Guide to the Hiram Corson Papers,
1842-1956.

Collection Number: 14-12-449

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3530
Fax: (607) 255-9524
rareref@cornell.edu
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:
Nancy Dean, et al.
Date completed:
1970-1985
EAD encoding:
Peter Martinez, March 2004

© 2004 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Hiram Corson papers, 1842-1956.
Collection Number:
14-12-449
Creator:
Hiram Corson 1828-1911.
Quantity:
4.8 cubic ft.
Forms of Material:
Letters, clippings, photographs, correspondence, scrapbooks.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
Materials relating to Corson's travels, life, and career.
Language:
Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

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

Names:
Corson, Hiram, 1828-1911.
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, d. 1400--Criticism and interpretation.
Child, Francis James, 1825-1896.
Clarke, Mary Cowden, 1809-1898.
Colman, Gould P.(Gould Patchin), 1926-
Corson, Caroline.
Corson, Eugene.
Curtis, George William.
Everett, Edward.
Fiske, Willard, 1831-1904.
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.
Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804-1864.
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894.
Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920.
Ingleby, 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.
Sjoegren, Signe.
Smith, Goldwin, 1823-1910.
Tennyson, Alfred Tennyson, 1809-1892--Criticism and interpretation.
White, Andrew Dickson, 1832-1918.
Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892.
Whittier, John Greenleaf, 1807-1924.
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924.
American Theosophical Society.
Cornell University--Faculty.
Cornell University--History.

Subjects:
Authors.
English literature.
Medicine.
Spiritualism.
Women mystics.
College teachers.

Places:
Ithaca (N.Y.)--Description.

Form and Genre Terms:
Drawings.
Photographs.
INFORMATION FOR USERS

Cite As:
Hiram Corson papers, #14-12-449. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
Link to the printed finding aid, containing some additional information. PDF file
NOTES

Related collection:Pauline Corson Coad. Reminiscences, #14-12-959.
CONTAINER LIST

