Cambridge
University is working on a major digitisation project that will make some of
the rarely seen historic papers associated with Charles Darwin available at a
click of the mouse. The project will begin with a correspondence of some 1,400
letters with botanist Joseph Hooker, the closest friend of the celebrated
British naturalist best known for his theory of evolution. "Hooker was
admitted into the select group of those with whom Darwin felt able to discuss
his emerging ideas," Alison Pearn, associate director of the Darwin
Correspondence Project, told 'The Independent' ahead of an official launch
later this month. "In perhaps his most famous letter of all, Darwin wrote
to Hooker in 1844 of his growing conviction that species ‘are not... immutable’
– an admission he likened, half-jokingly, to ‘confessing a murder’… It was also
to Hooker that Darwin sent the manuscript of On the Origin of Species for
comment," Dr Pearn added. Cambridge University Library houses the world's
largest and most significant collection of Darwin's personal papers. The
archive – some 9,000 letters – includes correspondence with leading thinkers of
the day and the earliest manuscripts outlining his theories, which scandalised
Victorians by suggesting animals and humans had a common ancestry. Digitising
the papers of Darwin follows the university's online success with the archive
of another famous scientist, Sir Isaac Newton, which has attracted millions of
hits worldwide. Of the letters between Darwin and Hooker, 300 have not been
published before. Both men faced the trauma of losing their family members.
"Thank God she… never knew that she was leaving Frank and all of us for
ever. I cannot think what will become of Frank. She helped and encouraged him
in his scientific work and whether he will ever have heart to go on again… I
cannot conceive. My dear old Friend I know that you will forgive me pouring out
my grief," says Darwin, in reference to his daughter-in-law who died at
the age of 26 in childbirth. She was the wife of his son, Francis, and during
her engagement, and on her honeymoon, she had collected plant specimens for her
father-in-law. Her child, Bernard, survived and was brought up by Francis and
his grandparents. "I don’t know of another letter (like it). I don’t think
there are many people to whom (Darwin) would have written in this way. This is
unique insight into his attachment to his daughter-in-law," Dr Pearn said.
The collection of Charles Darwin's papers at the University Library originates
in the work of his son Francis, who published two editions of his father's
letters, in 1887 and 1903. For these editions he collected as many of Charles's
letters and papers as possible, which remained in the family after Francis
died. In 1942, the Pilgrim Trust and the Darwin family gave most of these
papers to the Cambridge University Library. Cambridge
University is working on a major digitisation project that will make some of
the rarely seen historic papers associated with Charles Darwin available at a
click of the mouse. The project will begin with a correspondence of some 1,400
letters with botanist Joseph Hooker, the closest friend of the celebrated
British naturalist best known for his theory of evolution. "Hooker was
admitted into the select group of those with whom Darwin felt able to discuss
his emerging ideas," Alison Pearn, associate director of the Darwin
Correspondence Project, told 'The Independent' ahead of an official launch
later this month. "In perhaps his most famous letter of all, Darwin wrote
to Hooker in 1844 of his growing conviction that species ‘are not... immutable’
– an admission he likened, half-jokingly, to ‘confessing a murder’… It was also
to Hooker that Darwin sent the manuscript of On the Origin of Species for
comment," Dr Pearn added. Cambridge University Library houses the world's
largest and most significant collection of Darwin's personal papers. The
archive – some 9,000 letters – includes correspondence with leading thinkers of
the day and the earliest manuscripts outlining his theories, which scandalised
Victorians by suggesting animals and humans had a common ancestry. Digitising
the papers of Darwin follows the university's online success with the archive
of another famous scientist, Sir Isaac Newton, which has attracted millions of
hits worldwide. Of the letters between Darwin and Hooker, 300 have not been
published before. Both men faced the trauma of losing their family members.
"Thank God she… never knew that she was leaving Frank and all of us for
ever. I cannot think what will become of Frank. She helped and encouraged him
in his scientific work and whether he will ever have heart to go on again… I
cannot conceive. My dear old Friend I know that you will forgive me pouring out
my grief," says Darwin, in reference to his daughter-in-law who died at
the age of 26 in childbirth. She was the wife of his son, Francis, and during
her engagement, and on her honeymoon, she had collected plant specimens for her
father-in-law. Her child, Bernard, survived and was brought up by Francis and
his grandparents. "I don’t know of another letter (like it). I don’t think
there are many people to whom (Darwin) would have written in this way. This is
unique insight into his attachment to his daughter-in-law," Dr Pearn said.
The collection of Charles Darwin's papers at the University Library originates
in the work of his son Francis, who published two editions of his father's
letters, in 1887 and 1903. For these editions he collected as many of Charles's
letters and papers as possible, which remained in the family after Francis
died. In 1942, the Pilgrim Trust and the Darwin family gave most of these
papers to the Cambridge University Library.
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