Benson John Lossing Collection

Location of collection:

University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library

University of Virginia

P.O. Box 400110

160 McCormick Rd

Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110

Contact for questions and access:

POC: Brenda Gunn

Email: bg9ba@virginia.edu

Phone: (434) 924-1037

Phone: (434) 243-1776

Fax: (434) 924-4968

Web: library.virginia.edu/special-collections

Web: library.virginia.edu/special-collections/services/reference-request

Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred citation:

Benson John Lossing Collection, Accession 7857-b, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Summary

Creator:

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Benson John Lossing Collection, Accession 7857-b, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Background

Scope and content:

[Expresses appreciation for Dr. Francis's letter commending his book and asks if it can be used by his publisher. Most of letter given to describing, in sorrowful terms, the recent death of his wife and comparing it with Dr. Francis's sorrow at the loss of his son, Lou, who apparently was briefly treated in Lossing's book.]

[Tells correspondent that his Pictorial Field Book of the War of 1812is printed and will be published in parts, "the first to be issued immediately after the approaching election." Adds that the work contains a portrait of General Montgomery "a copy of which you lent me several years ago, when I called upon you with our mutual friend, Mr. Frederick Kidder. " Desires to return his portrait and asks how this might be best accomplished.]

[Describes his efforts, long hours and strain, in writing his recent books. Speaks of visit to the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibitionwhere "[we] spent the evening at Mr. Drexel's who gave a reception to Dom Pedro." Says his latest work The American Centenarywas issued in a superb and too costly volume---$20 in `half-calf' and muslin and contains . . . a great deal from my storehouse of facts."]

[Encloses his check for $10 and says, "Since you have all knowledge while I have very little . . . I leave the matter wholly to your judgement satisfied that you will do all that any man can do."]

Acquisition information:

Gift 1949 January 3 Purchase 1962 November 29

Processing information:

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Physical location:

Physical description:

4 items