Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Cogswell, Henry D. (Henry Daniel), 1820-1900
- Abstract:
- The collection contains diaries of Henry Cogswell and his wife Caroline and are an unusually long and consistent record of busy personal and financial life in the western United States. The collection also contains Cogswell's financial and business records, and materials on the various schools with which he was involved. A significant portion of the collection consists of research materials of Loren B. Taber pertaining to Henry and Caroline Cogswell, the history of dentistry in California, and a biography of William Brown Gilden.
- Extent:
- Number of containers: 6 boxes, 2 cartons Linear feet: 3.3
- Language:
- Collection materials are in English
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The diaries of Henry and his wife Caroline cover 37 years (1860-1897) and are an unusually long and consistent record of busy personal and financial life in the West, including travels and the transactions of day to day life. In addition to the diaries, the collection contains Cogswell's financial and business records, including tax receipts, deeds, mortgages, legal documents, and mining certificates. Material on the various schools with which Cogswell was involved, and information and correspondence about the various fountains and statues Cogswell donated is also included.
Another significant portion of this collection is research done by Loren B. Taber pertaining to Henry and Caroline Cogswell, the history of dentistry in California, and a biography on William Brown Gilden, as well as a reference file of index cards for the Cogswell material and for Taber's correspondents re Cogswell.
- Biographical / historical:
-
California pioneer, Henry D. Cogswell was a dentist by profession, an inventor, a real estate manipulator and investor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, temperance advocate, and founder of Cogswell Polytechnic College (1887), the first engineering institute west of St. Louis. Dr. Cogswell donated several statues of himself, as well as numerous fountains, to the city of San Francisco.
- Acquisition information:
- The Henry D. Cogswell Papers were donated to The Bancroft Library in two installments, in December 1983 and in May 1987, by his grandson, Professor Richard D. Taber.
- Physical location:
- 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