Arrangement

Indexing Terms

Series 1. Correspondence.

Scope and Content:

Correspondence is divided into ten categories, the first being general correspondence, primarily concerning specimen identification and exchange. The remaining 9 categories are organized by research projects which are associated with the publication of research findings. See Series 2: Research Papers and Series 3: Manuscripts & Typescripts for related material.

Subseries 1a: General Correspondence

Consists of letters to and from Britton over the course of his career. Correspondents in this section may also have material in other categories that follow. Correspondents include Liberty Hyde Bailey, Charles E. Bessey, Alphonse de Candolle, Frederick Coville, Job Bicknell Ellis, William Farlow, Asa Gray, Albert S. Hitchcock, William Kellerman, Otto Kuntze, Auguste Langlois, James Macoun, William Maxon, Elmer Drew Merrill, Thomas Morong, Charles Peck, Thomas Conrad Porter, Sir David Prain, Charles Sprague Sargent, Roland Thaxter, William Thistleton-Dyer, and William Trelease.

Subseries 1b: Scientific Survey of Puerto Rico

This correspondence relates to the Scientific Survey of Puerto Rico and falls into five time periods, 1913-23; 1923-26; 1926-30; 1930-32; and 1932-34. Files are alphabetically ordered within each period. Subject matter includes the planning and progress of the survey, coordination of research efforts, botanical collections, and official communications, including that with the government of Puerto Rico.

Subseries 1c: Cactus Investigation Correspondence

There are 13 files concerning fieldwork and composition of Dr. Britton's collaboration with Joseph Nelson Rose from 1911 to 1925 of The Cactaceae (1919-24). J. N. Rose and Daniel T. MacDougal are the primary correspondents.

Subseries 1d: Britton & Brown Illustrated Flora

There are 15 files of correspondence, chiefly with Addison Brown, co-author of An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions (1896-98). Subject matter includes the planning, financing, and composition of the work, including contractual agreements with Scribner's & Sons. Also present is Brown's own correspondence with Willis S. Blatchley, Robert G. Leavitt, John Kunkel Small, Charles Eastwick Smith, and R. Weber.

Subseries 1e: The Bahama Flora

Consists of 7 files of correspondence.

Subseries 1f: The Bermuda Flora

Consists of 7 files of correspondence with Charles F. Millspaugh and others, with an accompanying map of Andros Island.

Subseries 1g: The Flora of Jamaica

Consists of 15 files of correspondence with William Fawcett, William Harris and others, organized chronologically. Two files contain papers related to the establishment of an NYBG Tropical Research Station in Jamaica.

Subseries 1h: The Flora of Northern South America

Consists of 19 files of correspondence with Benjamin L. Robinson and others.

Subseries 1i: Abram's Pacific States Flora

Consists of 3 files, one of which contains lists of photographic electrotypes for illustrations in Abram's work

Subseries 1j: Flora Borinquena

Consists of 9 files of correspondence with Frances W. Horne, her husband Charles E. Horne, Rafael A. Toro, and Carlos E. Chardon regarding the publication, financing, and illustration of Dr. Britton's unfinished work on the flora of Puerto Rico.

Series 2. Research Papers.

Scope and Content:

The research papers fall into six categories: (a) Scientific Survey of Puerto Rico; (b) Catalogue of the Flora of Cuba; (c) Flora of Northern South America; (d) Nomenclature; (e) Miscellaneous; and (f) Field Notebooks. They contain committee minutes, reports, botanical notes, catalogues, descriptions, and keys.

Subseries 2a: Scientific Survey of Puerto Rico

Research papers in this series consist of minutes of the Puerto Rico Committee of the New York Academy of Science (1913-34), minutes of the Committee on Mineral Resources of Puerto Rico (1932-34), and assorted topics relating to the botany of Puerto Rico.

Subseries 2b: Catalogue of the Flora of Cuba

Consists of three files of notes on species.

Subseries 2c: Flora of Northern South America

There are 2 files containing an outline of the project and a report on an expedition to Columbia in 1922.

Subseries 2d: Nomenclature

This material consists of correspondence, meeting minutes, circular bulletins, and notes pertaining to the Committee on Nomenclature of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) covering the years from 1892 to 1929 (6 files). There are 2 files of material relating to the International Botanical Congresses of 1892 (Genoa) and 1905 (Vienna), and one containing the constitution of the Botanical Society of America.

Subseries 2e: Miscellaneous.

Consists of three files of material.

Series 3. Manuscripts & Typescripts.

