Harvard University. Board of Visitors of the Massachusetts Professorship of Natural History.

In January 1830 the Board of Visitors of the Massachusetts Professorship of Natural History informed the Harvard Corporation that efforts to secure additional funding for the Professorship and botanic garden had been unsuccessful and that the best interests of the garden would be served if control was given to the Corporation.

The Massachusetts Professorship of Natural History, along with a botanic garden, was endowed in 1805 by a group of prominent Massachusetts citizens to promote commerce, agriculture, medicine and the arts through the study of zoology, botany, and mineralogy. A Board of Visitors for the professorship was organized to supervise the activities of the natural history professor and to support the garden. After the death of the Professorship's first and only incumbent, William Dandridge Peck (1763-1822) in October 1822, the Board found it difficult to financially support both the professorship and the botanic garden. Since funds were no longer available to support a professor, the Board assigned the care of the garden to Thomas Nuttall (1786-1859); efforts to secure funding for the Natural History professorship were not successful and the chair was left vacant. In 1862, the Corporation united the Massachusetts Professorship of Natural History and the Fisher Professorship of Natural History (established in 1834) since both professorships served similar purposes. The botanic garden, which had languished over the years as an instructional laboratory, was finally abandoned in 1948 when the Botanic Garden Apartments were erected on the grounds.

From the description of Board of Visitors' report to the President and Fellows of Harvard College on the state of the Massachusetts Professorship of Natural History, 1830 January 6. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 755231711

In April 1805, the Board of Visitors of the Massachusetts Professorship of Natural History was organized to supervise the first (and only) Natural History professor, William Dandridge Peck (1763-1822). Consisting of the twelve trustees of the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, the President of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the President of Harvard College, and the President of the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Board was given the authority to set the salary of the professor, build the professor's house and other buildings needed for a botanic garden, to supervise the maintenance and repair of the garden, supply the garden with plants, seeds, and specimens; and to confirm that the duties of the professor were being properly discharged. Funds for the professorship were under the control of the Board of Visitors.

After Peck's death in October 1822, the Board found it difficult to financially support both the Professorship and the botanic garden. Since funds were unavailable to support a professor, the Board assigned the care of the garden to Thomas Nuttall (1786-1859); efforts to secure funding for the Natural History professorship were unsuccessful and the chair was left vacant. In May 1831, diminished funds forced the Board of Visitors to relinquish control of the botanic garden to the Harvard Corporation. In 1862, the Corporation united the Massachusetts Professorship of Natural History and the Fisher Professorship of Natural History (established in 1834) since both professorships served similar purposes. The botanic garden, which had languished over the years as an instructional laboratory, was finally abandoned in 1948 when the Botanic Garden Apartments were erected on the grounds.

From the guide to the Financial records of the Board of Visitors of the Massachusetts Professorship of Natural History, 1805, 1807-1814, (Harvard University Archives)

The philosophical apparatus collection of the Hollis Professorship of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy was composed of scientific instruments and working models designed to demonstrate and explore the field known in the eighteenth century as "natural philosophy" (i.e. physics). The first scientific instrument presented to Harvard was a telescope in 1672. The apparatus was slowly assembled by Harvard until 1727 when Thomas Hollis (1659-1731), a wealthy English merchant, endowed the Hollis Professorship of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy and also gave Harvard five chests containing an assortment of apparatus for use by the new Hollis professor. The apparatus grew steadily through additional gifts and purchases after Hollis's donation. Unfortunately, on January 24, 1764, the philosophical apparatus and library in Harvard Hall was destroyed by fire. The College immediately began to solicit gifts and funds to restore the contents of the apparatus. Orders for new scientific instruments were placed in London beginning in June 1764. In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Harvard's scientific instruments were almost exclusively purchased and repaired in England. However, Harvard's apparatus was also enhanced by two local craftsmen. Joseph Pope (1748-1826), a Boston clockmaker, designed and built a large orrey (a gear driven model of the solar system) and John Prince (1751-1836), a Salem clergyman, designed and built a wide variety of instruments for Harvard. By 1779, Harvard had amassed a new and larger apparatus and by the end of the eighteenth century began to add instruments to the apparatus to compliment instruction in chemistry, biology, and geology.

In March 1805, a group of prominent Massachusetts citizens endowed a Massachusetts Professorship of Natural History, along with a Botanic Garden, at Harvard University, to promote commerce, agriculture, medicine, and the arts through the study of zoology, botany, and mineralogy. The funds of the Professorship were placed under the control of a Board of Visitors organized in April 1805 to supervise the first (and only) Natural History professor, William Dandridge Peck (1763-1822). Included among its responsibilities, the Board fixed the salary of the Natural History professor, built the professor's house and other dwellings in the garden, supervised the maintenance and repair of the garden, and supplied the garden with all necessary plants, seeds, and specimens. After Peck's death in October 1822, the Board was unable to financially support both the Professorship and Botanic Garden. Since funds were no longer available to support a professor, the Board assigned the care of the garden to Thomas Nuttall (1786-1859); efforts to secure funding for the Natural History professorship were unsuccessful and the chair was left vacant. In May 1831, diminished funds caused the Board of Visitors to relinquish its control of the Botanic Garden to the Harvard Corporation. In 1862, the Corporation united the Massachusetts Professorship of Natural History and the Fisher Professorship of Natural History (established in 1834) since both professorships served an identical purpose. The Botanic Garden, which had languished over the years as an instructional laboratory, was finally abandoned in 1948 when the Botanic Garden Apartments were erected on the grounds.

From the guide to the Records relating to the philosophical apparatus of the Hollis Professorship of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy and the Records of the Board of Visitors of the Massachusetts Professorship of Natural History, 1765-1835 and undated., (Harvard University Archives)