Ac. 590

Inventory to the George Hammell Cook Papers

By Mitchell Greenberg

August 1987

Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.

Finding aid encoded in EAD, version 2002 by Tara Maharjan, May 2020
Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.

Descriptive Summary

Creator: Cook, George Hammell, 1818-1889
Title: George Hammell Cook Papers
Dates: 1824-1918, bulk 1836-1889
Quantity: 20.8 cubic feet
Collection No.: Ac. 590
Language: English
Repository: Rutgers University Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives

Biographical Sources

Neilson, James, et. al. Addresses Commemorative George Hammell Cook, Ph.D., LL.D., Professor of Geology and Agriculture in Rutgers College, Delivered before the Trustees, Faculty, Alumni, Students and Friends the College, June 17, 1890 ....

Sidar, Jean Wilson. George Hammell Cook: A Life in Agriculture and Geology. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, cl976.

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Arrangement and Scope Note

"Fortunately for historians, Dr. Cook was a systematic and well-organized man and, in the manner of his century, a very saving man. He and later his wife, Mary Halsey Thomas Cook, and his daughters, Emma and Anne, saved almost all his books, journals, papers, letters, and notebooks. When Anne, who died in 1937, gave the collection to the Rutgers Library there were forty-nine large file boxes of letters and notebooks. Some of these papers were used by Carl R. Woodward and Ingrid Nelson Waller in writing New Jersey's Agricultural Experiment Station: 1880-1930. But when the New Jersey Agricultural Society presented a grant from Charles A. Collins, Vice President of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture, for the preparation of a biography of George Cook, most of the letters were tied up in red tape as Cook had left them. There are at a rough estimate about 20,000 letters and 124 notebooks. Although their arrangement is still not completed, most of the letters have been filed chronologically and to a lesser extent by subject matter. Written between 1836 and 1890, they throw light on the development of geology and agriculture, the growth of state and federal support for agricultural colleges, experiment stations, and geological surveys; problems of drainage and water supply in New Jersey, and a multitude of other subjects. They also provide a source of information about the customs, pleasures, worries, and habits of their writers."

--Jean Wilson Sidar, "The George Hammell Cook Collection," Journal of the Rutgers University Library, vol. XXXV, nu. 2 (June 1972): 71-73.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

George Hammell Cook Papers, Ac. 590, Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries.

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Detailed Description of the Collection/Container List

This section provides descriptions of the materials found within each series. Each series description is followed by a container list, which gives the titles of the "containers" (for example, folders, volumes, or cassettes) and their locations in the numbered boxes that comprise the collection. The availability of any digital items from a container is indicated with a hyperlink.

