Frederick Lewis Lewton papers, 1883-1898, Date acquired: 00/00/1988
Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Lewton, Frederick Lewis (1874-1959)
- Abstract:
- The collection consists of correspondence between Frederick Lewis Lewton and his family and friends circa 1883-1898.
- Extent:
- 0.84 Linear Feet
- 2 boxes
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
Frederick Lewis Lewton papers, USF Libraries - Tampa Special Collections, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
Background
- Scope and content:
Most of the correspondence concerns local and national events, as well as Lewton's accounts regarding his experiences at fledgling institutions, such as Rollins College, Drexel Institute, and Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Additionally, one item of correspondence (dated 6/25/1893 {Box 1, Correspondence – May-July, 1893 – 6/10}) written by Lewton goes into great detail regarding exhibits he encountered at the Chicago World's Fair, along with a couple of hand drawn diagrams.
- Biographical / historical:
Frederick Lewis Lewton (1874-1959) was briefly a student at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and Drexel University in Philadelphia; he acquired his B. A. from George Washington University in 1922. In the interim, he served as a curator for the Philadelphia Commercial Museum and as the curator for both the Division of Textiles (Department of Arts and Industries) and the Division of Medicine for the United States National Museum (now part of the Smithsonian). During his tenure there, Lewton did research and wrote reports concerning various strains of boll weevil-resistant strains of cotton. Additionally, he wrote The servant in the house: a brief history of the sewing machine, The cotton of the Hopi Indians: a new species of Gossypium, Samual Slater and the oldest machinery in America, and Kokia: A new genus of Hawaiian trees. Lewton received an honorary doctorate from Rollins College in 1930 and was appointed as their Archivist and Historian in 1951.
Sources:
Henson, Pamela M.(1999)."Objects of Curious Research": The History of Science and Technology at the Smithsonian. Isis, 90: p. S249-S269.
- Acquisition information:
Blanche Lewton (daughter of Frederick Lewis Lewton)
Donation.
- Arrangement:
Chronologically.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Terms of access:
None. The contents of the collection may be subject to copyright. Visit the United States Copyright Office's website at http://www.copyright.gov/ for more information.
- Preferred citation:
Frederick Lewis Lewton papers, USF Libraries - Tampa Special Collections, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.
- Location of this collection:
-
The University of South Florida, Tampa Campus4202 East Fowler Ave. LIB122TampaFL33620-5400USA