Description
Container
Chronological Correspondence
1843-1876
Box 1
1877-1880
Box 2
1881-1894
Box 3
1895-1902
Box 4
1903-1907
Box 5
1908-1956 , undated, and miscellaneous
Box 6
Letters from Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson
Originally in scrapbook #6; 23 dated letters, 6 undated letters
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Nov. 20, 1874
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Dec. 2, 1874
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Dec. 4, 1874
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Dec. 8, 1874
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Dec. 15, 1874
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Dec. 22, 1874
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Dec. 28, 1874
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Jan. 16, 1875
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Jan. 27, 1875
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Feb. 19, 1875
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Feb. 26, 1875
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Mar. 16, 1875
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Mar. 23, 1875
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Apr. 13, 1875
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Apr. 25, 1875
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Aug. 12, 1875
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Aug 20, 1875
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Oct. 6, 1875
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Oct. 11, 1875
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Dec. 1, 1875
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Dec. 29, 1875
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Jan. 9, 1876
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Jan. 17, 1876
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Feb. 11, 1876
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Feb. 25, 1876
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Dec. 22, no year
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Mar. 25, (1875?)
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Oct. 16, (1875?)
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Dec. 14, no year
Box 8
Postcard From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Dec. 15, no year
Box 8
From Louisa Andrews to Hiram Corson, Dec. 26, (1875?)
Box 8
Lettter from Emilie G. Your, Springfield to Hiram Corson, May 21, 1875
Box 8
Lettter from Emilie G. Your, Springfield to Hiram Corson, n.d.
Box 8
Lettter from J. M. Robert to Mrs. Andrews, Aug. 9, 1875
Box 8
Letters to or from Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
Letter from S. P. Stephens, Philadelphia, January 30, 1875, to Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
 Box 8
3 sides; 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
From Francis J. Lippitt, Boston, March 3, 1875, to Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
 Box 8
2 sides; 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.
From J. R. Buchanan to Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, no place given, August 29, (1875?)
 Box 8
1 sides; concerning articles on science and religion.
To Caroline Rollin (Mrs. Hiram) Corson from Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, New York City, August 28, 1878
 Box 8
4 sides; saying that she has written to M. AksaJtov and referring to her friend, Mrs. Louisa Andrews. Typescript copy with pencilled corrections; in French.
To N. (M.?) Alexander N. Akozokof (Aksakov) , St. Petersburg, Russia from Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, August 28, 1878
 Box 8
2 sides; introducing Mrs. Corson. Typescript copy with pencilled corrections; in French.
Letters and other manuscripts pertaining to Madame Blavatsky
16 sides; Letters to Hiram Corson from Louisa Andrews, no place given (Springfield?, [Mass.?]) March 16, December 1, 1875; January 9, 1876
Box 8
Letter to Louisa Andrews from J. M. Roberts, Burlington, New Jersey, August 9, 1875
 Box 8
4 sides; calling into question the motives of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott.
Statement of William H. Westcott, Philadelphia, January 31, 1875
 Box 8
1 side; concerning the seances of Mr. and Mrs. Holmes; witnessed by Francis J. Lippitt.
Postcard sent to Hiram Corson in Ithaca from G. L. Ditson, Albany, New York, October 22, 1875
 Box 8
asking whether he had received item sent him by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky.
Letters and Miscellany Concerning Spiritualism
Spiritualism: photographs, biographical sketches of Madame Helen Petrovna Blavatsky, co-founder of the American Theosophical Society
Miscellaneous clippinngs on theosophy
 Box 6
Letters to Olcott from Emma Britten, October 4, 1875
Box 1
J.M.Peebles concerning current spiritualism controversy, September 25, 1875(?)
Box 1
Letters to Hiram Corson from V.A.Taylor, violently anti-Olcott, January 12, 1876
Box 1
Louisa Andrews, primarily about spiritualism, 1874-1876 , Springfield, Mass.
Box 1
Letters to Corson from Emilie Jones, sister of Louisa Andrews, reporting on latter's health, May 21, 1875 , Springfield
Box 1
Luther Colby, editor of the Banner of Light, accepting for publication an article by Corsonattacking the American Theosophical Society, January 2, 1876 , Boston
Box 1
A single letter from J.K.Robert, to Louisa Andrews expressing strongly anti-Olcott and anti-Blavatsky views, August 9, 1875 , Burlington, New Jersey
Box 1
Three letters of Madame Blavatsky (*one photostatic copy two typescript copies, both 8/28/l878; one to Mrs. Corson, one to Monsieur Akozokof)
Box 1
Letters dealing with spiritualsm controversy of 1874-1876, when Mr. and mrs. Nelsom Holmes, medius of Philadelphia, were esposed as frauds
Box 1
Letter to Madame Blavatsky from S. P. Stephens, l/30/75 3pp
 Box 1
Letter to Madame Blavatsky from Francis F. Lippitt, 3/3/75 2pp
 Box 1
Letter to Madame Blavatsky from J. R. Buchanan, 8/29/75? 1p
 Box 1
Letter to Hiram Corson from Q.L. Ditson 10/22/75
 Box 1
Letters to Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, partner of Madame Blavetsky, from Emma H. Britten, 10/4/75, and J.M. Peebles, Sept. 25, no year
Box 1
Letters to Hiram Corson from V.A. Taylor, 1/12/76
 Box 1
Letters, 1874-1875, from Lousa Andrews of Springfield, [Mass.?], concerning spiritualsm, merits of varioius mediums, spread of the faith, and Olcott-Blavatsky partnership;
Box 1
July 19, 1929 letter from David Hrpham? to Eugene Corson re: pictures to appear in Blavatsky book.
 Box 6
References to Corson's reminiscences of Robert Browning
Letter from Hiram Corson to son Eugene R. Corson, Feb. 16, 1906
 Box 5
"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, Pauline and the boys, Browning, Tennyson, Whitman, Longfellow, J. W. H. Myers, Mrs. Browning, and Mrs. White - eleven in all. I read for an hour and a quarter... Browning did the rapping during the reading... [His]raps were very loud, and sometimes there was a rapid succession of them, which I took to signify a special approval of what I was reading at the time - ... At the close of the reading there were loud raps by Browning which I took to signify his approval of the paper. It will make a chapter in my book of about 25 pages... " 4 pp.
Letter, HC to ERC, February 19, 1906
 Box 5
This letter refers again to his reading his Browning reminiscences at the seance and mentions that he has also read them to his "Sage Class" at Cornell. 8 pp.
Letter, HC to ERC, November 8, 1907:
 Box 5
Mentions receiving a letter from Lilian Whiting in Boston, informing him that the Authors' Club rooms would be opened for the first time on his birthday and asking him for a photograph to be framed "(along with an autograph page of some lines of ray own about Browning's ideal of the great function of poetry). " Adds that the next day he sent the photograph and "wrote on a page of my large letter paper what I under-stand to be Browning's ideal... " No reference to reminiscences, published or MSS. 8 pp.
