Draper Manuscripts: John Cleves Symmes Papers, 1791-1846

Summary Information

Title: Draper Manuscripts: John Cleves Symmes Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1791-1846

Creators:
  • Symmes, John Cleves, 1742-1814
  • Symmes, John Cleves, 1780-1829
Call Number: Draper Mss WW

Quantity: 0.8 cubic feet (4 volumes)

Repository:
Archival Locations:
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:
Papers of two men, an uncle and a nephew, bearing the same name. The elder John Cleves Symmes (1742-1814) was a prominent political and military figure in New Jersey and later a judge, pioneer, and land developer in the Northwest Territory. The younger John Cleves Symmes (1780-1829) was a military man and settler along the Mississippi River. The bulk of the collection deals with the younger Symmes and his work to promote his “concentric spheres” theory, which held that the earth was composed of concentric spheres with a habitable interior which could be entered at either pole.

Note:

Descriptions of the volumes are copied from the Guide to the Draper Manuscripts / by Josephine Harper. Out of date and offensive language may be present.

This collection is also available as a microfilm publication.

Forms part of the Lyman Copeland Draper Manuscripts. The fifty series included in the Draper Manuscripts have been cataloged individually. See the Draper Manuscripts Overview, and the Guide to the Draper Manuscripts / by Josephine Harper (Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1983) for further information.

There is a restriction on use to this material; see the Administrative/Restriction Information portion of this finding aid for details.



Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-draper0ww
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