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Referencing women’s work

Summary

Darwin's correspondence shows that women made significant contributions to Darwin's work, but whether and how they were acknowledged in print involved complex considerations of social standing, professional standing, and personal preference.…

Matches: 15 hits

  • Darwin's correspondence shows that women made significant contributions to Darwin's work, …
  • set of selected letters is followed by letters relating to Darwin's 1881 publication
  • throughout Variation . Letter 2395 - Darwin to Holland, Miss, [April 1860] …
  • anonymised and masculinised. Letter 3316 - Darwin to Nevill, D. F., [12 November
  • Nevill is referenced by name for herkindnessin Darwins Fertilisation of Orchids . …
  • critic. Letter 4370 - Wedgwood, L. C. to Darwin, [April - May 1865] Darwin
  • asfriends in Surrey”. Letter 4794 - Darwin to Lyell, C., [25 March 1865] …
  • B”. Letter 7060 - Wedgwood, F. J. to Darwin, [1867 - 72] Darwins
  • in the final publication. Letter 7223 - Darwin to Wedgwood, L. C., [9 June 1867 - …
  • in Expression . Letter 5817 - Darwin to Huxley, T. H., [30 January 1868
  • baby in Mary Barton. Letter 8321 - Darwin to Litchfield, H. E., [13 May
  • Darwin, [4 January 1871] Darwins brother-in-law, Francis Wedgwood, sends the results of
  • … - Ruck, A. R. to Darwin, H., [1 February 1872] Amy Ruck sends a second report of her
  • Darwin asks hisgeologist in chief for N. Wales”, Amy Ruck, to provide observations and take
  • … [1 November 1877] Darwin asks his sons, Horace and Francis, to observe earthworm activity

Casting about: Darwin on worms

Summary

Earthworms were the subject of a citizen science project to map the distribution of earthworms across Britain (BBC Today programme, 26 May 2014). The general understanding of the role earthworms play in improving soils and providing nutrients for plants to…

Matches: 12 hits

  • for plants to flourish can be traced back to the last book Darwin wrote, snappily-titled The
  • on their habits, which was published in 1881. Despite Darwins fears that a book on earthworms might
  • out in his Natural History of Selborne of 1789 (a book Darwin claimed hadmuch influence on my
  • a new field in natural history, and almost a century later Darwin argued that all fields had passed
  • variety of strange things he persuaded people to do. Darwin concluded that worms had no sense
  • of a metal whistle and to being shouted at, but also to Francis Darwin playing the bassoon, and to
  • made calculations about larger castings on poorer soils, and Francis helped with calculations
  • … . After a while, looking for earthworm casts became a habit; Francis noticed worm casts in fir woods
  • existence of worms at that altitude. By the 1870s, Darwin was also drawing on the work of
  • him. Soon worm excrement was trusted to postal services, and Darwin acquired casts from India and
  • observations he had gathered to write a book on the subject. Darwin brought to the topic the
  • bigger souls than anyone wd suppose’ ( letter to W. E. Darwin, 31 January [1881] (CUL DAR 210.6: …

List of correspondents

Summary

Below is a list of Darwin's correspondents with the number of letters for each one. Click on a name to see the letters Darwin exchanged with that correspondent.    "A child of God" (1) Abberley,…

Matches: 16 hits

  • … Below is a list of Darwin's correspondents with the number of letters for each one. …
  • … G. E. (1) Beaufort, Francis (5) …
  • … Boole, M. E. (3) Boott, Francis (7) …
  • … Dareste, Camille (9) Darwin family (1) …
  • … Darwin, Emma (191) Darwin, Francis (287) …
  • … Everest, Robert (1) Ewbank, Francis (1) …
  • … Fox, W. D. (225) Francis, George (1) …
  • … Galton, Erasmus (1) Galton, Francis (118) …
  • … Archibald (1) Lloyd, Francis (1) …
  • … Parker, Charles (2) Parker, Francis (1) …
  • … Royle, J. F. (7) Ruck, Amy (6) Ruck, …
  • … Walford, Edward (2) Walker, Francis (6) …
  • … George (2) Warner, Francis (1) …
  • … F. M. (2) Wedgwood, Francis (4) …
  • … (2) Wemyss-Charteris-Douglas, Francis (1) …
  • … White, Adam (2) White, Francis Buchanan (3) …

