Gerow D. Brill papers, 1884-1924.
Collection Number: 1379

Agricultural economist.

Cornell University Class of 1888.

Restricted use of map due to fragile state

Gerow D. Brill papers, #1379. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.

Correspondence, diaries, accounts, and manuscript articles and reports, pertaining chiefly to Brill's work in Wuchang, China, as head of the Hupeh Agricultural College and Experimental Farm and as a scientific explorer for the United States Department of Agriculture (1897-1901) and later in a similar capacity with the Department of Public Instruction on the Philippine Islands (1901-1902); includes a diary-cash account book (1899) kept by Brill while he was head of the Hupeh Agricultural College and Experiment Farm containing comments on agricultural and industrial education in China, the presence of Japanese and German influence, and the punishment of criminals, and a detailed description of a visit to Wuchang by a Chinese prince; correspondence, including a few letters to Brill regarding agricultural education and poultry raising and mounting for shipment in China, Brill's proposed trip to explore the Upper Yangtze Valley, his safety and activities during the Boxer Rebellion, Hong Kong in 1900, life in the Philippines and Portugese West Africa as witnessed by two missionaries, and literature available in the United States on practical agricultural schools (1902); and miscellaneous papers. Also included are lecture notebooks from Cornell (1884-1888); pamphlets, newspapers, and other printed materials, many of which are in Chinese; Chinese grammar notebooks; 409 glass negatives (4 x 5" and 5 x 7") of China and the Philippines, b/w prints; and other items.

Correspondence is with or about Fred W. Atkinson, Liberty Hyde Bailey, W. C. Bell, George M. Brill, William Addison Brown, Chang Chi Tung, T. T. Chang, Frederick V. Coville, John C. Ferguson, Cyrus David Foss, John Gilmore, E. W. Hilgard, George N. Lauman, Frank Lamson-Scribner, Albert R. Mann, Sidney C. Partridge, George T. Powell, Gilbert Reid, Isaac P. Roberts, Jacob Gould Schurman, John L. Stone, William Howard Taft, James Wilson, American Rights League, Briarcliff Manor School of Practical Agriculture and Horticulture, Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Philafrican League.

Boxes 12-22 are closed for digitization project.

Glass plate negatives in boxes 12-22 were assigned sequential numbers beginning at 1 in box 12 and ending at 995 in box 22 for digitization purposes. These numbers are in pencil, and as much as possible, are located on the bottom right corner of the envelopes. These numbers are different from the numbers that Gerow Brill assigned to the negatives.