GEORGE H. COOK PAPERS
Box
1 Munn's welcome to Lafayette (copy), Newark, 1824
Geological Papers, 1835
Surveys, 1837-1839
Miscellaneous, 1836
Miscellaneous, 1837
Miscellaneous, 1838
Miscellaneous, 1839
Miscellaneous, 1840
Miscellaneous, 1841
Miscellaneous, 1842
Miscellaneous, 1843
Biology notes, exams, etc. from Rensellaer, 1841-1844
Argillo affairs, 1846-1849
Receipted bills, 1842-1846
Rensellaer material, 1834-1835
Box
2 Papers, 1844
Papers, 1845
Correspondence, etc., 1846
Miscellaneous, 1846
Receipted bills, 1847
Miscellaneous, 1847
Receipted bills, 1848
Correspondence, etc., 1847-1849
Receipted bills, 1849
Miscellaneous, 1849
Notebook of evaporatory figures
Box
3 Miscellaneous, 1850
Miscellaneous, 1851
Bills and receipts, 1851
Salt, 1852
Personal, 1852
Bills and receipts, trip to Europe, 1852
Professional - meteorology, etc., 1852
Professional - water evaporation
Miscellaneous printed materials, 1852
Professional - Albany Academy
Professional - Salt
Personal, 1853
Scientific, 1853
Salt, 1853
Printed material, 1853
Receipted bills, 1853
Professional - Albany Academy and Rutgers College
Box
4 Printed materials, 1854
Professional, 1854
Miscellaneous, 1854
Personal, 1854
Letters from David Murray, Mary Cook, Mary H.T. Cook, William A. Miller, J.B. Murin.
Rutgers College, Class records, 1854-1857
College, professional, 1855
Miscellaneous, 1855
Miscellaneous printed materials, 1854
Professional, 1855
Patents, elasticized cloth
Box
5 Notebooks for Geological Survey
Nos. 1-48 (1854-1878) and one of 1851 and one of 1865
Diary, July 11, 1859 - July 9, 1861
Box
6 Geological, 1856
Personal, 1856
Rutgers College, 1856
Miscellaneous, salt
Geological Survey, 1857
Personal, 1857
Miscellaneous, 1857
Rutgers College, 1857
Miscellaneous, 1858
Geological Survey, Drainage, Subsideous Tides, 1858
Personal, 1858
Natural History Society, Rutgers College, 1858
Box
7 Personal, 1859
Professional - Geology, 1859
Miscellaneous, 1859
Rutgers College, 1859
Personal, 1860
Professional, 1860
Geological Survey, 1860
Miscellaneous, 1860
Box
8 Professional, 1861
Personal, 1861
Miscellaneous, Salt, Zinc
Miscellaneous, 1861
Bills and receipts, 1861
Bills and receipts, 1862
Salt, Lehigh Zinc patents, 1862
Rutgers College, 1861
Personal, 1862
Rutgers College, 1862
Geological Survey, 1862
Miscellaneous, 1862
Box
9 Personal, 1863
Miscellaneous, Salt, Zinc, 1863
Miscellaneous, Board of Education, New Brunswick; Reformed Church, Agricultural Society, Lectures (outside College), 1 1863
Geology, 1863
Bills and receipts, 1863
Personal, Sunday school, 1864
Geological Survey, 1864
Miscellaneous - scientific maps, Board of Education, lecturing societies, church, NJ-NY water boundary commission
Meridian markers, salt, mine inspection, 1864
Geology - Theoretical (salt, mines), 1864
Rutgers College, 1863
Land Grant and Rutgers Scientific School, 1864
Land Grant and Agricultural Form, 1864
Rutgers College
Box
10 Geology, 1865
New Jersey Survey
Miscellaneous, 1865
Salt, Drainage, 1865
Geology (R.R; passes, etc.), 1865
Miscellaneous, church, Samuel Lockwood, NJ Agricultural Society, F.B. Meek, Jos. Leidy, Jos. Henry, 1865
Personal, 1865
Farm, 1865
Miscellaneous - consultant work, mines, 1865
Geology, surveying, 1866
Bills and receipts, 1866
Miscellaneous (unimportant), 1866
Personal, 1866
Bills and receipts, 1865
Printed material, 1865
Miscellaneous, marl, natural history, 1866
Printed matter, 1866
NJ Agricultural Society and Co. Soc., etc., 1866
Rutgers College, 1865
J.P. Dana
Ezra Cornell
Rutgers College, 1866
Box
11 Personal, 1867
Rutgers College, 1867
Miscellaneous - Church, Natural History Society, 1867
Books purchased, 1967-1969
Agriculture, 1867
Bills and receipts, 1867
Geological Survey, 1867
Miscellaneous, 1867
Miscellaneous, 1867
Consulting - mines
Salt