Darwin's 1876 letters online

Summary

Birth, tragic death . . . and cardigan jackets. To mark the 211th anniversary of Darwin's birth, we have released online the transcripts and footnotes of over 460 letters written to and from him in 1876 and a supplement of 180 letters written before…

Matches: 9 hits

  • … . . . and cardigan jackets. To mark the 211th anniversary of Darwin's birth, we have released
  • of 180 letters written before 1876. Read more about Darwin's life in 1876 and see  a full
  • The year 1876 started energetically, with Darwin working on the first draft of his book on the
  • in August and the book was published by John Murray, Darwins usual publisher, in November; he
  • quantity of work left in me for new matter. Darwin had to be disciplined about his urge
  • second edition of Orchids was published in January 1877; Darwin had been working on it since May
  • Annies death, though not so grievous to me. Darwins daughter-in-law, Amy, died a few
  • his parents; Emma and Charles took on the care of the baby. Francis too took refuge in work, …
  • from a recently discovered collection of letters to Charles Darwin from his son William. They reveal

Darwin in letters, 1876: In the midst of life

Summary

1876 was the year in which the Darwins became grandparents for the first time.  And tragically lost their daughter-in-law, Amy, who died just days after her son's birth.  All the letters from 1876 are now published in volume 24 of The Correspondence…

Matches: 13 hits

  • The year 1876 started out sedately enough with Darwin working on the first draft of his book on the
  • games. ‘I have won, hurrah, hurrah, 2795 games’, Darwin boasted; ‘my wifepoor creature, has won
  • regarding the ailments that were so much a feature of Darwin family life. But the calm was not to
  • the first member of the next generation of the family, with Francis and Amys child expected in
  • Darwin reassured his close friend Joseph Hooker that he and Francis would attend the meeting. Darwin
  • subject takes an opposite line’. Although he conceded that Francis had the best of an argument with
  • to propose the young rising star of Cambridge morphology, Francis Maitland Balfour, for fellowship
  • of the earliest available commercial models of typewriter. Francis Darwin and his wife, Amy, …
  • point, and he was reliant on his son George and cousin Francis Galton for the calculations. ‘I have
  • for the first time to a large and healthy boy, the son of Amy and Francis. Just four days later, …
  • Frankhis life will be a mere wreck’, Darwin lamented. Amy had been loved by the whole family and
  • Leonard of how much his friendship had been valued by Amy. In contrast, Darwins letter to his
  • of death, and it was Franciss mother-in-law, Mary Anne Ruck, who provided emotional support. Amys

Dipsacus and Drosera: Frank’s favourite carnivores

Summary

In Autumn of 1875, Francis Darwin was busy researching aggregation in the tentacles of Drosera rotundifolia (F. Darwin 1876). This phenomenon occurs when coloured particles within either protoplasm or the fluid in the cell vacuole (the cell sap) cluster…

Matches: 21 hits

  • By John SchaeferHarvard University* Charles Darwins enthusiasm for carnivorous plants -- …
  • …  than the origin of all the species in the world. ’ Darwins rigorous experimentation with these
  • plants in the scientific and public imagination. Darwins son, Francis, carried on his father
  • experience with his father's thorough experiments, Francis sought to elaborate on the books
  • fluid in the cell vacuole (the cell sap) cluster together. Darwin senior had theorized in
  • protoplasm . Inspired by his investigation of  Drosera , Francis set out to examine the cup-like
  • The Loves of the Plants  (1789) his grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, wrote that each dew-filled cup
  • to prevent insects from creeping up to devour its seed.’ Francis, however, expected to find that the
  • sent to his father from Kew Gardens by Joseph Dalton Hooker, Francis began growing his own specimens
  • into deciphering plant carnivory. On 28 May 1876, Francis wrote to his father that he had
  • emphatically exclaimingHooray theory. Blow facts. ’ Francis drew comparisons tothe absorption
  • article on aggregation in  D. rotundifolia  tentacles, Francis had to  delay further examinations
  • investigation and suggested further observations, imploring FrancisI would work at this subject
  • … ‘Seed-bearingexperiments with  Dipsacus . While Darwin wascurious if the movements of the
  • golden eggs. ’ With his father's encouragement, Francis recordedsplendid
  • After witnessing thisgrand discoveryhimselfDarwin excitedly described the protoplasmic
  • feeding on solid particles of decaying insects. ’ Francis  consulted with William Thiselton
  • for the rest of the summer. Although it can be surmised that Francis privately carried on with his
  • Darwins' first grandchild. However, tragedy soon struck the Darwin householdFranciswife, …
  • in Down village, which reminded him so much of his life with Amy, a devastated Francis left for
  • would weaken his will to pursue scientific endeavours, Darwin gently yet consistently  encouraged

