1877 Letter to Prominent American Geologist Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden From David Honeyman at The Halifax Provincial Museum

On offer is a handwritten letter to American geologist and surveyor Ferdinand Vendeveer Hayden from fellow geologist David Honeyman. From context the letter seems to have accompanied a published volume (not included) sent to Hayden.

Partial transcription of letter:

D. F. V. Hagden
V. V. V. V.
Halifax Provincial Museum
Feb. 9/77
My Dear Sir,
There is no one that we would be more ready to favour than your worthy self. Unfortunately we have not a copy of the… Not one. I hope that your… are now all sound, do not consider yourself a Chamois although a member of the Alpine Club. I send you a copy of our … the 3rd that I have… I hope you will find in it something interesting and not heretical.
The only favour that I can ask of you at least at present is that you will send me your Photograph so that I may have you… in my album of notable… & Palaeontologist & Friends.
Yours very truly,
D. Honeyman

David Honeyman (1817-1889) was a Presbyterian minister, geologist, teacher, and curator. Honeyman had success in establishing the Provincial Museum in Halifax (now the Museum of Natural History). Honeyman persuaded the provincial government to provide room to house the collections so painfully gathered for the international exhibitions, as well as those of the defunct Halifax Mechanics’ Institute. The museum opened in 1868 with Honeyman as curator. Its early years were difficult, however, because the museum did not receive legislative sanction or appropriations until 1872. During Honeyman’s tenure as curator, from 1868 to 1889, the museum’s annual budget (which included his salary) rarely exceeded $1,300. Hampered by lack of funds and space, he was nevertheless able to expand the collections significantly, particularly in geology, and through his prolific writings to add to his own reputation and to that of the museum. His published articles on Nova Scotia geology number approximately 58.

Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden (1829-1877) was an American geologist noted for his pioneering surveying expeditions of the Rocky Mountains in the late 19th century. He was also a physician who served with the Union Army during the Civil War. Following his 1871 expedition into Wyoming, his surveys and publications were instrumental in Yellowstone's establishment as a national park.

Single page holograph letter, 5 x 8 inches, had paper clip on top right now removed, with indents and 1 inch old fold tear on bottom edge of paper going between the ‘D’ and ‘H’ of the signature, otherwise Good condition.