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Abstract

This collection of Robert Patterson family papers is composed primarily of the letters of Robert Maskell Patterson, but includes some of the business and personal papers of his father, Robert, and a series of letters written from Europe in 1855 by Helen Patterson.

Background note

Robert Maskell Patterson was a professor of natural philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania and director of the U.S. Mint. His father, Robert Patterson, was a revolutionary soldier and mathematician. He taught mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania, 1779-1814, and was the director of the U.S. Mint, 1805-1824.

Collection information

Provenance

Deposited by Louis R. [Louise Lord], 08/19/1978; accessioned, 1981 (1981 1201ms).

General physical description

Ca. 600 items.

Early American History Note

Previously catalogued with the Robert Patterson Collection, The Patterson-Lord Collection contains contains a range of documents that touch on many different topics, although most have to do with science and engineering. The largest portion of the documents relate to scientific correspondence to Robert Patterson, a member of the APS. Much of this correspondence is done under the cover of official APS business. Of particular note are a series of letters relating to nautical calculations that include complex equations used to determine longitude and latitude for nautical almanacs.

Indexing Terms

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