Letter, HC to ERC, November 2, 1909:
 Box 6
Mentions that Hiss Lilian Whiting is in Ithaca and that he has had to give her much attention. Again no Browning reference. 8 pp.
Letters from Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson
Autographed photograph of Horace Howard Furness, n.d.
Box 7
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, October 10, 1872
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, October 21, 1872
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, November 3, 1872
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, January 21, 1873
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, [Between January 21 and February 9, 1873]
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, February 9, 1873
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, August 20, 1873
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, September 7, 1873
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, [Between September 7 and 19, 1873]
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, September 19, 1873
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, December 19, 1873
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, January 17, 1874
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, February 17, 1874
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, March 3, 1874
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, April 20, 1874
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, June 14, 1874
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, November 22, 1874
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, April 30, 1875
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, May 30, 1875 (2 pp.)
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, September 6, 1875
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, January 16, 1876
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, September 3, 1876
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, October 3, 1876
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, November 18, 1876
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, November 28, [1876?]
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, November 28, [1876?]
Box 1
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, March 16, 1877
Box 2
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, May 13, 1877
Box 2
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, May 13, T877 (to Fleay re Corson)
Box 2
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, May 13, 1877 (to Wright re Corson)
Box 2
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, May 13, 1877 (to Collier re Corson)
Box 2
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, April 24, [1879]?
Box 2
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, November 16, 1879
Box 2
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, December 14, 1879
Box 2
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, November 28, 1881 (to Dr. Barnard of of Columbia U. re
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, November 28, 1881 Corson)
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, November 14, 1883
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, September 15, 1884
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, October 1, 1.884
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, December 29, 1884
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, February 4, 1885
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, October 2, 1885
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, October 6, 1885
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, October 7, 1885
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, April 30, 1886
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, May 6, 1886
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, July 10, 1886
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, December 25, 1886
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, c. December, 1886
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, February 6, 1889
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, March 31, 1889
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, March 31, 1889 (to Dr. Leo re Corson)
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, September 10, 1890
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, November 2, 1890
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, January 11, 1891
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, March 16, 1891
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, March 30, 1891
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, April 9, 1891
Box 3
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, March 23, 1892
Box 4
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, January 18, 1898
Box 4
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, November 30, 1899
Box 4
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, October 18, 1901
Box 4
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, November 17, 1901
Box 4
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, January 14, 1902
Box 4
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, December 22 , 1902
Box 4
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, January 6, 1903
Box 5
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, November 15, 1903
Box 5
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, April 26, 1909
Box 5
Horace Howard Furness to Hiram Corson, June 2, 1909
Box 6
Letters from Henry W. Longfellow to Caroline R. Corson
Henry W. Longfellow to Caroline R. Corson, Nov. 30, 1854
Box 1
Gratified to learn she is translating "Hyperion" into French. Would like to read it all if his eyes were in better condition - but to send part for his perusal
Henry W. Longfellow to Caroline R. Corson, Mar. 9 1855
Box 1
Regrets his publisher declined the translation on grounds of expense of printing in foreign language. Information about certain poems. Grieved about misfortuen which has befallen them. Hopes her school will flourish.
Henry W. Longfellow to Caroline R. Corson, May 15, 1855
Box 1
Glad she found publisher in N.Y. for "Hyperion" will gladly look at proof sheets
Henry W. Longfellow to Caroline R. Corson, June 15, 1855
Box 1
Offers use of his name if it will be of any service.
Selected letters
Nathaniel Hawthorne Feb. 17, 1864 letter
 Box 11
Hawthorne thanks Corson for gift of Chaucer's "Legende of Goode Women" edited by Corson with hopes expressed for American edition of Chaucer's "Canterbury Pilgrims" edited in same manner.
James Russell Lowell to "My Dear Child" Oct. 24, 1867
 Box 11
Regrets delay in publishing Mr. Corson 's work and gladly would double subscription if it would help, (torn and mended)
Robert Browning, July 14, 1881 letter
 Box 11
Writes to set convenient time to call.
Robert Browning, June 22, 1882
 Box 11
Invitation to Prof, and Mrs. Corson to lunch with only Robert and sister.
Robert Browning, Dec. 28, 1886
 Box 11
Letter of thanks probably re INTRODUCTION, explanations of two notes and expresses sincere appreciation.
Robert Browning, November 5, 1889
 Box 11
Autographed photograph.
Fannie Barrett Browning, undated
 Box 11
Postponing an engagement with Mrs. Corson on account of husband's headache.
Walt Whitman, April 13, 1886
 Box 11
Acknowledging letter, sending J. Burroughs NOTES to C. , mentions Woodruff's visit to him.
Woodrow Wilson, Nov. 18, 1908
 Box 11
Birthday congratulations.
John Burrough's Notes on Walt Whitman (2nd ed.) 1871
 Box 11
Sent to Carson by Whitman, see April 13, 1886 letter.
5 envelopes (4 stamped, 1 stampless)
 Box 11
Other Materials
Printed Material; Writings, of Hiram Corson; Photos
Box 7
Lecture Notes
Box 9
Clippings, Photos, Printed Material
Box 10