Browse Exhibits (80 total)
"Some Considerations Touching the Usefullnesse of Experimental Naturall Philosophy " by Robert Boyle
In his book originally published in 1663 Some Considerations Touching the Usefullnesse of Experimental Naturall Philosophy, Robert Boyle provides detailed descriptions of phenomena in the natural world, and what role these phenomena play. There is a key focus on medicine and medical remedies as a whole in this book, including techniques for concocting such remedies. Boyle’s science, it is important to note, is quite focused on religious doctrine and teachings. This book merges religion and science, using religion as a framework on which to “hang” the discoveries that Boyle himself made about the physical world. Overall, Boyle uses this book to articulate his belief that science could be used for the greater good of humanity, in the form of medical treatments.
This copy of the book is found in Tisch Library at Tufts University. This particular exhibit was created for the course Nature and Knowledge, taught by Professor Alisha Rankin at Tufts University.
Codicology of Tufts MS 18, a Marian text
MS 18 was donated to the library of Tufts College in the 19th Century, never accessioned in the modern area, and rediscovered only in November, 2016.
The codicological images and notes herein are the work of Tufts's students in Medieval Latin, Spring 2017, under the direction of Professor Riccardo Strobino.
Sketches of the Origins ,Progress, and Effects of Music, With An Account Of The Ancient Bards and Minstrels
A copy of Sketches of the Origins ,Progress, and Effects of Music, With An Account Of The Ancient Bards and Minstrels, a survey of the history of music's role in western society by Richard Eastcott with anecdotal chapters on the physiological effects of music and the current state of music in Eastcott's native Devon, England. Printed in 1793 in Bath. This book is found in the Tufts University Tisch Library special collections for rare books. It is a second edition copy, which was printed later in the same year.
Eastscott, Richard. History of the Origins, Progress, and Effects of Music. 2nd ed. Bath: Samuel Hazard, 1793.
David Ramsay's "The History of the American Revolution", Volumes I-II (1789)
David Ramsay's The History of the American Revolution is a two-volume history of the Revolutionary War, from the growth of colonial dissent in the 1760's (following the French and Indian War) to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
The copies of The History of the American Revolution, housed in the Rare Books collection of Tisch Library at Tufts University, are first-edition, printed in 1789 by Philadelphia-based R. Aitken and Son.
Written only six years following the Treaty of Paris, Ramsay's narrative is considered the first comprehensive work on the American Revolution. His work was met with acclaim upon publication--so much so that his reputation as a "historian" dwarfed his status as a "politician" for posterity.
John Trumbull's "The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill" (1786); the painting is a popular Neoclassical painting depicting the infamous battle, which largely took place on nearby Breed's Hill.
Ann Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho
The Mysteries of Udolpho, by Ann Radcliffe, was published in 1794. While it was not her first work, it would be Radcliffe's most popular. The copy currently held in Tisch Special Collections is the second edition, and was purchased by the university in 1908. This copy had been a part of the circulating library before it was added to special collections. This exhibit will look at the physical qualities of the book, as well as its provenance.
"A Guide to Health, Beauty, Riches, and Honour" by Francis Grose (1783)
A facsimile of Francis Grose's "A Guide to Health, Beauty, Riches, and Honour" (1783). Accessed in Tisch Library Special Collections. A collection of British newspaper advertisements from 1730-1750, with an eight-page preface by Grose. The text was rebound in the late 19th Century for Edward and Hugh Doggett to include a copy of George Paul's "Thoughts on the Alarming Process of the Gaol Fever." The text is written in English, but contains several untranslated entries in French. Each entry has a capitalized number and title stating what it pertains to, as well as an italicized publication name and date.
The purpose of the text is to satirize the charlatanism present in 18th Century British advertisements. Grose presents a collection of British newspaper advertisements pertaining to categories from medical treatments to offers of marriage, in order to display the outlandish effects of the society’s increasing focus on consumption. By collecting antiquarian ephemera and employing a satirical tone in his writing, Grose’s guide reflects on eighteenth-century British society for what it was, criticizing the preoccupation with wealth and status during a time of supposed prosperity.
"Dictionary of the English Language" by Samuel Johnson (1755)
Drawing upon contemporary literature and historical sources, Samuel Johnson pieced together his Dictionary of the English Language over the course of nine years of intense labor and financial hardship. Johnson's Dictionary was the first English dictionary of its kind and provided comprehensive grammar lessons, a history of the English language, and definitions for most known English words. Johnson's dictionary was widely regarded as the preeminent dictionary for the centuries following its publication and was adopted for the instruction of English in colonies across the globe.
Basil Kennett's Romæ Antiquæ Notitia (1721)
Basil Kennett's Romæ Antiquæ Notitia or, The antiquities of Rome : in two parts: I. A short history of the rise, progress, and decay of the Common-wealth. II. A description of the city : an account of the religion, civil government and art of war ... to which are prefix'd two essays: concerning the Roman learning, and the Roman education is an antiquity text that explores the rise and fall of Ancient Rome. Originally published in 1696, Tufts special collections has the seventh edition of this book, which was published in 1721. This presentation will focus on that version of the book
"Anatomical Tables of the Human Body" by William Cheselden (1796)
An Overview
This is a visual presentation of selected higlights from William Cheselden's Anatomical Tables of the Human Body. This book was printed by Manning and Loring for bookseller David West in Boston in 1796 and constitutes part of the Special Collections at Tisch Library. Photographs taken of the book display the use of copper engravings to print anatomical diagrams. These diagrams highlight the use of illustration in communicating scientific knowledge to both academic and general audiences in the 18th century in England and America.
Full-body skeletal diagram from Table X.
A Compendious System of Astronomy
An analysis of Margaret Bryan's A Compendious System of Astronomy with included pictures of her original diagrams and marginalia added post publication. The book was accessed from the Tisch Library Special Collections. The diagrams and simplistic language function as a tool to give her readers a well rounded lesson in astronomy. Each chapter is broken into a different lesson and includes some of the history behind the science. Christianity is mentioned often and her lessons are sometimes interrupted by prayers or biblical quotes. Bryan includes practice lessons and an index of terms to accomodate her readers. The book was published in 1797 and was the first volume of two in her series of astronomy textbooks.