Unimportant items
Box
12 Personal, 1868
Rutgers College, 1868
Agriculture, 1868
Receipts, 1868
Geology, 1868
Geology, maps, Abram Hewitt, 1868
Miscellaneous, wood preserving, 1868
College Farm accounts, 1869-1870
Miscellaneous - fossils, subsidence, drainage, minerals, etc.
Miscellaneous, 1868
Box
13 Personal, 1869
Correspondence - G.W. Howell, others, 1869
Miscellaneous - wood preserving, societies, church, specimens, analyses, 1869
Agriculture - Fann, lectures, NJ Agricultural Society, 1869
Rutgers College, 1869
Geology - subsidence, boundaries, drainage artesian wells, 1869
Geological Survey - Distribution, expenses, etc., 1869
Agriculture - marl, fertilizers, analyses, consultation, 1869
Geological miscellany, 1869
Box
14 Miscellaneous - education, 1869
Receipted bills, checks, 1869
Bills and receipts, 1869
Miscellaneous, 1869
Box
15 Personal
Geology
Books purchased, 1870-1871
Rutgers College
Letters of introduction to European farmers, miners, etc.
Miscellaneous - Natural History, drainage
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous - marls, R.R., industrial
Drainage, articles for farm, European trip, lectures
Checks, bills and receipts
Agriculture - miscellany
Box
16 Personal, 1871
Geology, 1871
Agriculture, 1871
Rutgers College, 1871
Printed material, 1871
Financial, 1871
Drainage, 1871
Miscellaneous - marl, R.R., industries, 1871
Agriculture, 1871
Agriculture - miscellany, 1871
Geological Survey, 1871
Miscellaneous , 1871
Box
17 Personal, 1872-1873
Take notes, 1872, 1873
Geology, 1872-1873
Rutgers College, 1872-1873
Agriculture, 1872-1873
Agriculture, 1872-1873
Drainage, 1872-1873
Printed materials, 1872-1873
Checks, bill receipts, 1872-1873
Miscellaneous - marl, mines, boundaries, societies, 1872-1873
Geological miscellany, 1872-1873
Box
18 Personal, 1873
Geology, 1873
Agricultural correspondence, 1873
Rutgers College and Scientific School, 1873
Miscellaneous - societies, personal, extra- curricular, 1873
Miscellaneous - mining, railroads, marl, 1873
Miscellaneous printed material, 1873
Drainage, 1873
Geological miscellany, 1873
Ag. Farm and School, 1873
Agricultural miscellany, 1873
Box
19 Personal letters, 1874
Agriculture, 1874
91 pieces
Legislation, 1874
Some from Dr. Murray regarding Japan
Rutgers College, 1874
Societies etc. - botany, paleontology legislation, 1874
Proprietors, 1874
Abram S. Hewitt, 1874
American Bible Society, 1874
Miscellaneous - marl, mining, professional advice, railroads, 1874
Drainage Commission - Boundary, mineral bill, centennial, 1874
Drainage, 1874
Geological papers - J.P. Lesley, 1874
Geology - requests and thanks for geological survey, 1874
Agricultural miscellany, 1874
Miscellaneous, 1874
Box
20 Personal letters, 1875
Agricultural papers, 1875
Miscellaneous letters, 1875
Geology, 1875
Geology papers, 1875
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1875
Miscellaneous, 1875
Miscellaneous, 1875
Miscellaneous, 1875
Geology papers, 1875
Rutgers College, 1875
Boundary Commission, 1875
Agricultural miscellany, 1875
Historical map of Pennsylvania, 1875
Signed Geo. H. Cook
Geological Survey (notebook), 1875
Box
21 Personal
File
Correspondence re: International Exhibition
Rutgers College,
Centennial Exhibit - Philadelphia,
Boundary Commission (NJ-NY)
Requests for Geological Reports
Commercial Interests - Mines
Agricultural Advice
Agriculture - Farm and College
Papers relating to lectures in Assembly Room, Jan.-March, 1876
Commercial Interests - Drainage, clay, etc.
Geological Theory
Geological Survey 1
Geological Survey 2
Societies, publications, legislation
Individual Correspondents
Box
22 Miscellaneous papers and letters
Letters - personal
Rutgers - exam-?
Notes taken
Geology letters
Geology letters
Geology letters
College correspondence
College
