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William Brown Hodgson papers
Descriptive Summary | |
| Repository: | Georgia Historical Society |
| Creator: | Hodgson, William Brown, 1800-1871. |
| Title: | William Brown Hodgson papers |
| Dates: | 1842-1870 |
| Extent: | 0.25 cubic feet (1 box) |
| Identification: | MS 0388 |
Biographical/Historical Note
William Brown Hodgson (1801-1871) was born in Georgetown, D.C., and spent several years in the near East as Dragoman and Consul. He mastered thirteen languages, although he never attended college. In 1842, he married Margaret Telfair and moved to Savannah where he spent the rest of his life. Hodgson joined the Georgia Historical Society and was named a curator in 1845. He was also a member of the American Oriental Society. He published several studies on North African languages, Georgia fossils (principally the Megatherium), all of which are in the Georgia Historical Society's library. Hodgson died in 1871 while visiting New York City. A new headquarters and library for the Georgia Historical Society was erected by Margaret Telfair in memory of her husband; Hodgson Hall was dedicated on February 14, 1876.
Scope and Content Note
The collection consists of seven letters, one plan, and one scrapbook. Most of the materials center on Hodgson's personal and social life in Savannah, the American Oriental Society, and Hodgson's work with various languages. The collection contains a plan of the Villages of Telfairville, Burke County. The scrapbook is in such a deteriorated condition it cannot be used. It contains clippings and a few papers describing chateaux, etc.
Index Terms
Location of Originals
Originals of the American Oriental Society letters are in the Collection of the American Oriental Society, Yale University.
Original copy of the Berrien-Hodgson letter, March 14, 1848, part of a private collection.
Physical and Technical Access Restrictions
The scrapbook is greatly deteriorated and cannot be used.
Administrative Information
Custodial History
The letter to Durand purchased from Symmachus Trading Company, Boston, Massachusetts.
Preferred Citation
[item identification],William Brown Hodgson papers, MS 388, Georgia Historical Society, Savannah, Georgia.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Elmer O. Parker, 1969 (Berrien letter); Mrs. Howard J. Morrison, 1970 (American Oriental Society letters). Purchased, 1951 (letter to Durand).
Restrictions
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the Georgia Historical Society. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Division of Library and Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Georgia Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the researcher.
Sponsorship
Encoding funded by a 2012 Documenting Democracy grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.Container List
Fldr | Item | ||||||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Pierce Butler to W.B. Hodgson, 1861 July 13 ( 2.0 p. ) | |||||||||||
| Note of thanks for Madeira wine; will drop by for tea. | |||||||||||||
Fldr | Item | ||||||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Plan of the Villages of Telfairville, Burke County, Georgia ( 1.0 p. ) | |||||||||||
| Surveyed by J.J. Boyd, April 28, 1870; lithograph by R.H. Howell, Savannah, Georgia. | |||||||||||||
Fldr | Item | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 5 | W.B. Hodgson to W.W. Greenough. New York, 1843 September 30 ( 1.0 p. ) | |||||||||||
| Acknowledges with appreciation membership in American Oriental Society. | |||||||||||||
Fldr | Item | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 7 | W.B. Hodgson to J.J. Dinwell. Savannah, 1845 April 2 ( 1.0 p. ) | |||||||||||
| Ordering proceeding of the American Oriental Society. | |||||||||||||
Fldr | Item | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 8 | W.B. Hodgson to unknown recipient. New Port, 1846 July 16 ( 2.0 p. ) | |||||||||||
| Declines invitation to read a paper before the American Oriental Society; discusses his work on Georgia fossils. | |||||||||||||
Fldr | Item | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 9 | W.B. Hodgson to William Dwight Whitney. Savannah, 1858 April 12 | |||||||||||
| Discusses the engraved stone found in a Creek tumulus, comparing it with other language characters. | |||||||||||||
Fldr | Item | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 10-11 | W.B. Hodgson to William Dwight Whitney. Ocean House, New Port, and Savannah, 1859 August 5, 1860 November 22 | |||||||||||
| Regarding circular of American Oriental Society. | |||||||||||||
Fldr | Item | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 12 | Scrapbook. In deteriorated condition: DO NOT USE | |||||||||||