By Stacy Locke, Manager of Historical Collections
Title: Cornelius Rea Agnew Papers, 1858-1910
Predominant Dates:1858-1888
Primary Creator: Agnew, Cornelius Rea, 1830-1888
Extent: 1.0 Boxes
Arrangement: Series Arrangement
Date Acquired: 09/27/2018
Subjects: Agnew, Cornelius Rea, 1830-1888, Agnew, Mary Nash, 1830-1918, Astor, John Jacob, 1822-1890, Barnard, Frederick A. P. (Frederick Augustus Porter), 1809-1889, Bayles, James C. (James Copper), 1845-, Cornell, Alonzo B., 1832-1904, Dodge, W. E. (William Earl), 1832-1903, Eckert, Thomas Thompson, 1825-1910, Field, Cyrus W. (Cyrus West), 1819-1892, Fish, Hamilton, 1808-1893, Grace, William Russell, 1832-1904, Guggenheimer, Randolph E., 1846-1907, Hand, Aaron, 1811-1880, Hartley, Jonathan Scott, 1845-1912, Hewitt, Abram S. (Abram Stevens), 1822-1903, Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894, Jay, John, 1817-1894, Kennedy, John S. (John Stewart), 1830-1909, Lanier, Charles, 1837-1926, Low, Seth, 1850-1916, MacArthur, Arthur, Jr., 1845-1912, Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital, Morgan, Edwin D. (Edwin Denison), 1811-1883, Mortimer, John H., Pratt, Richard Henry, 1840-1924, Pryor, James Williamson, 1858-1924, Roosevelt, Elliott Bulloch, 1860-1894, Roosevelt, James, 1828-1900, Saint-Gaudens, Augustus, 1848-1907, Squibb, Edward Robinson, 1819-1900, Union League Club (New York, N.Y.), Van-Lennep, Henry J. (Henry John), 1815-1889, Vanderbilt, William H. (William Henry), 1821-1885
Languages: English
Dr. Cornelius Rea Agnew (1830-1888) was a prominent ophthalmologist and surgeon in New York City during the second half of the nineteenth century. Born in New York City, Agnew studied at Columbia College and the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. After a short time practicing in Michigan, Agnew returned to New York in 1855, where he would spend the rest of his career. He was appointed to the surgical staff of the Eye and Ear Infirmary of New York City and soon after became surgeon-general of New York State. During the Civil War, Agnew served as the medical director of the New York Volunteer Hospital treating wounded Union soldiers, and was also active in the United States Sanitary Commission. Agnew was a founder of the Union League Club of New York City, assisted in the organization of the School of Mines of Columbia, and established an ophthalmic clinic in the College of Physicians and Surgeons. He also founded the Brooklyn Eye and Ear Hospital, the Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital, and the New York Ophthalmological Society. In his later years, Agnew’s work focused primarily on diseases of the eye, a topic on which he wrote extensively and taught at Columbia University.
Agnew died in 1888 and is interred at The Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, alongside his wife, Mary Nash Agnew (Lot 28342, Sec. 161).
Source: Kelly, Howard A.; Burrage, Walter L., eds. (1920). "Agnew, Cornelius Rea". American Medical Biographies. Baltimore: The Norman, Remington Company.
Agnew, Cornelius Rea, 1830-1888
Agnew, Mary Nash, 1830-1918
Astor, John Jacob, 1822-1890
Barnard, Frederick A. P. (Frederick Augustus Porter), 1809-1889
Bayles, James C. (James Copper), 1845-
Cornell, Alonzo B., 1832-1904
Dodge, W. E. (William Earl), 1832-1903
Eckert, Thomas Thompson, 1825-1910
Field, Cyrus W. (Cyrus West), 1819-1892
Fish, Hamilton, 1808-1893
Grace, William Russell, 1832-1904
Guggenheimer, Randolph E., 1846-1907
Hand, Aaron, 1811-1880
Hartley, Jonathan Scott, 1845-1912
Hewitt, Abram S. (Abram Stevens), 1822-1903
Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894
Jay, John, 1817-1894
Kennedy, John S. (John Stewart), 1830-1909
Lanier, Charles, 1837-1926
Low, Seth, 1850-1916
MacArthur, Arthur, Jr., 1845-1912
Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital
Morgan, Edwin D. (Edwin Denison), 1811-1883
Mortimer, John H.
Pratt, Richard Henry, 1840-1924
Pryor, James Williamson, 1858-1924
Roosevelt, Elliott Bulloch, 1860-1894
Roosevelt, James, 1828-1900
Saint-Gaudens, Augustus, 1848-1907
Squibb, Edward Robinson, 1819-1900
Union League Club (New York, N.Y.)
