Hartshorn-Bolles Microscope Slide Collection, 19th century

Summary

Creators:

Bolles, Edwin C (Edwin Cortland), 1836-1920 and Hartshorn, Carl L. (Carl Larrabee), 1892-1966

Abstract:

The Hartshorn-Bolles Microscopy Slide Collection consists of one wooden cabinet of approximately 2000 microscope slides produced in the mid to late 19th century. The slides are a varied collection of mounts by various preparers and retailers, covering a range of subjects including diatoms, polysoa (bryosoan), minerals, human and animal histology, insects and insect histology, pollen and seeds, plant histology, and petrology.

Extent:

3 Linear Feet

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Hartshorn-Bolles Microscope Slide Collection (LA 2020.0306). Research Library, San Diego Natural History Museum.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of one wooden cabinet of approximately 2000 microscope slides produced in the mid to late 19th century. The slides are a varied collection of mounts by various preparers and retailers, covering a range of subjects including diatoms, polysoa (bryosoan), minerals, human and animal histology, insects and insect histology, pollen and seeds, plant histology, and petrology.

Biographical / historical:

The Hartshorn-Bolles Microscope Collection was assembled by Reverend E. C. Bolles (1836-1920), Universalist minister and professor of English and American Literature at Tufts College. He used the slides in his natural history lectures. Carl L. Hartshorn (1891-1966), who worked for Bolles while Hartshorn was a student at Tufts, received the collection from Bolles and donated it to the San Diego Natural History Museum in 1963. Among the notable preparers/retailers of the microscope slides are E. W. Wheeler, Joseph Bourgogne, Charles Collins, and M. C. Cooke.

Physical facet:

1 cabinet of 50 drawers, arranged in two sets of 25.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Microscopy -- History

Names:

Bolles, Edwin C. (Edwin Cortland), 1836-1920
Hartshorn, Carl L. (Carl Larrabee), 1892-1966

Restrictions:

The collection is open to researchers by appointment. Contact the Research Library Director, San Diego Natural History Museum.

Terms of access:

Copyright may be reserved. Consult the San Diego Natural History Museum Research Library Director for more information.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Hartshorn-Bolles Microscope Slide Collection (LA 2020.0306). Research Library, San Diego Natural History Museum.

Location of this collection:

San Diego Natural History Museum Research Library

1788 El Prado, Balboa Park

San Diego, CA 92101, US

Contact:

(619) 255-0225

library@sdnhm.org

Website

Summary

Extent:

3 Linear Feet

Background

Scope and content:

Selections from the collection have been digitized.

Selections from the Hartshorn-Bolles Collection of Victorian Microscope Slides