Francis Darwin

Summary

Known to his family as ‘Frank’, Charles Darwin’s seventh child himself became a distinguished scientist. He was an undergraduate at Trinity College, Cambridge, initially studying mathematics, but then transferring to natural sciences.  Francis completed…

Matches: 8 hits

  • Known to his family asFrank’, Charles Darwins seventh child himself became a distinguished
  • but then transferring to natural sciencesFrancis completed his studies at Cambridge, …
  • into debt and had kept the matter secret for some months. Darwin was very stern in his advice: ‘I
  • an old fellow as I daresay I appear to you’ (letter to Francis Darwin18 October [1870] ). …
  • Institution, but never practised. He became engaged to Amy Ruck in 1872; the couple married in 1874. …
  • a laboratory run by Julius von Sachs in WurzburgFrancis Darwin was elected to the Royal
  • his father had not been knighted, although in 1877 Charles Darwin was awarded an honorary degree
  • … ( The Power of Movement in Plants, 1880). Perhaps Francis Darwin, whom the family regarded as a

Women’s scientific participation

Summary

Observers | Fieldwork | Experimentation | Editors and critics | Assistants Darwin’s correspondence helps bring to light a community of women who participated, often actively and routinely, in the nineteenth-century scientific community. Here is a…

Matches: 12 hits

  • … |  Editors and critics  |  Assistants Darwins correspondence helps bring to light a
  • community. Here is a selection of letters exchanged between Darwin and his workforce of women
  • Women: Letter 1194 - Darwin to Whitby, M. A. T., [12 August 1849] Darwin
  • peculiarities in inheritance. Letter 3787 - Darwin, H. E. to Darwin, [29 October
  • garden. Letter 4523 - Wedgwood, L. C. to Darwin, [6 June 1864] Darwins
  • … . Letter 5745 - Barber, M. E. to Darwin, [after February 1867] Mary Barber
  • in Lychnis diurna. Letter 8168 - Ruck, A. R . to Darwin, H., [20 January
  • Darwin, [9 January 1871] Darwins brother-in-law, Francis, reports on the appearance and
  • tells her eldest son, William, that her third eldest son, Francis, is receiving help with his plant
  • February 1857] Darwins nephew, Edmund, writes to Francis with the results of his
  • in his home. Letter 10517  - Darwin to Francis, F., [29 May 1876] Darwin
  • Letter 10517  - Darwin t o Francis, F., [29 May 1876] Darwin gives his son, Francis

Darwin in letters, 1872: Job done?

Summary

'My career’, Darwin wrote towards the end of 1872, 'is so nearly closed. . .  What little more I can do, shall be chiefly new work’, and the tenor of his correspondence throughout the year is one of wistful reminiscence, coupled with a keen eye…