Van-Lennep, Henry J. (Henry John), 1815-1889
Vanderbilt, William H. (William Henry), 1821-1885
Repository: The Green-Wood Cemetery
Acquisition Source: Swann Auction Galleries, 104 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010
Acquisition Method: Purchase
Processing Information: Accession # 2018-014
Letter written and signed by William E. Dodge Jr. (1832-1903), on letterhead of Phelps, Dodge, & Co., to C.R. Agnew, dated April 11, 1865
Letter written and signed by William E. Dodge Jr. (1832-1903), to C.R. Agnew, dated April 8, 1872
Letter written and signed by William E. Dodge Jr. (1832-1903), to C.R. Agnew, dated March 23 of an unknown year
Letter written and signed by William E. Dodge Jr. (1832-1903), to C.R. Agnew, undated
Printed invitation to the 50th anniversary party of William E. Dodge (1832-1903) and his wife Melissa Phelps, held on June 24, 1878 at Tarrytown on Hudson.
Letter written and signed by Cyrus W. Field (1819-1892) to C.R. Agnew, dated October 12, 1878
Letter written on behalf of Cyrus W. Field (1819-1892) declining an invitation of C.R. Agnew, dated October 26 of an unspecified year
Letter written and signed by Aaron H. Hand to C.R. Agnew, dated November 22, 1878
Letter written and signed by Aaron H. Hand to C.R. Agnew, dated January 1879
Letter written and signed by Aaron H. Hand to C.R. Agnew, dated February 20, 1879
Letter written and signed by Aaron H. Hand to C.R. Agnew, dated March 4, 1879
Letter written and signed by Aaron H. Hand to C.R. Agnew, dated March 11, 1879
Letter written and signed by Jonathan Scott Hartley (1845-1912) to C.R. Agnew, dated December 11, 1891
Letter written and signed by Jonathan Scott Hartley (1845-1912) to C.R. Agnew, dated December 8, 1891
Letter written and signed by Abram S. Hewitt (1822-1903), while serving as mayor of New York City, to C.R. Agnew, dated September 30, 1887
Letter written and signed by Abram S. Hewitt (1822-1903), while serving as mayor of New York City, to James C. Bayles (1845-), President of the Board of Health, dated November 14, 1887
Letter written and signed by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809-1894) to C.R. Agnew, dated December 14, 1883
Letter written and signed by Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809-1894) to C.R. Agnew, dated August 5, 1888
Letter written and signed by Seth Low (1850-1916) to C.R. Agnew, dated June 11, 1888
Letter written and signed by Seth Low (1850-1916) to C.R. Agnew, accepting an invitation, dated October 27 of an unspecified year
Letter written and signed by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883) to C.R. Agnew, dated December 15, 1858
Letter written and signed by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883) to C.R. Agnew, dated January 28, 1864
Letter written and signed by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883) to C.R. Agnew, dated April 1, 1864
Letter written and signed by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883) to C.R. Agnew, dated December 30, 1864
Letter written and signed by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883) to C.R. Agnew, dated May 15, 1866
Letter written and signed by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883) to C.R. Agnew, dated May 19, 1866
Letter written and signed by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883) to C.R. Agnew, dated May 23, 1866
Letter written and signed by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883) to C.R. Agnew, dated October 8, 1878
Letter written and signed by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883) to C.R. Agnew, dated October 24, 1878
Letter written and signed by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883) to C.R. Agnew, dated August 20, 1879
Letter written and signed by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883) to C.R. Agnew, dated November 24, 1880
Letter written and signed by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883) to C.R. Agnew, dated February 9, 1881
Letter written and signed by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883) to C.R. Agnew, dated August 8, 1881
Letter written and signed by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883) to C.R. Agnew, dated November 25, 1881
Letter written and signed by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883) to C.R. Agnew, dated May 26, 1882
Letter written and signed by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883) to C.R. Agnew, dated July 26, 1882
Letter written and signed by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883) to C.R. Agnew, undated
Envelope addressed to Mrs. C.R. Agnew, by Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883), undated, containing dried flowers affixed to a card and a piece of ribbon
Portrait print of Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883), printed by the National Bank note Company in New York
Letter written and signed by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907) to C.R. Agnew, dated December 14, 1891
Letter written and signed by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907) to C.R. Agnew, dated December 18, 1891
Letter typewritten and signed by Edward Robinson Squibb (1819-1900), to C.R. Agnew, dated November 12, 1861
Letter written and signed by Edward Robinson Squibb (1819-1900) to C.R. Agnew dated May 30, 1882
Letter written and signed by Reverend Henry J. Van Lennep (1815-1889) to C.R. Agnew, dated December 20, 1871
Letter written and signed by Reverend Van Lennep (1815-1889) to C.R. Agnew, dated April 2, 1873
Letter written and signed by Reverend Van Lennep (1815-1889) to C.R. Agnew, dated June 10, 1873
Letter written and signed by Reverend Van Lennep (1815-1889) to C.R. Agnew, dated September 19, 1873
Letter written and signed by Reverend Van Lennep (1815-1889) to C.R. Agnew, dated October 14, 1873
Letter written and signed by Reverend Van Lennep (1815-1889) to C.R. Agnew, undated.
