Chambers, Robert

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Epithet: of Stowe MS 636

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001196.0x0002fc

Epithet: of the British Museum

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000560.0x000386

Epithet: late Tide- surveyor of Great Yarmouth

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001196.0x0002f9

Incorporated by William Wagner (1796-1885) in 1855, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is a natural history museum and educational institution in Philadelphia that is dedicated to providing free public education in the sciences. Indeed, “its free public education courses on science … are the oldest program devoted to free adult education in the United States.” (The First 150 Years, page 1).

Robert Chamber served as the Director of the Wagner Free Institute of Science from 1946 to 1980. During his tenure, he collected and assembled a collection of material regarding William Wagner and the Wagner Free Institute of Science.

William Wagner, “a noted Philadelphia merchant, philanthropist, gentleman scientist, and lifelong collector of natural history specimens,” (The First 150 Years, p. 1) was born in Philadelphia and graduated from the Academy, which later became the University of Pennsylvania, in 1808. He started his career in an apprenticeship in the counting house of Stephen Girard, a Philadelphia financier. As time passed, Wagner’s duties progressed until he was “assigned the position of supercargo and sent overseas to look after Girard’s shipping interests,” (NRHP Registration, Section 8, page 2). He continued working for Girard for seven years, learning from him about both business and philanthropy. Wagner then formed two businesses: a mercantile partnership with Captain Snowden creating his business Snowden & Wagner which existed from 1819 to 1825; and the Lennoxville Steam Saw Mill which existed from 1925 to 1828. By 1940, Wagner “retired from his commercial pursuits,” (NRHP Registration, Section 8, page 2).

Until this time, Wagner’s travels provided him with opportunities to collect specimens and in 1841 and 1842, he travelled to Europe with his wife. During this trip, Wagner continued to collect specimens and visited “principal scientific institutes of the Continent,” (NRHP Registration, Section 8, page 2). Upon his return to Philadelphia, the size of his specimen collection necessitated the building of a wing which he called “The Cabinet” at his home, Elm Grove. In 1847, “believing strongly that education in the sciences should be available to everyone, Wagner began offering free lectures on science at his home,” (The First 150 Years, page 1) using his extensive collection of natural history specimens. By 1855, his home no longer accommodated the number of people interested in his lectures, and he moved the lectures to the Municipal Hall at 13th and Spring Garden Streets and formally established the Wagner Free Institute of Science. Its “program [was] codified in a charter drafted by Wagner, himself,” (NRHP Registration, Section 8, page 2) on May 21, 1855. The existing building which houses the Wagner Free Institute of Science was opened in 1865 and includes an exhibit gallery, classrooms, a library and a lecture hall.

Although, he served as President of the Wagner Free Institute of Science until his death in 1885, he prepared for the future of his Institute and, in 1864, decided to leave his “estate to the charge of a Board of Trustees who would continue to run the institution according to [Wagner’s] original goals,” (NRHP Registration, Section 8, pages 3-4). After his death, the Board of Directors appointed Joseph Leidy as director of the academic programs of the Wagner Free Institute of Science. Leidy was “a biologist of international reputation,” (The First 150 Years, page 2) and was serving as Professor of Anatomy at the University of Pennsylvania and President of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Leidy, who served until his death in 1891, “expanded the programs at the Institute to include a more significant and extensive course of scholarly research,” obtained “some of the most noted scientists and explorers of the age, including Angelo Heilpern, Joseph Willcox and Henry Leffmann for his faculty,” (NRHP Registration, Section 8, page 5), founded, with member of the Board Sydney Skidmore, the Society for the Extension of University Teaching on November 5, 1890; and reorganized the Wagner Free Institute of Science’s Natural History Museum into a systematic display. Leidy’s arrangement remains virtually unaltered to this day.

In 1892, Samuel Wagner, along with several other Philadelphians “appl[ied] for a charter to form the Free Library of Philadelphia,” (NRHP Registration, Section 8, page 6) and The Wagner Free Institute became Branch No. 1 of the Free Library. In 1901, a new wing was built and that housed the Free Library branch until the Columbia Avenue branch opened in 1962.

Samuel Wagner served as President of the Board of Trustees of the Wagner Free Institute from 1885 to 1921 and as President Emeritus from 1921 to 1937. Other administrators of the Wagner include: Thomas Lynch Montgomery, Actuary and Librarian from 1886 to 1903; John Rothermel, Superintendent from 1903 to 1913 and Director from 1914 to 1924; Carl Boyer, Curator from 1924 to 1928 and Director from 1928 to 1945; Robert Chambers, Director from 1945 to 1980; John Graham, Director from 1980 to 1988; Roger Montgomery, Director from 1988 to 1992; and Susan Glassman, Director from 1993.

