Dickerson, Mahlon, 1770-1853 to President of the Geological Society of New Haven
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00507.01 Author/Creator: Dickerson, Mahlon, 1770-1853 Place Written: Washington, District of Columbia Type: Letter signed Date: August 31, 1836 Pagination: 2 p. ; 26 x 10 cm. Order a Copy
Indicates that preparations are being made for the Wilkes expedition, "an exploring & surveying Expedition for the Southern Ocean." Requests for advice on the "formation of a scientific Corps" and recommendations of suitable members. Needs men acquainted with many branches of science, which he lists; a philologist "to collect vocabularies of the different languages, and an artist to take the portraits of the natives." Also asks for suggestions about what "subjects of natural history" the corps should focus on in their research. The Wilkes expedition to Antarctica was the first attempt to organize the country behind an expedition to explore outside the continental United States. Written at the Navy Department.
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