
Hale, Edward Everett
Whitman, Walt
Box 1 Folder 32
Correspondence
1887-1888
Creator: Includes land deed and letter from Gabrielle DeVeaux Clements regarding Corson's portrait.
Clements, Gabrielle DeVeaux
Gosse, Edmund
Cowden Clarke, Mary Victoria
Box 1 Folder 33
Correspondence
1889
Creator: Includes photograph of Shakespeare's gloves.
Cowden Clarke, Mary Victoria
Box 1 Folder 34
Correspondence
1890-1891
Cowden Clarke, Mary Victoria
Box 2 Folder 1
Correspondence
1892-01-1892-09
Tolstoy, Sophie Andreevna
Box 2 Folder 2
Correspondence
1892-10-1892-12
Box 2 Folder 3
Correspondence
1893-1894
Box 2 Folder 4
Correspondence
1895-01-1895-08
Box 2 Folder 5
Correspondence
1895-09-1895-12
Box 2 Folder 6
Correspondence
1896-1897
Creator: Includes letter from Prince Serge Wolkonsky.
Wolkonsky, Serge
Box 2 Folder 7
Correspondence
1898
Creator: Includes letter and poems by Gottfried Hult.
Hult, Gottfried
Box 2 Folder 8
Correspondence
1899-1900
Box 2 Folder 9
Correspondence
1901-01-1901-05
Creator: Includes letter to Caroline Corson from Dr. Silas Weir Mitchell.
Box 2 Folder 10
Correspondence
1901-05
Box 2 Folder 11
Correspondence
1901-06-1901-07
Box 2 Folder 12
Correspondence
1901-08-1901-12
Box 2 Folder 13
Correspondence
1902-01-1902-08
Box 2 Folder 14
Correspondence
1902-09-1902-12
Box 2 Folder 15
Correspondence
1903-01-1903-02
Box 2 Folder 16
Correspondence
1903-03-1903-05
Box 2 Folder 17
Correspondence
1903-06-1903-12
Creator: Includes letter, dated November 18, 1903, from Woodrow Wilson congratulation Corson.
Mitchell, Silas Weir
Haultain, Theodore Arnold
Wilson, Woodrow
Box 2 Folder 18
Correspondence
1904-01-1904-05
Wier, Silas Mitchell
Box 2 Folder 19
Correspondence
1904-06-1904-12
Box 2 Folder 20
Correspondence
1905-01-1905-04
Box 2 Folder 21
Correspondence
1905-05-1905-08
Box 2 Folder 22
Correspondence
1905-09-1905-12
Box 2 Folder 23
Correspondence
1906-01-1906-03
Creator: Includes letters from Hiram Corson to Eugene Corson regarding Robert Browning: "On Wednesday evening, I read to my spiritual visitors my reminiscences of Browning, who had asked for them at the previous sitting [i. e., seance]. There were present Ma, Paul
Box 2 Folder 24
Correspondence
1906-04-1906-09
Box 2 Folder 25
Correspondence
1906-10-1906-12
Stoneman, Bertha
Box 2 Folder 26
Correspondence
1907-01-1907-04
Box 2 Folder 27
Correspondence
1907-05-1907-12
Box 2 Folder 28
Correspondence
1908-01-1908-07
Box 2 Folder 29
Correspondence
1908-08-1908-12
Besant, Annie
Box 2 Folder 30
Correspondence
1909-01-1909-07
Box 2 Folder 31
Correspondence
1909-08-1909-12
Creator: Includes last will and testament of Hiram Corson
Box 2 Folder 32
Correspondence
1910
Box 2 Folder 33
Correspondence
1911-01-1911-07
Box 3 Folder 1
Correspondence
1911-08
Box 3 Folder 2
Correspondence
1911-09-1911-12
Box 3 Folder 3
Correspondence
1912
Box 3 Folder 4
Correspondence
1913-1915
Box 3 Folder 4
Correspondence
1920-1931
Box 3 Folder 5
Correspondence
1932-1956
Creator: Includes newspaper clippings and receipts.
Sjoegren, Signe
Box 3 Folder 6
Correspondence
Undated
Creator: Includes letter from Fannie Barrett Browning postponing an engagement with Mrs. Corson on account of husband's headache. Also contains newspaper clippings.
Browning, Fannie Barrett
McGraw Fiske, Jennie
Osler, William
Box 3 Folder 8
Horace Howard Furnace letters to Hiram Corson
1872-10-10-1909-06-02
Box 3 Folder 9
Letters from Joseph Henry
1850-1871
Box 3 Folder 10
Letters from F.J. Childs and George Allen
1867-1881
Box 3 Folder 11
Letters and clippings from H.R. Haweis
1893
Series II. Spiritualism Materials
Box 3 Folder 7
Letters from Louisa Andrews to the Corsons
1874-11-1876-02
Creator: Letters concerning spiritualism, merits of various mediums, spread of faith, and Olcott-Blavatsky partnership. Also includes letter to Andrews from JM Roberts calling into question the motives of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott.