According to the National Register for Historic Places Registration Form, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is “a nationally significant monument documenting the development of science, education and museums,” (NRHP Registration, Section 8, page 2).

Bibliography:

“The First 150 Years: A Brief History,” author unknown, circa 2008.

National Register of Historic Places Form, 1989.

From the guide to the Robert Chambers collection on William Wagner and the history of the Wagner Free Institute of Science, Bulk, 1820-1910, 1798-1980, (Wagner Free Institute of Science)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn First Casualty Press Records., 1960-1981. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Clare Leighton collection, 1949-1953 Yale Center for British Art
referencedIn George Ritchie Kinloch papers for, Ancient Scottish ballads, 1820-1883. Houghton Library
creatorOf Vol. I, ff. ii+187Joseph Cradock, author: Letters to,: 1763-1826, n.d.includes:f. ii Bookplates and Book-stamps: Thomas Sydney Blakeney, Secretary, Friends of the National Libraries: Bookplate of Thomas Sydney Blakeney: 1977.f. 1 Charles Clement ... British Library
referencedIn William B. Provine collection of evolutionary biology reprints, 20th century. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions archives, 1810-1961. Houghton Library
referencedIn Wagner Free Institute of Science Director's files and business records, Bulk, 1885-1924, 1858-1938 Wagner Free Institute of Science
creatorOf Robert Chambers collection on William Wagner and the history of the Wagner Free Institute of Science, Bulk, 1820-1910, 1798-1980 Wagner Free Institute of Science
creatorOf Robert Chambers letters, 1839 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Wagner Free Institute of Science Superintendent's and Director's reports, 1903-1988 Wagner Free Institute of Science
referencedIn Pickard-Whittier papers, 1815-1915. Houghton Library
referencedIn Vol. CXCV. (ff. 506). General Correspondence 11 May-20 June, 1758.Bevil Higgons, Secretary of State to the Pretender: Letter to the Greffier Fagel: 1715.: Fr.: Copy.George II of England: Correspondence of the Duke of Newcastle, Sec. of State, etc.: 1... British Library
referencedIn United States Sanitary Commission records. Army and Navy Claim Agency archives, 1861-1870 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Wagner Free Institute of Science Director's files, 1883-1948 Wagner Free Institute of Science
referencedIn Houghton Library printed book provenance file, A-D Houghton Library
referencedIn John Eldon Thayer collection of motion picture memorabilia, 1916-1979. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn "PEDIGREE of the most noble and ancient Bridges family"; taken from a MS. of William Burton, the antiquary (ob. 1657), and dedicated to [James Brydges, 3rd] Duke of Chandos, by Robert Chambers. Paper roll. A.D. 1783.Robert Chambers: Wrote: in 1783.Ja... British Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Academy and Charitable School of Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania. corporateBody
associatedWith American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. corporateBody
associatedWith Boyer, Carl person
associatedWith Dall, William Healey, 1845-1927 person
associatedWith Free Library of Philadelphia. corporateBody
associatedWith Girard, Stephen, 1750-1831 person
associatedWith Graham, John person
associatedWith Houghton Library. corporateBody
correspondedWith Josiah Wedgwood & Sons. corporateBody
associatedWith Kinloch, George Ritchie, 1796? -1877 person
associatedWith Leidy, Joseph, 1823-189 person
correspondedWith Leighton, Clare, 1898-1989 person
associatedWith Lennoxville Steam and Saw Mill. corporateBody
associatedWith Montgomery, Thomas Lynch, 1862- person
associatedWith Paquet, Basil T., 1944- person
correspondedWith Provine, William B. person
associatedWith Rothermel, John person
associatedWith Skidmore, Sydney Tuthill, 1844-1928 person
associatedWith Snowden & Wagner. corporateBody
associatedWith Thayer, John Eldon, 1899-1980 person
associatedWith United States Sanitary Commission corporateBody
associatedWith Wagner, Caroline Moore Say person
associatedWith Wagner Free Institute of Science. corporateBody
associatedWith Wagner, Louisa Binney, 1814-1898 person
associatedWith Wagner, Samuel, 1842-1937 person
associatedWith Wagner, William, 1796-1885 person
associatedWith Westbrook, Richard B., (Richard Brodhead) person
correspondedWith Whittier, John Greenleaf, 1807-1892 person
associatedWith Willcox, Joseph person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Hagen, Prussia
Europe
Belle Île, Morbihan
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Leicester, Leicestershire
Shoreham, Sussex
Subject
Libraries
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1966-09-25

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Ark ID: w63g4g71

SNAC ID: 23791400