Fiske, Willard, 1831-1904

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1831-11-11
Death 1904-09-17
Americans,
English,

Biographical notes:

The coins were purchased by Willard Fiske from H. H. I. Lynge of Copenhagen in 1899.

From the description of Runic coins, circa 1047-1076. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 489960820

Linguist, bibliophile, chess expert. First university librarian at Cornell University. Assembled impressive collections of Dante, Petrarch, Icelandia, etc.

From the description of Willard Fiske letters [manuscript], 1875 and 1879. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 244831676

Journalist, librarian, educator, bibliophile.

From the description of Daniel Willard Fiske papers, 1847-1989, 1847-1903 (bulk). (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 73965674

George Allen was a professor of languages at the University of Pennsylvania and an authority on the game of chess.

From the description of Letters to George Allen, 1856-1859. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 773679805

Secretary of American Geographical and Statistical Society; journalist, librarian, bibliophile, educator.

From the description of Letter, 1860, January 9 and February 4, New York, to Professor Reuben A. Guild, Librarian of Brown University. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122450317

Nov. 11, 1831 Daniel Willard Fiske born at Ellisburg, New York 1845 1847 Student at Cazenovia Seminary, Cazenovia, New York 1847 1848 Student at Hamilton College, Clinton, New York 1850 1852 Scandinavia. Studied at the University of Upsala. In Copenhagen (1850, 1851), Fiske was connected with the United States Legation. Correspondent for American newspapers 1852 1861 Returned to America where he continued as newspaper correspondent. From 1852-1859, he held a position in the Astor Library (NYC). From 1857-1860, he edited the American Chess Monthly 1861 1863 Attache to the United States legation in Vienna 1863 1865 Editorial Staff of the Syracuse Daily Journal 1865 1867 Book dealer 1867 1868 Staff of the Hartford Courant 1868 1883 While traveling abroad he was offered the position of Professor of North-European Languages and Librarian of Cornell University. On July 13, 1880 he was married to Jennie McGraw who died in Ithaca on Sept. 30, 1881. During 1882-1883 Fiske made trips to Egypt and Europe and it was in the latter year that the Petrarch Collection was begun. There were more European travels until 1883 when Fiske severed all connections with Cornell University 1883 1892 Lived in Florence in a rented villa (Villa Forini) until 1888. During these years in Italy he made several trips to the United States, Egypt, Scandinavia, and other European countries. 1892 1904 In 1892 Fiske purchased and proceeded to remodel the Villa Landor near Florencce where he entertained many guests and pursued his book collecting and many other interests. The Dante Collection was begun in 1893. In 1891 the Rhaeto-Romantic Collection was started. Sept. 17, 1904 Daniel Willard Fiske died at Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany. Buried next to Jennie McGraw Fiske in the Crypt of Sage Chapel at Cornell University. Trips to United States were made in 1889, 1890, 1891-1892, 1893, 1895-1896, 1897; to Egypt in 1888-1889, 1898; to Scandinavia periodically (according to HSW in Chronological Outline, Willard Fiske, Life and Correspondence)

From the guide to the Daniel Willard Fiske papers, 1847-1927, 1847-1903 (bulk), (Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library)

Links to collections

Comparison

This is only a preview comparison of Constellations. It will only exist until this window is closed.

  • Added or updated
  • Deleted or outdated

Information

Permalink:
SNAC ID:

Subjects:

  • Booksellers and bookselling
  • United States
  • Academic libraries
  • Arabic language
  • Book collecting
  • Book collectors
  • Chess
  • Coins, Runic
  • Journalists
  • Librarians
  • Magnetism, Terrestrial
  • Meteorology
  • National Museum
  • Nativism
  • Navies
  • Prayer books and devotions
  • Raeto
  • Smithsonian Exchange
  • Smithsonian Publications
  • Songs, Raeto
  • Surveys And Explorations, General

Occupations:

  • Collector

Places:

  • Egypt (as recorded)
  • Iceland (as recorded)
  • Iceland (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Iceland (as recorded)
  • Denmark (as recorded)
  • Engadine (Switzerland) (as recorded)
  • New York (State)--Ithaca (as recorded)
  • Norway (as recorded)
  • Egypt (as recorded)

SNAC Cooperative Logo

Social Networks and Archival Context

SNAC is a discovery service for persons, families, and organizations found within archival collections at cultural heritage institutions.

Sponsors

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Institute of Museum and Library Services
National Endowment for the Humanities

Hosts

University of Virginia Library
National Archives and Records Administration