Box 3 Folder 12
Letters from Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
1875-1878
Creator: Written by Blavatsky to Mrs. Caroline Corson (written in French and referring to Louisa Andrews), Alexander Akozokof introducing Mrs. Corson, and photostat of letter to Hiram.
Box 3 Folder 13
Letter to Madame Blavatsky from J. R. Buchanan
1875-08-29
Creator: Concerning articles on science and religion.
Box 3 Folder 13
Letter to Madame Blavatsky from Francis F. Lippitt
1875-03-03
Creator: Concerning the authenticity of the "materializations" in which Mr. and Mrs. Holmes and Dr. Child were involved; mentions the "deep disgrace" of Katie King; also refers to Professor Corson, Mrs. Andrews of Springfield, and Colonel Olcott.
Box 3 Folder 13
Letter to Madame Blavatsky from S. P. Stephens
1875-01-30
Creator: Concerning alleged spiritualist frauds of Henry T. Child. Refers to a couple named Holmes, to a Katie King, and a Mrs. White. Also signed by Francis J. Lippitt as witness
Box 3 Folder 14
Letters to Henry Steel Olcott from Emma H. Britten and J. M. Peebles
1875
Box 3 Folder 15
Letter to Hiram Corson from G.L. Ditson
1875-10-22
Box 3 Folder 15
Letters to Hiram Corson from V.A. Taylor
1876-01-12
Box 3 Folder 15
Letter to Hiram Corson from Luther Colby
1876-01-02
Creator: Luther Colby, editor of the Banner of Light, accepting for publication an article by Corsonattacking the American Theosophical Society
Box 3 Folder 15
Letters to Hiram Corson from Emilie G. Jones
1875
Creator: Emilie Jones, sister of Louisa Andrews, reporting on latter's health.
Box 3 Folder 15
Statement of William H. Westcott, concerning the seances of Mr. and Mrs. Holmes; witnessed by Francis J. Lippitt.
1875-01-31
Box 3 Folder 16
Letter from David Higham to Eugene R. Corson regarding Blavatsky photographs
1929-07-19
Box 3 Folder 17
Clippings and publications on spiritualism and Helena Blavatsky
1870-1890
Box 5 Folder 5
Photograph of Helena Blavatsky by Beardsley in Ithaca
1875
Series III. General Documents
Box 3 Folder 18
Clippings, notes, and printed material removed from scrapbook
Undated
Box 3 Folder 19
VI Centenaire de l'Universite de Montpelier
1891
Box 3 Folder 20-21
Printings and clippings removed from scrapbook number 1
1880-1892
Creator: Mainly programs and pamphlets relating to lectures or exhibits
Box 3 Folder 22
Xerox copy of "A Few Reminiscences of Robert Browning" from the Era
1908
Box 3 Folder 23
Fragments of material torn from scrapbook
Undated
Box 3 Folder 24
Information about Hiram Corson for Who's Who
1912
Box 3 Folder 25-26
Newspaper clippings
Undated
Box 3 Folder 27
Pamphlets and publications
Box 3 Folder 28
Clippings from scrapbook number 3, mainly regarding Ireland
1892
Box 3 Folder 29-31
Shakespeare pamphlets and clippings
1870-1895
Box 4 Folder 20
Printed material from scrapbook number 9
1860-1870
Box 4 Folder 21-22
Manuscripts from scrapbook number 30
1887-1890
Creator: Includes notes for a course on Robert Browning and clippings of reviews of Corson's book, and Corson's Readings fliers.
Box 4 Folder 23
Clippings and documents on Hiram Corson's death and will
1911
Box 4 Folder 24
Reviews and comments on "The Aims of Literary Study" by Hiram Corson
1895-1903
Box 4 Folder 25
Article about Robert Browning
1882
Box 4 Folder 26-27
Clippings and printed material relating to Hiram Corson's career
1862-1911
Box 4 Folder 28-29
Clippings and printed material from scrapbook number 1
1864-1874
Box 4 Folder 30
Clippings and articles
1860-1910
Box 4 Folder 31
University of Dublin Tercentenary
1892
Creator: Includes invitations and programs.