Matches: 26 hits

  • … ‘My career’, Darwin wrote towards the end of 1872, ‘is so nearly closed. . .  What little more I can
  • of   On the origin of   species , intended to be Darwins last, and of  Expression of the
  • books brought a strong if deceptive sense of a job now done: Darwin intended, he declared to Alfred
  • …  27 July [1872] ). By the end of the year Darwin was immersed in two of the studies that
  • of books and papers, and the latter formed the subject of Darwins last bookThe formation of   …
  • worms , published in the year before his deathDespite Darwins declared intention to take up new
  • begun many years before. In his private life also, Darwin was in a nostalgic frame of mind, …
  • The last word on Origin The year opened with Darwin, helped by his eldest son William, …
  • on 30 January , shortly after correcting the proofs, and Darwins concern for the consolidation of
  • and sixth editions were costly to incorporate, and despite Darwins best efforts, set the final
  • closely involved in every stage of publication of his books, Darwin was keen to ensure that this
  • to bring out the new edition in the United States, Darwin arranged with Murray to have it
  • had to be resetThe investment in stereotype reinforced Darwins intention to make no further
  • A worsening breach The criticisms against which Darwin had taken the greatest trouble to
  • objections to the theory of natural selection’, Darwin refuted point by point assertions published
  • Although Mivart was among those who wrote in January to wish Darwin a happy new year, before the
  • critical and anonymously published review of  Descent . Darwins supporters had rallied to his
  • The republication of Wrights paper had been arranged by Darwin himself (see  Correspondence  vol. …
  • so bigotted a person as I am made to appear’, complained Darwin ( letter to St GJMivart, 5
  • that he would willingly acknowledge himself at fault if only Darwin would renounce `fundamental
  • drawings shortly afterwards ( letter from Samuel Butler to Francis Darwin, [before 30 May 1872] , …
  • the claims of spiritualists, and Darwin, through his cousin Francis Galton, had with some interest
  • however, incorporated in the second edition, produced by Francis Darwin after his fathers death. …
  • new name on the list of volunteers: by the beginning of May, Francis Darwin, the Darwinsthird son, …
  • one went almost unremarked in Darwins correspondence. Amys induction into the family firm was
  • his `geologist in chief for NWales’ ( letter to Amy Ruck, 24 February [1872] ). Plants

Francis Darwin marries

Summary

The Darwins' son, Francis, marries Amy Ruck; Francis starts work as his father's assistant

Matches: 1 hits

  • … The Darwins' son, Francis, marries Amy Ruck; Francis starts work as his father's assistant …

Darwin in letters, 1874: A turbulent year

Summary

The year 1874 was one of consolidation, reflection, and turmoil for Darwin. He spent the early months working on second editions of Coral reefs and Descent of man; the rest of the year was mostly devoted to further research on insectivorous plants. A…

Matches: 20 hits

  • 1874 was one of consolidation, reflection, and turmoil for Darwin. He spent the early months working
  • dispute over an anonymous review that attacked the work of Darwins son George dominated the second
  • and traveller Alexander von Humboldts 105th birthday, Darwin obliged with a reflection on his debt
  • … ). The death of a Cambridge friend, Albert Way, caused Darwins cousin, William Darwin Fox, to
  • from W. D. Fox, 8 May [1874] ).  Such reminiscences led Darwin to the self-assessment, ‘as for one
  • I feel very old & helpless The year started for Darwin with a weeks visit to
  • Andrew Clark, whom he had been consulting since August 1873. Darwin had originally thought that
  • …  ( letter to B. J. Sulivan, 6 January [1874] ). Darwin mentioned his poor health so frequently in
  • 1874 ). Séances, psychics, and sceptics Darwin excused himself for reasons of
  • by George Henry Lewes and Marian Evans (George Eliot), but Darwin excused himself, finding it too
  • the month, another Williams séance was held at the home of Darwins cousin Hensleigh Wedgwood. Those
  • had cost twenty-four shillings.) Murrays partner, Robert Francis Cooke, informed Darwin that the
  • … (see G. B. Airy ed. 1881). Darwins third son Francis married Amy Ruck, the sister of a
  • …  (butterwort) for Darwins work on insectivorous plants. Amy drew a plant and Francis was
  • from Cornwall, but Darwin was unwell when it arrived, so Francis worked on the tiny bladders under
  • 1874 , and  Correspondence  vol. 21, letter from Francis Darwin,  [11 October 1873] ). …
  • work’ ( letter to D. F. Nevill, 18 September [1874] ).Franciss new wife, Amy, drew the plant ( …
  • After his wife read  Expression , the military surgeon Francis François de Chaumont sent
  • a donation of £100, and £10 each from his sons George and Francis ( letter to Anton Dohrn, 7 March
  • a photograph of the station to be sent to Darwin by Francis Maitland Balfour; Darwin offered to try

Darwin's in letters, 1873: Animal or vegetable?

