This collection is comprised of a 4-page letter from surveyor and scientist Cadwallader Colden to botanist John Frederic Gronovius (October 1, 1755), in which he enclosed 17 pages of his daughter Jane's botanical descriptions and leaf impressions (1755). Cadwallader Colden mentioned that his previous correspondence may have been delayed on account of the capture of the packet by privateers, remarked on women and botanical study, praised his daughter's willingness to collaborate on botanical projects (and her possible discover of new genera), and expressed his esteem for Carl Linnaeus and the Linnaean system. Colden also mentioned the Royal Garden at Paris and referred to other scientists, including "Dr. Haller" [Albrecht von Haller] and "Mr. Calm" [Peter Kalm].
Colden enclosed a sampling of Jane's botanical work which contains descriptions of plants (e.g. cup, flower, chives, pistil, cover of seed, seeds, seat of the seeds, root, stalk, leaves) and leaf impressions.
The following list of represented plants employs her spelling:
- No. 299: Diandria Monogynia
- No. 302: [No name present]
- No. 300: Tetriandria Digynia
- No. 241: Pentandria Trigynia
- No. 291: Didynamia Gymnospermia
- No. 216: [No name present]
- No. 215: [No name present]
- No. 296: Clinopodium (Mountain-Mint)
- No. 304: Monadelphia Polyandria
- No. 153: Polyadelphia Enneandria
- No. 297: Syngenesia Polygamia Superflua (Helenia)
Jane Colden's manuscript includes the following leaf and plant impressions:
- No. 153: Polyadelphia Enneandria
- No. 304: Monadelphia Plyandria
- No. 297: Syngenesia Polygamia Superflua (Helenia)
- [Not numbered]: Rubus
- No. 296: Clinopodium (Mountain-Mint)
- No. 291: Didynamia Gymnospermia
- No. 299: Diandria Monogynia
- No. 300: Tetriandria Digynia
- No. 216: [No name present]
- No. 215: [No name present]
- No. 302: [No name present]
A single newspaper clipping from December 14, 1765, accompanies the Colden manuscripts. The clipping includes the text of a letter received by Lieutenant Governor Cadwallader Colden, which prompted his "declaration that he would have nothing to do with the Stamps [Stamp Act, 1765] till the arrival of Sir Henry Moore." The printed letter threatens death to Cadwallader Colden if he were to enforce the Stamp Act. The printed letter contains the text of two labels that were affixed to the effigies of enemies of American liberties hung in Boston on November 4 at the Tree of Liberty.
Cadwallader Colden (February 7, 1688-September 28, 1776) was born in Ireland of Scottish parents. He received a degree from the University of Edinburgh and studied medicine in London. He immigrated to Philadelphia in 1710, moved to New York in 1718, and became surveyor general of the colony in 1720. He served as Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1760 to 1762, and worked as a physician, farmer, surveyor, scientist, and botanist.
Cadwallader's daughter, Jane Colden (March 27, 1724-March 10, 1766), is recognized as the first female botanist working in America. Born in New York City as the fifth child of Cadwallader Colden and Alice Christy Colden, Jane was educated at home and learned the Linnaean system of taxonomy from her father, a correspondent of Swedish botanist and physician Carl Linnaeus.
John Frederic Gronovius (February 10, 1686-July 10, 1762), was a Dutch botanist. John was the grandson of Johann Friedrich Gronovius, a classical scholar.
Albrecht von Haller (October 16, 1708-1777) was a scientist who contributed significantly to developments in medicine, physiology, botany, pharmacology, theology, literature, editing, biography, and geography. He was born in Berne and studied at the University of Tubingen.
