Henry Charlton Bastian papers, 1841-1932 and undated bulk 1870-1920

Using These Materials Teaser

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
More about accessing and using these materials...

Summary

Creator:
Bastian, H. Charlton
Abstract:
Prominent British scientist active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for his work on spontaneous generation (abiogenesis) and neurological science. Collection dates from 1841-1932 and documents Bastian's rise as a neuroscientist, biologist, writer, and researcher, and encompasses typed and manuscript correspondence, research notes, offprints, handwritten drafts, early scientific photographs, pencil and ink drawings, and professional reviews and accolades. The largest series contains correspondence dating from 1856 to 1932, from prominent scientists, neurologists, scholars, publishers, assistants, and friends, including Louis Pasteur, Caleb Saleeby, Thomas Huxley, Sir John Bretland Farmer, Aristide Pratelle, William Paton Ker; there are also letters written by Bastian, including exchanges with the Académie des Sciences in France. The materials chiefly concern Bastian's early 20th century work on abiogenesis, but also on aphasia and paralysis. The collection also contains numerous pieces of correspondence addressed to Bastian's daughter, Sybil Bastian, who was also a scientist, and his wife Julia. Other materials include obituaries, condolence letters, Christmas cards, and newspaper clippings. Acquired as part of the History of Medicine Collections at Duke University.
Extent:
2 Linear Feet
Approx. 1200 Items
Language:
Material in English
Collection ID:
RL.00088

Background

Scope and content:

The Henry Charlton Bastian collection dates from 1841 to 1932, with the bulk of the materials falling between 1870 and 1920. The papers document Bastian's rise as a neurologist, writer, and researcher, and encompass typed and manuscript correspondence, research notes, offprints, articles, handwritten drafts, early scientific photographs, pencil and ink drawings, and professional reviews and accolades.

The bulk of the collection is made up of correspondence dating from 1856-1932, chiefly from prominent scientists, neurologists, scholars, publishers, assistants, and friends--including Louis Pasteur, Caleb Saleeby, Thomas Huxley and his wife Annie, Sir John Bretland Farmer, Aristide Pratelle, and William Paton Ker, among many others. There is a group of testimonial letters from fellow scientists. There are a number of outgoing pieces as well written by Bastian which include exchanges with the Académie des sciences of France. The correspondence as well as the research notes and writings chiefly concern Bastian's work on abiogenesis, but also his neurological research on aphasia and paralysis. The collection also contains numerous pieces of correspondence addressed to Bastian's daughter, Sybil Bastian, who was also a scientist, and Bastian's wife Julia; there are in particular many condolence letters received following Bastian's death in 1915. The professional papers include Bastian's research drawings and early photomicrographs, reviews of his work, reprints, and diplomas. Other materials are more personal, and include obituaries, Christmas cards, and a newspaper clipping reporting the details of London's 1919 victory march.

Acquired as part of the History of Medicine Collections at Duke University.

Biographical / historical:

Henry Charlton Bastian (1937-1915), born in Truro, Cornwall, was a pioneer in the field of neurology. He studied at University College, London and was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of London. Bastian was known for his works on aphasia, the loss of the ability to express or understand speech due to brain damage. He also demonstrated Bastian's Law, which holds that the complete section of the upper spinal cord abolishes reflexes and muscular tone below the level of the lesion. He published various works on paralysis and coined the term kinesthesia to describe the sense of body motion. Bastian was also known for his work on abiogenesis, less accurately known as spontaneous generation. Bastian, in sharp contrast to Pasteur, Koch, Huxley and Darwin, controversially argued that there was no fixed boundary between living and nonliving organic matter and that the processes that generated life in an earlier stage could still be operating in the present. His experiments, however, could not be reproduced, and his views were generally discredited in the profession.

Acquisition information:
The Henry Charlton Bastian papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2012.
Processing information:

Processed by Joanne Fairhurst, November 2012.

Encoded by Joanne Fairhurst and Paula Jeannet, December 2012.

Accession(s) described in this finding aid: 2012-0208.

Arrangement:

Arranged in the following series: Correspondence, Personal Papers, and Professional Papers. Within series, items are arranged in chronological order, with undated items placed at the end of their respective series and arranged alphabetically by author or title.

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Before you visit:
Please consult our up-to-date information for visitors page, as our services and guidelines periodically change.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Henry Charlton Bastian Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.