Letter written and signed by an unidentified person to C.R. Agnew, dated April 11, 1879
Letter written and signed by an unidentified person to C.R. Agnew, dated April 10, 1882
Letter written and signed by James Williamson Pryor (1858-1924), to C.R. Agnew, dated June 26, 1882.
Letter written and signed by an unidentified person to C.R. Agnew, undated
Menu from a dinner held by the “New York Farmers” at the Union League Club on the evening of January 15, 1883. Property of Cornelius Agnew, with (30) autographs of various guests on the verso.
Menu from a dinner held by the “New York Farmers” at the Hotel Brunswick on the evening of January 15, 1885. Property of Cornelius Agnew, with (23) autographs of various guests on the inside cover.
Menu from a dinner held by the “New York Farmers” at the Hotel Brunswick on the evening of January 19, 1886. Property of Cornelius Agnew, with (27) autographs of various guests on the inside cover.
Invitation to a reception presented by the Union League Club of Philadelphia in honor of General Ulysses S. Grant, to be held December 23, 1879.
Program from a dinner given by members of the Union League Club of 1863 and 1864 in honor of the “Twentieth United States Colored Troops,” held on March 16, 1886. (“To Commemorate the departure for the seat of war of the Twentieth Regiment of United States Colored Troops, raised by the Club”) Property of Cornelius Agnew, signed by Agnew, accompanied by several pages of autographs (59), including several members of the 20th regiment and many listed members of the Club. (Includes signatures of Charles L. Tiffany (1812-1902) and Vincent Colyer (1825-1888))
Program from a dinner given in honor of John Jay by members of the Union League Club, on the occasion of his seventieth birthday, June 24, 1887. Property of Cornelius Agnew, signed by Agnew, accompanied by several pages of autographs (84), including honoree John Jay and many listed members of the Club.
9 blank postcards (5 of Montreal, 2 of New York City, 1 of Philadelphia, 1 of Venice, Italy)
2 copies of “A Short Catechism for Young Children,” one published by T.B. Ventres of Brooklyn, New York and one published by Smith & Son of New York, New York.
2 calling cards, one for Miss Isabella Parsels, one for Mlle. Laurence Menut
Printed quotation from a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, “Nothing is small, no lily-muffled hum of summer bee…”
Booklet, “Compensation,” by Frances Ridley Havergal, 1885
Booklet, “Life from a Wheeled Chair,” by Mary B. Waterman
Card of the Boys and Girls Home Mission Army, with a map of the United States on the reverse
Illustration of the “Earliest library in New York, erected 1785” removed from an unknown publication
Booklet, “A Christmas Eve Disaster,” by Gouverneur M. Smith, with an inscription dated 1888
Material pertaining to The Steam Vessel Owners Association of the Port of New York: An invitation, with the original envelope, inviting C.R. Agnew on the Flag Ship Sam Sloan for a Steam Vessel Parade on November 26, 1883, and a pass to board the ship, issued to Agnew
Reprint invitation to the marriage of Colonel George Washington and Mrs. Martha Custis, 1759, reprinted as an advertisement for printers Dempsey & Carroll
Invitation, accompanied by original envelope, issued to Cornelius R. Agnew by The Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York, to attend the unveiling of the Statue of George Washington at the Sub Treasury in New York City on November 20, 1883.
Handwritten parody of the 23rd Psalm, beginning “Roosevelt is my shepherd, I am in want..” On letterhead of The Barbizon in New York City
Documents pertaining to the appointment of Mrs. Mary Nash Agnew, wife of C.R. Agnew, as a Commissioner of Common Schools in the City of New York, beginning January 1, 1887. An appointment document signed by New York City Mayor William Russell Grace, dated November 17, 1886 and bearing a seal of the Mayoralty of New York. A typewritten letter signed by the secretary to the mayor, dated November 18, 1886, requesting that Mary Agnew report to take an oath of office.
Material pertaining to the Keswick Hotel in Keswick, England: Informational brochure of The Keswick Hotel. Map, Information, and Connections with the Keswick Hotel
Informational brochure for The Patchwork Village, ‘Sconset by the Sea
Booklet issued by the College for the Training of Teachers in New York City, titled “Education at the Paris Exposition,” by Nicholas Murray Butler, October 19, 1889
Three empty letter envelopes: One from the mayor’s Office of New York City, one from the Silver Springs, Ocala, and Gulf Railroad Company, and one from Heiss’ “Old Curiosity Shop” in Palatka, Fla.