Summary

Having laboured for nearly five years on human evolution, sexual selection, and the expression of emotions, Darwin was able to devote 1873 almost exclusively to his beloved plants. He resumed work on the digestive powers of sundews and Venus fly traps, and…

Matches: 22 hits

  • evolution, sexual selection, and the expression of emotions, Darwin was able to devote 1873 almost
  • … (1875) and  Cross and self fertilisation  (1876). Darwins son Francis became increasingly
  • career to become his fathers scientific secretary. Darwin had always relied on assistance from
  • the previous year. As was typical, readers wrote to Darwin personally to offer suggestions, …
  • some of which were incorporated in a later edition. Darwin also contributed to discussions in the
  • in animals. The subject was brought closer to home by Francis Galtons work on inherited talent, …
  • Station at Naples. Plants that eat and feel? Darwin had resumed experiments on the
  • 12 January [1873] ).  Drosera  was the main focus of Darwins study of insectivorous plants, a
  • and alkaloids, and even electrical stimulation. On sending Darwin a specimen of the carnivorous  …
  • … ( letter from J. D. Hooker, 12 January 1873 ). Darwin found that the glandular hairs on the
  • to bend inward, so that the plant closed like a fist. Darwin was fascinated by this transmission of
  • plants , p. 63). The plants secreted a viscid fluid, which Darwin suspected attracted insects by
  • … ., p. 17). Through a series of painstaking experiments, Darwin determined that the secretions
  • Poisons and electrocution . . . His son Francis was assisting the histologist Edward Emanuel
  • of medical research in London. On the advice of Klein, Francis obtained a new microscope for his
  • on botany, he drew more on assistance from his son Francis. While visiting his fiancée, Amy Ruck, in
  • notes and take tracings of their burrows” ( letter from Francis Darwin, 14 August [1873] ). …
  • … [1873] ).  Shortly afterwards, it was arranged for Francis to rent a house in the village (Down
  • to H. E. Litchfield, 20 February 1873 ). The surgeon Francis Stephen Bennet Francois de Chaumont, …
  • of instinct and inheritance when he was asked by his cousin Francis Galton to participate in a study
  • aims but regarded the project asutopian” ( letter to Francis Galton, 4 January [1873] ). …
  • and investing money very well” ( letter to Francis Galton, 28 May 1873 ). Among character traits, …

The "wicked book": Origin at 157

Summary

Origin is 157 years old.  (Probably) the most famous book in science was published on 24 November 1859.  To celebrate we have uploaded hundreds of new images of letters, bringing the total number you can look at here to over 9000 representing more than…

Matches: 7 hits

  • book appeared.   You can now see examples of letters to Darwin from nearly 250 different people, and
  • Lyell , and Joseph Hooker , the two men who arranged for Darwins and Wallaces ideas to be made
  • Asa Gray who was an important sounding board for Darwins emerging ideas, and Thomas Huxley
  • scrap from 1857 comparing his views on species to DarwinsOthers, like Hugh Falconer , …
  • the less well-known scientific collaborators who became Darwin's correspondents, Mary Treat
  • several of their children: William, George, Henrietta , Francis , Leonard, and Horace. Francis
  • of water thrown over me on rising William Darwin Fox , Charless cousin and another

Darwin's 1874 letters go online

Summary

The full transcripts and footnotes of over 600 letters to and from Charles Darwin in 1874 are published online for the first time. You can read about Darwin's life in 1874 through his letters and see a full list of the letters. The 1874 letters…

Matches: 10 hits

  • and footnotes of over 600 letters to and from Charles Darwin in 1874 are published online for
  • the Catholic zoologist St George Jackson Mivart caused Darwin and his son George. In an
  • licentiousness’. After re-reading what George had written, Darwin wrote:   I cannot
  • of [a] lying scoundrel.—  ( Letter to GHDarwin, 1 August [1874] ) The
  • behaviour in scientific society. Find out more about how Darwin and his family and friends dealt
  • WDFox, 11 May [1874] ) At the age of 65, Darwin had reflective moments, although his
  • Letter to DFNevill, 18 September [1874] ) Darwins family continued to prosper. His
  • … ‘I am sure he will never voluntarily be idle’, wrote Darwin to the directors, fearing that Horace
  • the expedition was unsuccessful owing to clouds.  His son Francis, having given up his medical
  • Letter to JDHooker, 30 November [1874] ) Darwins continuing loyalty to his friends