College
Agriculture and College
Geology papers
Drainage
Boundary Commission
Geology papers
Miscellaneous papers
Box
23 Letters - personal, 1878
Committees, organizations, legislation, miscellaneous requests, 1878
William Force, James Jenkins, Abram Hewitt, Aug. W. Cutler, New Jersey Assoc.
Trip to Europe - Paris Exposition - Centennial, 1878
Mines - zinc, oxford iron - Scranton, Jos. Jenkins, - Bethlehem, 1878
Agriculture, 1878
College correspondence, 1878
Miscellaneous - drainage, water supply, 1878
Geological survey - G. Howell, J. Smock, 1878
C.C. Vermuelle Letters, 1878
Geological papers - mostly on clay, 1878
Geological papers - Babcock, Adam and Eve's bones found, 1878
Geology - miscellaneous, 1878
New Jersey Geological Survey - requests for copies - acknowledgements of copies, 1878
Box
24 Personal, 1879
Agriculture Advice, lectures, Grange, Fertilizer, 1879
Agricultural Farm and College: meteorology, Farm, Board of Visitors, 1879
Miscellaneous letters: drainage, mining, 1879
Commercial interests - advice: glass, salt, clay, wells and water, drainage, 1879
Geology - specimens and fossils, drift, 1879
Geological Survey - papers and correspondence, 1879
Miscellaneous societies and legislation and Paris Exposition, 1879
East Jersey Proprietors - William Force, 1879
Rutgers College, 1879
Miscellaneous, 1879
Individual Correspondents, 1879
Unimportant miscellany, 1879
Box
25 Miscellany, 1880
Geological Theory, 1880
Individual correspondents, 1880
Publications, societies, legislation, 1880
Personal, 1880
Commercial interests - drainage, 1880
New Jersey Geological Survey, 1880
Rutgers College, 1880
Agricultural Correspondence, 1880
Proprietors, 1880
Box
26 Take notes [and correspondence], 1881-1882
Personal, 1881-1882
Boundary Commission, 1881-1882
General, 1881-1882
College correspondence, 1881-1882
Geological papers, 1881-1882
Geological papers, 1881-1882
Miscellany, 1881-1882
Miscellany, 1881-1882
Geological papers, 1881-1882
Geological survey, 1881-1882
Commercial: mines, peat, 1881-1882
Selected letters, 1881-1882
From David Murray, James Neilson, William Force, W.P. Garrison.
Miscellaneous: Drainage (A. Hoagland); legislation (national) - recommendations, 1881-1882
Agriculture, 1881-1882
Boundary - NY-NJ, 1881-1882
College correspondence, 1881-1882
Personal, 1881-1882
Boundary, 1881-1882
Miscellaneous, 1881-1882
File, 1881-1882
Box
27 Agriculture, 1883-1884
Geology, 1883-1884
Personal, 1883-1884
Correspondence, 1883-1884
Boundary Commission, 1883-1884
Miscellaneous, 1883-1884
Agriculture, 1883-1884
College, 1883-1884
Receipts, 1883-1884
College correspondence, 1883-1884
College correspondence, 1883-1884
Miscellaneous I - societies, legislation, boundary, Murray, Hall, Oyster Island, 1883-1884
Miscellaneous II - Mines, consultation, etc., 1883-1884
Geological papers, 1883-1884
Geology, 1883-1884
Personal, 1883-1884
Box
28 East Jersey Proprietors, 1885-1886
Agricultural correspondence - William Force, 1885-1886
New Jersey Geological Survey, 1885-1886
Rutgers College, 1885-1886
Personal, 1885-1886
Miscellaneous, 1885-1886
Miscellaneous East Jersey Proprietors, 1885-1886
Drainage, 1885-1886
Lecture on water supply, 1885-1886
Geological papers, 1885-1886
Receipts, 1885-1886
Geological papers - drainage, 1885-1886
Rutgers College, 1885-1886
Geological and College correspondence, 1885-1886
Agriculture, 1885-1886
Miscellaneous, 1885-1886
Bills and receipts, 1885-1886
Personal, 1885-1886
Personal, 1885-1886
Legislation and miscellaneous, 1885-1886
Geological papers, 1885-1886
Box
29 Geology - International Congress of Geologists, Smock, Atherton, Frazer, Dana, 1887
Geological Survey, 1887
Geological Survey, 1887
Miscellaneous I - Societies - Arn. Ass. for Adv. of Sci.; Nat'l Acad., 1887
