Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Laplace, Pierre Simon, marquis de, 1749-1827
- Abstract:
- Includes scientific papers, published and unpublished; texts of formal scientific projects; correspondence, both scientific and personal; political papers; papers related to personal matters ranging from business accounts to household receipts; the correspondence of Madame Laplace, including hundreds of letters exchanged with her family and with Princess Elisa, Napoleon's sister; also includes hundreds of letters exchanged with scientists and their spouses, letters related to Madame Laplace's appointment as Lady-in-Waiting, and letters from members of the Bonaparte family; the papers of the son, Charles Emile Laplace, including hundreds of letters exchanged between mother and son and many letters from major French figures of the time; records pertaining to Laplace's father, Pierre de Laplace of Beaumont-en-Auge (Normandy), who died in 1788.
- Extent:
- Number of containers: 32 boxes Linear feet: 12.8
- Language:
- Collection materials are in French
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Includes scientific papers, published and unpublished; texts of formal scientific projects; correspondence, both scientific and personal; political papers; papers related to personal matters ranging from business accounts to household receipts; the correspondence of Madame Laplace, including hundreds of letters exchanged with her family and with Princess Elisa, Napoleon's sister; also includes hundreds of letters exchanged with scientists and their spouses, letters related to Madame Laplace's appointment as Lady-in-Waiting, and letters from members of the Bonaparte family; the papers of the son, Emile Laplace, including hundreds of letters exchanged between mother and son and many letters from major French figures of the time; records pertaining to Laplace's father, Pierre de Laplace of Beaumont-en-Auge (Normandy), who died in 1788.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Pierre Simon Laplace (1749-1827) was France's premier astronomer and mathematician for over half a century spanning the period of the French Revolution. He was also a prominent public figure and was named Minister of Interior in 1799 by Napoleon.
See Roger Hahn, Pierre Simon Laplace, 1749-1827: A Determined Scientist (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2005).
- Acquisition information:
- The Pierre Simon Laplace Papers were purchased from Aux Amateurs de Livres, Paris, France, by The Bancroft Library in December 1988.
- Physical location:
- Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft LibraryBerkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
- Contact:
- 510-642-6481