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Collection Overview

Creator:
Princeton University. Library. Special Collections
Collector:
Princeton University. Library. Special Collections
Title:
Princeton University Library Collection of John Maclean Family Materials
Repository:
Manuscripts Division
Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/8s45q880m
Dates:
1795-1874
Size:
3 boxes and 2.5 linear feet
Storage Note:
  • Firestone Library (scamss): Boxes 1-2; B-001623
Language:
English

Abstract

Consists of selected personal and family papers of John Maclean (1771-1814), Princeton's first professor of chemistry, including correspondence and documents of Maclean and other family members, including John Maclean Jr. (1800-1886), Archibald Maclean (1810-1894), William Bainbridge (1774-1833), Phebe Bainbridge Maclean, and Mary B. Maclean, as well as a genealogy of the Maclean, Bainbridge, and Taylor families.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

Consists of selected papers of the Maclean family, particularly John Maclean (1771-1814), the first professor of chemistry at Princeton University, then called the College of New Jersey. John Maclean was born in Scotland and educated to become a surgeon like his father. He came to the United States in 1795 and, on the advice of Benjamin Rush, established himself in Princeton in the practice of "physic" and surgery. In October 1795, Maclean was appointed professor of chemistry at Princeton. In 1798, he married Phebe Bainbridge, the eldest daughter of Absolom Bainbridge and Mary Taylor Bainbridge of Middletown, New Jersey. Phebe's brother was United States Navy Commodore William Bainbridge (1774-1833). John and Phebe Maclean's eldest son, John Maclean Jr. (1800-1886), became Princeton's tenth president in 1854.

Materials in this collection include ten letters written by John Maclean (1777-1814), including letters addressed to Benjamin Silliman (1779-1864), the first lecturer at Yale in chemistry for whom Maclean served as mentor in the teaching of chemistry; Samuel Stanhope Smith (1751-1819) and Ashbel Green (1762-1848), the seventh and eighth presidents of Princeton; Major Benjamin Walker (1753-1818), United States Representative from New York; and Joshua Maddox Wallace. The letter to Ashbel Green concerns the student rebellion and suspensions in 1807. There is also a manuscript containing biographical details of Maclean's life, an extract of a letter of introduction by Dr. Miller of Glasgow to Dr. Caspar Wistar (1761-1818) of Philadelphia on Maclean's behalf, and Maclean's medical license from the State of New Jersey.

Materials related to John Maclean Jr. (1800-1886) include his Princeton Theological Seminary diploma and an honorary doctorate from the University of the State of New York. There is also some legal correspondence of Archibald Maclean (1810-1894), family letters from William Bainbridge, and a power of attorney document for Mary B. Maclean. Of note is a bound volume containing a detailed genealogy of the Maclean, Bainbridge, and Taylor families.

This collection was formerly referred to as the "John Maclean Collection" and the "John Maclean Letters and Papers."

Arrangement

Arranged by family member.

Collection History

Acquisition:

Materials in this collection were acquired through multiple gifts, transfers, and purchases, as noted at the file-level.

Custodial History

This collection was formed as a result of a departmental practice of combining into one collection manuscript material of various accessions relating to a particular author.

Appraisal

No materials were separated during 2017 processing.

Processing Information

Folder inventory added by Nicholas Williams '2015 in 2012.

Finding aid updated by Kelly Bolding in August 2017 and August 2021.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Credit this material:

Princeton University Library Collection of John Maclean Family Materials; Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/8s45q880m
Location:
Firestone Library
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
(609) 258-3184
Storage Note:
  • Firestone Library (scamss): Boxes 1-2; B-001623