Miscellaneous II - State Bd. of Health, Water Commission, Boundary (NY-NJ) , 1887
Miscellaneous III - Drainage, 1887
East New Jersey Proprietors, 1887
Personal, 1887
Agriculture - weather, 1887
Rutgers College, 1887
Printed material, 1887
Bills and receipts, 1887
Hatch Act, 1887
Mines, commercial interests, 1887
Box
30 Societies (professional) - International Congress of Geologists, 1888-1889
Personal, 1888-1889
Geological Survey, 1888-1889
Agriculture - Mellick letters 1888-1889
Miscellaneous - Drainage, Boundary 1888-1889
Miscellaneous II - Proprietors, John Smock 1888-1889
Agriculture - weather, 1888-1889
College - Ag. Exp. Station, 1888-1889
Commercial interests - Mines - Colo. Jimmy Mack, 1888-1889
College, 1888-1889
Commercial interests, 1888-1889
Personal, 1888-1889
Miscellaneous, 1888-1889
Miscellaneous I, 1888-1889
Miscellaneous II, 1888-1889
Box
31 Miscellaneous, post-1889
Miscellaneous, 1890
Miscellaneous, 1891
Miscellaneous, 1892
Miscellaneous, 1893
Miscellaneous, 1894
Miscellaneous, 1895
Miscellaneous, 1896
Miscellaneous, 1900
Miscellaneous, 1904-1907
Box
32 Miscellaneous
Newspaper clips
Geology
Undated material
Exams - geology
Geology - drainage
Geological Survey
Letters
College expenses - Natural Historical Society, 1861-1864
Report on Tides at Sandy Hook, NJ, 1868
Letters - Geologist, 1867
Geological Survey Vouchers, 1866-1867
Inventories, etc. of Geological Survey, 1852-1857
Miscellaneous
Affidavits and certificates as to cop of Coxe's map
Drainage
Meteorology
Chemistry
Mr. Seguine's letter
Geology
Rutgers College
Agriculture
Jackalow case, 1860
College, 1877-1885
Geology, 1868-1889
Miscellaneous, 1873
Miscellaneous
Box
33 Notebooks: Nos. 1, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Surveying book
Morris and Essex notebook
Diary, July 9, 1838 - April 12, 1841
Box
34 Notebook: No. 5
Diaries
Class notebooks
Miscellaneous notebooks
Notebook of Paul Cook
Account book of Robert Cook
Diary of Sarah Cook
Journals of Geological Tours, 1846 and 1839-1846
Two volumes, one with notes on geological lectures by Prof. Amos Eaton
Travel Journal, 1843-1846
Two volumes
Box
35 Manuscript and typescript
Galleys
Book Buell, 1900
Box
36 Miscellany
Unfoldered: Altman's map (1881) Census - 1880 - quarries - NY State Lectures (Ag., Geological, Class Book of Names)
Box
37 Miscellany
Unfoldered: Lectures, papers (addresses), correspondence, photo negative of Geo. H. Cook; Essays: "On the Extent of the Deluge" "Education for those who work"
Box
38 Miscellany
Team books, 1870 Agricultural account book, 1872 Journal of Farming Operations, 1869 Accounts of Spring Ridge Farm, 1879, etc.
Box
39 Miscellany
Unfoldered: Legal papers, patents, pictures
Box
40 Geological Survey notebooks #49 - #58, 1878
Photographs and negatives of Geo. H. Cook and negative of "The College Farm House and Barns in Dr. Cook's Time"
Box
41 Account Books (14), 1838-1868
Box
42 Financial papers
Unsorted, unfoldered: Geological Survey, College Farm, Personal
Box
43 Financial papers
Unsorted, unfoldered: Geological Survey, College Farm, Personal
Box
44 Financial papers
Unsorted, unfoldered: Geological Survey, College Farm, Personal
Box
45 Financial papers
Unsorted, unfoldered: Geological Survey, College Farm, Personal
Box
46 Financial papers
Unsorted, unfoldered: Geological Survey, College Farm, Personal
Box
47 Financial papers
Unsorted, unfoldered: Geological Survey, College Farm, Personal
Box
48 Cancelled checks, 1854-1864
Bank Books, 1854-1858
Vouchers
Box
49 Cancelled checks, 1859-1883
Bank Books, 1876-1887
Box
50 Cancelled checks, 1873-1886
Box
51 Emma Cook, 1902
Anne Cook, 1902
Mary Cook, 1900, 1906
Box
52 Ms. index to (N.J. Geology)
Box
53 Notebook,
Possibly belonging to Benjamin Stephens, containing gleanings from reading on various, usually, non-scientific subjects