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Dr. William Darlington Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 022
This collection is divided into four (4) series. Series 1: Correspondence contains three of Darlington’s four letterbooks: Volume I (1805-1837), Volume II (1837-1845), and Volume IV (1852-1862). [Note: Volume III (1845-1852) is in the collection of the Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, PA]. The letters include those to several U. S. Presidents and political figures, leading American and European botanists, and many local historical figures. Indexes to the letterbooks; original letters to his son, Thomas Darlington; and drafts of letters in progress complete the series. Series 2: Essays and Speeches contains a journal of Essays and Speeches written and delivered by Darlington between 1801 and 1848 as well as an index to the volume. Series 3: Personal Papers contains photocopies of Darlington’s lecture notes taken at the University of Pennsylvania medical school; his published dissertation; an autobiographical sketch composed in 1849; two commonplace books dated 1801 and 1802; photographs; ephemera; and a partial photocopy of Darlington’s will. Series 4: Published Materials contains newspaper clippings related to Darlington’s library and botanical pursuits; a copy of Elizabeth Montgomery’s Reminiscences of Wilmington (1851) including extensive annotations made by Darlington; and an edition of Darlington’s Flora Cestrica (1837) with many interleaved manuscript notes.

Dates

  • 1782-1863
  • 1801-1862

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research

Extent

3.00 Boxes

Abstract

Dr. William Darlington (1782-1863) was a physician, botanist, politician, businessman, and philanthropist from West Chester, PA. Darlington earned a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He practiced medicine, wrote books on botany, served as President of the Bank of Chester County, and ran successfully for three terms as a U. S. Congressman. The collection includes Darlington’s correspondence with many prominent political and botanical figures of his time; speeches and essays composed by Darlington; commonplace books, and ephemeral items.

Arrangement Items are arranged chronologically whenever possible within each series.

Processing Information

Processed by Ron McColl
Title
Dr. William Darlington Papers
Author
Ron McColl
Description rules
dacs
Language of description
eng

Repository Details

Part of the West Chester University Archives Repository

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