Charles Darwin correspondence collection

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 4720

Scope and content

The Charles Darwin Correspondence Collection consists of photostatic reproductions of some 15,000 letters to or from Charles Darwin (1809-1882), the celebrated English naturalist. Originally assembled as part of the Darwin Correspondence Project (based in the Cambridge University Library, England), the collection covers the years from 1821 to 1882 and consists of photocopies of nearly all the known letters that Darwin wrote or received over the course of his life.

Dates

1821-1882.

Creator

Darwin Correspondence Project, (Compiler, Organization)
Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Boxes 53-62 are closed until processed.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

These photocopies may be consulted and research notes regarding their content may be made. However, the documents may not be copied, reproduced or published in any manner without the written permission of the Darwin Correspondence Project (Cambridge, England)..

Biographical / Historical

Staff of the Darwin Correspondence Project, beginning in 1974, systematically assembled these copies of original letters held in both institutional and private collections around the world. Beginning with the largest single collection of Darwin correspondence, the 9,000 letters in the Darwin Archive of the Cambridge University Library, England, project staff by 2006 had located and had photocopied 6,000 additional letters. As new letters continue to be found, photocopies of them will be added as well.

Extent

52 cubic feet. (52 cubic feet.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

Correspondence is arranged chronologically.

Reproduction Note

Type of reproduction--The photocopies in this collection are of the original manuscripts and were made by the individuals or institutions holding the originals. Transcriptions of these photocopies, made by staff of the Darwin Correspondence Project, form the digital archive that is the basis for both the online and the printed versions of the edited correspondence as published by the Darwin Correspondence Project.