Collection consists primarily of family correspondence, letters from Thaddeus Mason Harris to his son, Thaddeus William Harris, and from additional family members. There are also letters written by Thaddeus William Harris to his wife, Catherine.

Thaddeus William Harris first made his living as a physician and for many years thereafter as Harvard librarian. For six years, he also taught natural history in Harvard College - Henry David Thoreau was one of his students - but his desire for a full-time professorship was never realized.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Correspondence from Massachusetts entomologist Thaddeus William Harris (1795-1856; Harvard AB 1815, MD 1820) to American entomologist and conchologist Thomas Say (1787-1834), dated October 15, 1830, while Say was living in New Harmony, Indiana, in which Harris encourages him to continue his scientific writing and revisions of his previous publications on insects. Harris writes that Yale College professor and American Journal of Science editor Benjamin Silliman (1779-1864) "would undoubtedly be glad to publish your papers," adding, "it would promote the cause of science if you were to transfer to him any unpublished manuscripts that may remain in Philadelphia, or that you may hereafter prepare." Of particular interest would be works on Diptera, Harris writes. He also describes the principle of priority in entomological nomenclature as "perfectly correct" and questions the naming practices of fellow entomologist Baron Pierre Dejean (1780-1845), who opposed the rule of priority. He further asks Say for assistance researching species of Cremastocheilus, including descriptions and illustrations of each; and relays information about "supposed new species" he was sending to Major John Eatton Le Conte (1784-1860) and insects he proposed to send to Say. Harris explains that he hopes to write a paper describing these new species and publish an "amended account of our Cremastocheili."

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.