Fiske, Willard, 1831-1904

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)