Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers, 1850-1917
type: FindingAid
type: Document
conforms to: General International Standard for Archival Description
publisher: Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst
encoded as: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers, 1850-1917
topic: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
subject: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
has part: Biographical History for: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
topic: Series 1. Biographical Materials
subject: Series 1. Biographical Materials
topic: Series 2. Correspondence
subject: Series 2. Correspondence
topic: Series 3. Writings
subject: Series 3. Writings
topic: Series 4. Course Materials
subject: Series 4. Course Materials
topic: Series 5. Research Materials
subject: Series 5. Research Materials

General International Standard for Archival Description
type: Standard

Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst
type: Repository
type: Organization
type: Agent
country code: US
maintenance agency code: mu
is publisher of: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers, 1850-1917
administers: Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst
provides access to: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
provides access to: Series 1. Biographical Materials
provides access to: Series 2. Correspondence
provides access to: Series 3. Writings
provides access to: Series 4. Course Materials
provides access to: Series 5. Research Materials

Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst
type: SpatialThing
is administered by: Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers, 1850-1917
type: EAD
type: Document
description: Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Eric Steven Cartier. 2003-07-22
created: 2003-07-22
conforms to: Encoded Archival Description
conforms to: Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
encoding of: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers, 1850-1917

Encoded Archival Description
type: Standard

Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
type: Standard

Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
type: ArchivalResource
access provided by: Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst
level: recordgrp
identifier: FS 63
date: 1850-1917
date created accumulated string: 1850-1917
date created accumulated start: 1850
date created accumulated end: 1917
produced in: Creation of Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
date: 1880-1900
date created accumulated string: 1880-1900
date created accumulated start: 1880
date created accumulated end: 1900
extent: 14 archival boxes
extent: (5.5 linear ft.)
language: eng
language: ger
origination: Goessmann, Charles Anthony, 1827-1910
has biographical history: Biographical History for: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
acquisitions: Acquired from the Chemistry Department in 1974.
scopecontent: Scope and Contents of the Collection The papers of Charles A. Goessmann document his distinguished career as an agricultural chemist, author, and professor of chemistry. They consist of biographical materials, correspondence (mostly professional), handwritten drafts of addresses and articles, published reports, lecture notes, class records, proposed college curricula, notes taken by students, and handwritten research notes. Also included are materials that Goessmann collected in Germany before immigrating to America, his dissertation written at the University of Goettingen (1853), and a scrapbook containing newsclippings related to research. The largest part of the papers were generated between 1880 and 1900, the years Dr. Goessmann was most active at the Massachusetts Agricultural College and the period that he served as State Inspector of Fertilizers. The papers are arranged in five series, including Biographical Materials, Correspondence, Writings, Course Materials, and Research Materials.
access restrictions: The collection is open for research.
processing: Processed by Guy A. McLain Jr., 1983.
associated with: Agricultural chemistry--Massachusetts.
associated with: Chemists--Massachusetts.
associated with: Goessmann, Charles Anthony.
associated with: University of Massachusetts Amherst. Department of Chemistry.
associated with: University of Massachusetts Amherst--Faculty.
type: Aggregation
type: Collection
has part: Series 1. Biographical Materials
aggregates: Series 1. Biographical Materials
has part: Series 2. Correspondence
aggregates: Series 2. Correspondence
has part: Series 3. Writings
aggregates: Series 3. Writings
has part: Series 4. Course Materials
aggregates: Series 4. Course Materials
has part: Series 5. Research Materials
aggregates: Series 5. Research Materials

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Time of Creation of Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
type: Interval
timeline: universaltimeline
start: 1850
interval starts: http://reference.data.gov.uk/id/year/1850
P86i contains: http://reference.data.gov.uk/id/year/1850
end: 1917
interval ends: http://reference.data.gov.uk/id/year/1917
P86i contains: http://reference.data.gov.uk/id/year/1917
start: 1880
interval starts: http://reference.data.gov.uk/id/year/1880
P86i contains: http://reference.data.gov.uk/id/year/1880
end: 1900
interval ends: http://reference.data.gov.uk/id/year/1900
P86i contains: http://reference.data.gov.uk/id/year/1900

14 archival boxes
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label: (5.5 linear ft.)

