Cornelius Rea Agnew Papers, 1858-1910 | The Green-Wood Cemetery

By Stacy Locke, Manager of Historical Collections

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Collection Overview

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

Abstract

This collection contains correspondence and ephemera accumulated by New York City surgeon and ophthalmologist Cornelius Rea Agnew.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection includes personal papers collected by Dr. Cornelius R. Agnew and is comprised of two series: correspondence and ephemera. Correspondence includes letters received primarily by Agnew, arranged alphabetically by surname of sender. Ephemera includes miscellaneous materials collected by Agnew and members of his family, including programs, postcards, invitations, and other material.

Collection Historical Note

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.

Subject/Index Terms

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

Administrative Information

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

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Correspondence, 1858-1888],
[Series 2: Ephemera, 1864-1910],
[All]

Series 1: Correspondence, 1858-1888

Letters received by Cornelius B. Agnew, primarily, with three exceptions, from various persons of note. Arranged alphabetically by surname of sender.

Box 1

Folder 1: John Jacob Astor III (1822-1890), undated

Letter written and signed by John Jacob Astor III (1822-1890) to C.R. Agnew, undated.

Folder 2: Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard (1809-1889), 1882

Letter written and signed by Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard (1809-1889), while serving as President of Columbia College, to C.R. Agnew, April 27, 1882

Folder 3: Alonzo B. Cornell (1832-1904), 1882

Letter written and signed by Alonzo B. Cornell (1832-1904), as Governor of New York, to C.R. Agnew, dated June 17, 1882

Folder 4: William E. Dodge Jr. (1832-1903), 1865-1878

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.

Folder 5: Thomas Thompson Eckert (1825-1910), 1886

Letter written and signed by Thomas Thompson Eckert (1825-1910), to managers of the Western Union Telegraph Company, as vice President and General Manager, to be delivered by C.R. Agnew, dated December 4, 1886.

Folder 6: Cyrus W. Field (1819-1892), 1878

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

Folder 7: Hamilton Fish (1808-1893), 1878

Letter written and signed by Hamilton Fish (1808-1893) to C.R. Agnew, dated October 29, 1878

Folder 8: Randolph E. Guggenheimer (1846-1907), 1888

Letter written and signed by Randolph E. Guggenheimer (1846-1907) to Mary Nash Agnew, widow of C.R. Agnew, consoling her on the death of her husband, dated April 18, 1888.

Folder 9: Aaron H. Hand, 1878-1879

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

Folder 10: Jonathan Scott Hartley (1845-1912), 1891

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

Folder 11: Abram S. Hewitt (1822-1903), 1887

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

Folder 12: Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. (1809-1894), 1883-1888

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

Folder 13: John Jay (1817-1894), 1882

Letter written and signed by lawyer John Jay (1817-1894) to C.R. Agnew, dated September 13, 1882

Folder 14: Seth Low (1850-1916), 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

Folder 15: Arthur MacArthur Jr. (1845-1912), 1884

Letter written and signed by Arthur MacArthur Jr. (1845-1912) to C.R. Agnew, dated September 7, 1884

Folder 16: Manhattan Eye & Ear Hospital, 1878

Two identical appeal letter written by the Board of Directors of the Manhattan Eye & Ear Hospital in request for funding, dated April 1878. Signed by President John H. Mortimer, Vice President John Sinclair, Treasurer Charles Lanier, Secretary Cornelius R. Agnew, and many others as members, including James Roosevelt I (1828-1900) and John S. Kennedy

Folder 17: Edwin D. Morgan (1811-1883), 1858-1882

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

Folder 18: Richard Henry Pratt (1840-1924), 1881

Letter written and signed by Richard Henry Pratt (1840-1924) to C.R. Agnew, dated November 19, 1881

Folder 19: Elliott Bulloch Roosevelt (1860-1894), 1880

Letter written and signed by Elliott Bulloch Roosevelt (1860-1894) to C.R. Agnew, accepting an invitation, dated January 5, 1880

Folder 20: Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907), 1891

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

Folder 21: George H. Sharpe (1828-1900), 1880

Letter written and signed by George H. Sharpe (1828-1900) to C.R. Agnew, dated August 27, 1880

Folder 22: Edward Robinson Squibb (1819-1900), 1861-1882

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

Folder 23: William H. Vanderbilt (1821-1885), 1880

Letter written and signed by William H. Vanderbilt (1821-1885) to C.R. Agnew, dated November 30, 1880

Folder 24: Reverend Henry J. Van Lennep (1815-1889), 1871-1873

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.

Folder 25: Miscellaneous, 1879-1882

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

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Correspondence, 1858-1888],
[Series 2: Ephemera, 1864-1910],
[All]