Draper Family Collection
name: label: Creator
content: Draper, John William, 1811-1882
label: Creator
content: Draper, Henry, 1837-1882
label: Creator
content: Draper, John Christopher, 1835-1885 (chemist)
label: Creator
content: Draper, Daniel, 1841-1931 (meteorologist)
label: Creator
content: Mora, José Maria, ca. 1846-1926
label: Creator
content: Nye, Dorothy Catherine Draper
label: Creator
content: University of the City of New York
label: Creator
content: New York Meteorological Observatory.
topic: label: Topic
content: Spectrum analysis
label: Topic
content: Scientists
label: Topic
content: Astronomy
label: Topic
content: Astronomers
label: Topic
content: Astronomical photography
label: Topic
content: Physical sciences
label: Topic
content: Physicians
label: Topic
content: Photographers
label: Topic
content: Meteorology
label: Topic
content: Chemists
label: Topic
content: Chemistry
label: Topic
content: Photography
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Deeded to the Smithsonian Institution by John William Christopher Draper and James Christopher Draper on January 2, 1972.
creator: label: Creator
content: Draper, John William, 1811-1882
label: Creator
content: Draper, Henry, 1837-1882
label: Creator
content: Draper, John Christopher, 1835-1885 (chemist)
label: Creator
content: Draper, Daniel, 1841-1931 (meteorologist)
label: Creator
content: Mora, José Maria, ca. 1846-1926
label: Creator
content: Nye, Dorothy Catherine Draper
label: Creator
content: University of the City of New York
label: Creator
content: New York Meteorological Observatory.
setName: label: See more items in
content: Draper Family Collection
abstract: label: Summary
content: Miscellaneous documents and photographs related to the scientific careers of members of the Draper family. Includes publications of the University of the City of New York, with which the Drapers were associated, reprints of papers by John William Draper, F. Melloni, John C. Draper, and Henry Draper, publications of the New York Meteorological Observatory, photographs of the observatory, rare scientific photographs, including photomicrographs (paper prints) by the Drapers, correspondence addressed to Daniel Draper, certificates, diplomas, and other documents.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: The Draper family made a number of important contributions to American science, particularly in the fields of meteorology, astronomy, and chemistry during the 19th and early 20th centuries. John William Draper (1811-1882), primarily a chemist, did pioneer work in photography, and on the chemical effects of radiant energy.  He took the first photograph of the moon in 1839-1840 and the first photograph of the diffraction spectrum. 

Draper's three sons also did notable work.  John C. Draper (1835-1885) was a noted Physician and chemist. Henry Draper (1837-1882) was an early astronomical photographer and also did work on stellar spectra and spectrum analysis.  Daniel Draper (1841-1931) was a meteorologist and established the New York Meteorological Observatory in Central Park in 1868.  He served as its first director until 1911.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 4.3 Cubic feet (13 boxes)
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1826-1936
custodhist: label: Custodial History
content: Transferred from the Division of Physical Sciences, 1984 (now the Division of Medicine and Science).
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0121
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Wills
label: Type
content: Certificates
label: Type
content: Photomicrographs
label: Type
content: Reprints
label: Type
content: Photographs
label: Type
content: Lectures
label: Type
content: Diplomas
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged into five series.

Series 1: Draper Family, 1829-1936

Series 2: John W. Draper, 1811-1936

Series 3: Henry Draper, 1837-1882

Series 4: Daniel Draper, 1841-1931

Series 5: John Christopher Draper, 1835-1885
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Processed by Robert S. Harding, archivist, 1984.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Wills
label: Genre/Form
content: Certificates
label: Genre/Form
content: Photomicrographs
label: Genre/Form
content: Reprints
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- 19th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- 1840-1850
label: Genre/Form
content: Lectures
label: Genre/Form
content: Diplomas
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: This collection contains materials that revolve around the scientific interests, research, and professional activities of John W. Draper and his three sons. The materials are as diverse in subject as were these four men, with meteorology, solar observation, astronomy, chemistry, and optical science all represented.   The collection contains a large number of separate journal issues and articles on these subjects as well as publications of the University of the City of New York, with which the Drapers were associated, mainly covering the periods of 1835, 1838, 1852, and publications of the New York Meteorological Observatory (NYMO), 1876.   Included among the NYMO materials are correspondence addressed to Daniel Draper, some acknowledging receipt of publications from NYMO, circa 1892-1908, and photographs of NYMO. The collection also contains reprints of John William Draper, circa 1844-1877; M. Melloni, "A Radiation of Incandescence and Elementary Colors," 1848; John C. Draper, 1856; and reprints of Henry Draper, 1873, 1882. 

Also included in the collection are some of the Draper's  notebooks, lecture notes, experiment literature and notebooks, and experimental photographs concerning the Draper's professional endeavors in meteorology, chemistry, and astronomy in the late 19th century.  There are also a number of materials relating to biographical information on the Draper family, including a substantial number of certificates and diplomas received by the Drapers.  In addition, there is personal correspondence, articles on the members of the family, and a copy of Dorothy Catherine Draper Nye's will.  While most of the documents are originals, the collection also contains many photocopied or reproduced documents. 

A photograph by Mora in the collection, marked "J.W. Draper," does not appear to depict the same man as in Neg. No. 52,757.