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Rare 1889 Autograph Letter Signed by Renowned Scientist Thomas Sterry Hunt—Reflecting on Mentorship, Scientific Writing, and Illness
This deeply personal 3-page autograph letter, dated August 5, 1889, is handwritten and signed by eminent geologist and chemist Thomas Sterry Hunt while convalescing at St. Luke\'s Hospital in New York. Addressed to Ben W. Austin, Esq., Hunt discusses his inability to respond sooner due to his health, references his work dedicated to Benjamin Silliman Jr., and notes his recent relocation from Canada to New York.
This is a moving artifact that not only reflects Hunt’s intellectual legacy but also his personal hardships late in life. Hunt, a pivotal figure in 19th-century scientific thought, was one of the early theorists connecting chemical geology, mineralogy, and philosophy of science. This letter serves as a tangible link between the formative minds of American science—Silliman, Hunt, and the broader academic landscape of the time.
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Full Transcription:
> New York August 5, 1889
Ben W. Austin Esq.
My dear Sir,
Your letter of June last would have been sooner answered, but for the reason that I have been for two months, and still am, a patient in St. Luke\'s Hospital, and though convalescent, unable to get out or have access to my library and papers. I hope in a few weeks to do so and to send you as you desire a letter of the late Prof. Silliman. I seldom keep letters, but think that among the hundreds which for forty years passed from my old friend & master to myself, I can find one, which I shall have great pleasure in sending you.
You are perhaps aware that my last work, titled “Universal Philosophy and Physonomy” (Boston, 1886), is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Silliman (him who died in 1885). I was also a pupil of, and assistant to his father Prof. Benj. Silliman who died in 1864.
When I get out I shall have pleasure also in sending you my photograph as you request. Meanwhile I remain dear Sir
Faithfully Yours,
T. Sterry Hunt
P.S. My home is no longer in Canada, but in New York as you will see by my card enclosed.
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Biographical Note – Thomas Sterry Hunt (1826–1892):
Thomas Sterry Hunt was a brilliant 19th-century geologist, chemist, and writer. He held positions with the Geological Survey of Canada, the Laval University, and served as professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His pioneering work in chemical geology introduced foundational concepts regarding the chemical makeup of minerals, sedimentary rocks, and natural waters. Hunt published prolifically, with over 200 titles, including “Mineralogy According to a Natural System”, and the philosophical volume referenced in this letter, Universal Philosophy and Physonomy (1886).
Hunt was a founding member and president of several scientific societies, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. His correspondence and scientific legacy link him with many of the great minds of the 19th century, including his mentors Benjamin Silliman Sr. and Jr., who were influential figures in American science education at Yale College.
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Historical and Scholarly Importance:
This letter not only reveals Hunt\'s reverence for his mentor Silliman and his intellectual lineage, but it also serves as an emotionally resonant record of a prominent scientist’s declining health and commitment to legacy and mentorship. Hunt’s reference to his philosophical and scientific writings, as well as his dedication to Silliman, highlights the strong intellectual heritage of early American scientific thought.
Notably, this letter was written during the mature phase of Hunt’s philosophical career, at a time when American science was transitioning toward institutional professionalism. The connection to Benjamin Silliman—one of Yale’s and America’s earliest chemistry professors—cements the document’s importance for collectors of scientific, academic, and philosophical history.
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Condition:
Very good overall. All three pages written in brown ink in Hunt’s hand, fully legible with no major defects. Original folds from mailing. Accompanied by a vintage biographical clipping and printed portrait of Hunt, including a facsimile of his signature.
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A rare, signed first-hand glimpse into the life and mind of a 19th-century scientific visionary. Ideal for collectors of scientific manuscripts, Yale and MIT history, or those interested in the intellectual legacy of American geology and chemistry.