Goessmann, Charles Anthony, 1827-1910
type: Agent
is origination of: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers

Biographical History for: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
type: BiographicalHistory
type: Document
type: DocumentPart
body: Biographical Note Charles Anthony Goessmann was born in Naumberg, Hessen Cassel, Germany on June 13, 1827. He received his early education at the Latin School in Fritzlar, and then entered the University of Goettingen in 1850. There he studied chemistry, botany, physics, geology, and mineralogy, and received his PhD in 1853. From 1852 to 1857 he occupied the position of assistant in the Royal Chemical University Laboratory, and in 1855 was appointed Privat Docent, and lectured in chemistry and pharmacy. In 1857 Goessmann left Goettingen, visited a number of universities and manufacturing establishments in Germany, Austria, France, and England, and then journeyed to the United States. In America, he accepted the position of chemist and subsequently manager of the Eastwich Brothers Sugar Refinery of Philadelphia. After leaving Philadelphia, he studied sugar refining methods in Cuba, and then accepted the position of chemist with the Onondaga Salt Company of Syracuse, New York. There he investigated improvements in the manufacture of salt, and served as professor of chemistry and physics at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy. In 1868 W. S. Clark, the President of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, invited him to fill the position of Professor of Chemistry. He accepted and remained in that position until his retirement in 1907. While serving at the Agricultural College he was elected Chemist to the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture, as well as State Inspector of Fertilizers in 1873 and subsequently an analyst to the State Board of Health. In 1882 he was appointed Director of the Massachusetts State Agricultural Experiment Station, an office he filled throughout its twelve year existence. In addition to these positions he was a member of several leading scientific societies including: the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists, an organization of which he was the first president; the American Chemical Society, which he served as president and…
topic: Goessmann, Charles Anthony, 1827-1910
subject: Goessmann, Charles Anthony, 1827-1910
is biographical history for: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
is part of: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers, 1850-1917

Agricultural chemistry--Massachusetts.
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Chemists--Massachusetts.
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Goessmann, Charles Anthony.
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Goessmann, Charles Anthony.
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University of Massachusetts Amherst. Department of Chemistry.
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University of Massachusetts Amherst--Faculty.
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focus: universityofmassachusettsamherst--faculty

Series 1. Biographical Materials
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
is aggregated by: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
access provided by: Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst
level: series
date: 1850-1917
date created accumulated string: 1850-1917
date created accumulated start: 1850
date created accumulated end: 1917
produced in: Creation of Series 1. Biographical Materials
extent: 3 boxes, 1 linear foot
scopecontent: This series contains various biographical materials and personal items of Charles Anthony Goessmann, including a biography by Dr. Tuckerman published in 1917, a testimonial volume, biographical sketches, patents, newsclippings, and miscellaneous items collected by him. Also included is the correspondence of Dr. Frederick Tuckerman concerning the preparation and publication of the Goessmann biography. Included in the biographical information are two short printed biographical sketches written by Dr. Tuckerman, dated 1911 and 1925, a biographical sketch and report on his accomplishments with the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station by J. B. Lindsey and a description of his involvement in agricultural chemistry by M. J. Ahern. There is also a paper on his work with the Salt Company of Onondaga in Syracuse by S. Francis Howard. In addition, Goessmann wrote several short sketches for various publications. These contain a considerable amount of information on his life in Germany as well as his family background. There are two volumes on the life of Dr. Goessmann, a testimonial and a biography. The testimonial contains obituaries, a newsclipping on the memorial service, a memorial service program, and biographical sketches by J. B. Lindsey and Dr. Frederick Tuckerman. The biography, published in 1917, is by Dr. Frederick Tuckerman. In the personal materials are folders of patents, contracts, tickets to various New England agricultural societies, photographs of Goessmann at the Massachusetts Agricultural College, tour books of Germany, information on organizations of which Goessmann was a member and miscellaneous material in German that Goessmann collected in Goettingen. Also collected here are a dissertation by John Hosea Washburn, a graduate student under Goessmann, and a list of foreign graduate students at Goettingen. Patents include inventions of waterproofing materials, methods of preparing waxed paper, and means for making paper impervious to water, grease, …

Series 2. Correspondence
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
is aggregated by: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
access provided by: Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst
level: series
date: 1850-1910
date created accumulated string: 1850-1910
date created accumulated start: 1850
date created accumulated end: 1910
produced in: Creation of Series 2. Correspondence
extent: 1 box, 0.5 linear feet
scopecontent: The general correspondence consists of letters to and from Charles Goessmann from 1850 to 1910. The bulk of the material dates from 1868, the year Goessmann came to the Massachusetts Agricultural College, to 1900. Documented here are his extensive activities as Professor of Agricultural Chemistry, his involvement with the administration of the college, and his activities as the State Inspector of Fertilizers. Of particular interest is the correspondence from W. S. Clark, President of the Massachusetts Agricultural College (1867-1879), concerning the appointment of Dr. Goessmann as Professor of Chemistry. There are four letters from Clark dated 3/16/1867, 3/23/1867, 11/22/1867, and 5/13/1868. Also of importance are a large number of letters, largely between the years of 1894 and 1897, from Henry Hill Goodell, Presidentof the College from 1886-1905; two letters dated 8/14/1894 and 1/8/1897 from W. H. Bowker, a member of the first graduating class and later a trustee; a letter from Senator Justin Morrill dated 10/23/1895; and several letters dated between 1892 and 1896 from William R. Sessions, secretary, State Board of Agriculture.