Box 4 Folder 33
Flier for Hiram Corson lecture
Undated
Box 4 Folder 34
Passport of Caroline Corson
1878-06-15
Box 5 Folder 1
Typescript of Wordsworth's Nature Philosophy
Undated
Box 5 Folder 2
Draft typescript of Wordsworth's Nature Philosophy
Undated
Box 5 Folder 3
Typescript of Whitman's Song of the Open Road
Undated
Box 5 Folder 4
Clipping from the Ithaca Journal on Cascadilla Cottage
1933-12-29
Box 6 Folder 2
Etching of Walt Whitman
Undated
Box 6 Folder 4
Printed sketch of Wordsworth
Undated
Box 6 Folder 9
Clippings from the Alumni News
1902
Series IV. Eugene Rollins Corson material
Box 3 Folder 32
Articles written by Eugene Corson
1881-1903
Box 4 Folder 1
Clippings relating to Corson's medical career
Undated
Box 4 Folder 2
Scrapbook items, invitations, and general documents
1867-1905
Creator: Includes typescript note from Burt Green Wilder
Box 4 Folder 3
Medical drawings, notes, and clippings
Undated
Creator: Includes 6 photographs of lepers from San Remo, Italy
Box 4 Folder 4
Lecture notes
1869-1872
Box 4 Folder 5
The Homeopathic Times
1880-07
Box 4 Folder 6
The Last Days with my Father manuscript
Undated
Box 4 Folder 7
Passport
1878-05-27
Box 4 Folder 8
Medical journals
1877-1916
Box 4 Folder 9
Quarterly Journal of Medicine
1911-1913
Box 4 Folder 10
Medical drawings
Undated
Box 4 Folder 11-12
Pamphlets written by Eugene
1890-1916
Creator: Includes some scrapbook miscellany.
Box 4 Folder 32
Clippings and printed material
1880-1910
Box 6 Folder 7-8
Medical drawings
1873-1906
Series V. Pauline Corson material
Box 4 Folder 13
Material from scrapbook number 2
Undated
Creator: Includes photographs of Pauline and others, Pauline's autograph book, and greeting cards
Box 4 Folder 14
Clippings and documents on the death of Pauline Corson and Caroline Corson
1874-1902
Box 4 Folder 15
Penmanship practice, French practice, and coloring book from scrapbook
Undated
Box 4 Folder 16
Drawings from scrapbook number 2
1855-1874
Box 4 Folder 16
Mounted plant speciments
1855-1874
Box 4 Folder 17
Drawings from scrapbook number 2
1855-1874
Box 4 Folder 18
Embroidered bookmarks and small samples from scrapbook number 2
1855-1874
Box 4 Folder 19
Paper dolls from scrapbook number 2
1855-1874
Series VI. Photographs
Box 5 Folder 6
Pictures of cathedrals and churches from scrapbook number 5
1880-1910
Box 5 Folder 7
Various friends and acquaintances
1870-1910
Box 5 Folder 7
Signed photograph of Robert Browning
1889-11-05
Box 5 Folder 7
Mary and Charles Cowden Clarke and Charles' home
1872-1881
Box 5 Folder 7
James Orchard Halliwell-Phillips and wife, and their house in Brighton, England
1880-1889
Box 6 Folder 3
James Orchard Halliwell-Phillips residence in Brighton, England
Undated
Box 5 Folder 8
Warren Holden
1874
Box 5 Folder 8
Friedrich August Leo
1888
Box 5 Folder 8
Horace Howard Furnace
Undated
Box 5 Folder 8
Edward Dowden
Undated
Box 5 Folder 8
William Benham
Undated
Box 5 Folder 8
Edwin Booth
Undated
Box 5 Folder 8
Charlotte Bronte, Arthur Bell Nicholls, Patrick Bronte, and Haworth buildings
1877
Creator: All purchased at /Haworth
Box 5 Folder 8
Alonzo Curtis Nichols
Undated
Box 5 Folder 8
Dr. Hiram Corson, uncle of Professor Corson
Undated
Box 6 Folder 3
Dr. Hiram Corson, uncle of Professor Corson
Undated
Box 5 Folder 9
Hotels, abbeys, castles, etc. in Europe
Undated
Box 5 Folder 10
Hiram Corson and photograph of painting of Caroline Rollins Corson
1880-1910
Box 5 Folder 11
Eugene Rollins Corson
Undated
Box 6 Folder 1
Eugene Rollins Corson and Hiram Corson together
Undated
Box 6 Folder 3
Photograph of House presented to the Corson's at Trinity College Commemoration
Undated
Box 6 Folder 4
Signed photograph of Walt Whitman
Undated
Box 6 Folder 5
Photographs of Hiram, Caroline, and Eugene Corson
1875-1903
Box 6 Folder 6
Photographs of x-rays
Undated
Mapcase Folder 4
Portrait photograph of Hiram Corson
1902
Scope and Contents
Formerly on display in the A.D. White library