Scope and Content:

There are seven categories of material based on localities of botanical research: (a) Botany of Puerto Rico; (b) Britton & Brown Illustrated Flora; (c) Catalogue of the Flora of Cuba; (d) Flora of Northern South America; (e) Flora of Jamaica, and (f) Flora Borinquena. The last category (g) Notes on Polygala, is a genus study. Contents include annotated and edited typescripts, manuscript notes, and information on related work by other authors.

Subseries 3a: The Botany of Puerto Rico

Consists of 8 files of manuscript notes on the flora of Puerto Rico published as Part 4 of The Scientific Survey of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands. There are typescripts of Joyce Hedrick's work on lichens and J. George Harrar's work on schizomycetes.

Subseries 3b: Britton and Brown's Illustrated Flora

This is a typescript of the first edition of this work published in three volumes from 1896-1898. The typescript is edited, with pasted line illustrations that accompany descriptions that are arranged by family. The typescript generally follows the format and sequences in the published volumes. See also drawings for the second edition (1913) of this work located in the NYBG Art & Illustration collection.

Subseries 3c: Catalogue of the Flora of Cuba

This consists of 64 files containing a catalogue of species descriptions correlated with literature citations and plate numbers. In some cases dichotomous keys accompany the text. There is also a revised typescript and a Spanish translation. Percy Wilson and Brother Leon are named as contributors.

Revised typescript, Spanish version, pages 243-404
Spanish version with some revisions, pages 1-162
Spanish version with some revisions, pages 243-404
Spanish version with some revisions, miscellaneous pages

Subseries 3d: Flora of Northern South America

There is one file on the family Caesalpinaceae.

Subseries 3e: The Flora of Jamaica

There are 12 files of edited typescript with contents organized by family, with habitat descriptions and literature citations.

12 files

Subseries 3f: Flora Borinquena

There are 19 files organized into 12 "batches" containing descriptions of plant anatomy, organized by family. There are also a duplicate copy entitled the "Frances Horne copy" and a "numbered copy" of which pages 1 to 198 are missing. There is an alphabetic list of species identified in the text, a published prospectus, introductory notes, and systematic descriptions.

7 files

12 files

4 files

Subseries 3g: Notes on Polygala

Consists of 3 files of notes on species of with literature citations.

3 files

Series 4. Lectures.

Scope and Content:

This series consists of 4 files containing lecture notes on tropical and native plants in the NYBG collection, public education announcements, a dinner program, and a syllabus to courses given at the NYBG and Columbia University.

Series 5. Photography.

Scope and Content:

The photography consists of phytogeographical studies of insular, coastal, and montane vegetation of New Zealand, with descriptive notes, taken in 1902 by L. Cockayne; a photo album of the Botanic Garden of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, taken by F. Lawson-Scribner in 1903; and one file of personal photos.

Made by F. Lamson-Scribner

Relating to photograph album, Rio de Janeiro Botanic Garden

Inscribed to Prof. N. Lord Britton, L. de Oliveria Batiste

3 files

"Explanation of Phytogeographical Photographs sent by L. Cockayne to the NYBG"

Series 6. Personal Papers.

Scope and Content:

This series consists of 10 files and a presentation volume. There is a catalogue of Britton's personal herbarium (1875); a letter to his cousin, Ellie B. Turner; a letter of resignation to the NYBG (25 May 1929); and a paper on the Britton family genealogy and property on Staten Island. There is a suede-bound volume presented by faculty, staff, and students of Bronx public schools in appreciation of Britton's Nature Study lectures.

Annotated

by John Allen

Turner, Ellie B. (cousin)

Annals of the NY Academy of Science

Annotated copy

With Britton ID card

Arthur Corbett

Radio program of the Bronx Historical Society, WFUV, N. L. Britton

Presented to Dr. N. L. Britton from students, teachers, and principals, Borough of the Bronx public schools, 4B Grades, for Nature Study lectures and demonstrations at the NYBG

Series 7. Certificates & Diplomas.

Scope and Content:

There are 10 items in this series including two diplomas of the Columbia College School of Mines (Engineer of Mines, 1879 and Doctor of Philosophy, 1881), an honorary degree of the London Linnaean Society, three certificates of membership, and other appointments and awards

NY State Delegate to the Third Annual Meeting of the National Association of Conservation Commissioners in New Orleans, LA

The American Philosophical Society

Royal Horticultural Society

University of Pittsburgh
(oversize item, not boxed; see top shelf above collection)