Series 3. Writings
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
is aggregated by: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
access provided by: Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst
level: series
date: 1853-1897
date created accumulated string: 1853-1897
date created accumulated start: 1853
date created accumulated end: 1897
produced in: Creation of Series 3. Writings
extent: 5 boxes, 2.5 linear feet
scopecontent: This series consists of Goessmann's addresses, manuscripts of articles, offprints of articles, his dissertation written at the University of Goettingen (1853), articles and reports in bound volumes, including reports on commercial fertilizers and bulletins by the Agricultural Experiment Station, and books which he both wrote and revised. The material dates from 1853 to 1897, but the bulk is from 1880 to 1895. Folders containing addresses consist of handwritten drafts prepared by Goessmann for speeches on agricultural chemistry. Most date from 1885 to 1899, but some documents are undated. His articles are also handwritten drafts dating from 1891 to 1896, with one undated. In the folders labeled "Offprints" are published articles on agricultural chemistry, published speeches, and annual reports written by Goessmann as State Inspector of Fertilizers. The four bound volumes are a combination of research papers in agricultural chemistry, reports on experiments performed at the College, annual reports on commercial fertilizers, annual reports of the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Experiment Station Bulletin. They are dated from 1860 to 1906. Experiment Station Bulletin No. 20, May, 1886, which was not included in the bound volumes, is located in the Offprints. Dr. Goessmann's books were written and compiled in Goettingen and at Amherst. His work from Goettingen includes a collection of printed articles (1850-1860) written by himself and students, and his inaugural dissertation of 1853. Dr. Goessmann's books from Amherst consist of two volumes of reports on commercial fertilizers from 1873 to 1885. There is also a copy of the book A Manual of Agriculture by George B. Emerson and Charles L. Flint, which Dr. Goessmann revised in 1885.

Series 4. Course Materials
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
is aggregated by: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
access provided by: Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst
level: series
date: 1870-1903
date created accumulated string: 1870-1903
date created accumulated start: 1870
date created accumulated end: 1903
produced in: Creation of Series 4. Course Materials
extent: 2 boxes, 0.75 linear feet
scopecontent: This series consists of Dr. Goessmann's handwritten lecture notes in agricultural chemistry, class records, proposed college curriculums, and notes taken from his lectures by students. The material is dated from 1870 to 1903, with a significant portion undated. Dr. Goessmann lectured in a variety of areas. Among those represented in this collection are lectures on Alcohol Radicals, Carbohydrates, Chemical Physics, Introductory Chemistry, Commercial Sources of Plant food, Derivations of Dryad Alcohol Radicals, Foddors, Hydrocarbons, Organic Chemistry, and The Relation of Atmosphere to Plant Life. Student notes included here were taken on Goessmann's Elementary Chemistry course in 1877-1878 by J. L. Hill and in 1878-1879 by S. C. Damon. Class records consists of student rolls, grades, and absence reports of Goessmann's classes in chemistry between 1879 and 1882.

Series 5. Research Materials
type: ArchivalResource
is part of: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
is aggregated by: Charles Anthony Goessmann Papers
access provided by: Special Collections and University Archives, W.E.B. Du Bois Library, University of Massachusetts Amherst
level: series
date: 1853-1907, n.d.
date created accumulated string: 1853-1907, n.d.
extent: 2 boxes, 1 linear foot
scopecontent: This series contains Dr. Goessmann's handwritten research notes, newsclippings related to his research, and offprints utilized in research. This material covers a broad period dating from 1853 to 1907. Dr. Goessmann retained a considerable number of handwritten research notes. Included in this collection are notes on Fertilizers, Geology, Salt, Tobacco, Beet Sugar, Milk, Peaches, and Sugar. Also included in this section are news-clippings related to Goessmann's research. Most of the material is not dated. Dr. Goessmann's collected offprints consist of printed articles written by others and retained by him in the process of his research. They are dated from 1853 to 1900 with some undated.

series
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P86i contains: http://reference.data.gov.uk/id/year/1917

3 boxes, 1 linear foot
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Creation of Series 2. Correspondence
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Time of Creation of Series 2. Correspondence
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start: 1850
interval starts: http://reference.data.gov.uk/id/year/1850
P86i contains: http://reference.data.gov.uk/id/year/1850
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1 box, 0.5 linear feet
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Creation of Series 3. Writings
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Time of Creation of Series 3. Writings
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5 boxes, 2.5 linear feet
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Creation of Series 4. Course Materials
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2 boxes, 0.75 linear feet
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2 boxes, 1 linear foot
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