Impressions from a Lost World: The Discovery of Dinosaur Footprints

Benjamin Silliman's Letter to Edward Hitchcock, September 13, 1843

zoomable artifact image here

Benjamin Silliman writes to Edward Hitchcock expressing interest in seeing his dinosaur tracks. He also plans to visit James Deane to see his latest discoveries and invites Hitchcock to join him. Silliman assures Hitchcock that all agree that Hitchcock is the "author & founder of the ornithichnology of the earliest bird ever". He is surprised at the state of Hitchcock's feelings (Edward was upset by something Silliman had said in a speech before the Association of American Geologists) and says that if he had known of them earlier, he would have made things right before the association in Boston at once.

Creator:
Benjamin Silliman
Date:
September 13, 1843
Courtesy of:
Edward and Orra White Hitchcock Papers, Amherst College Archives and Special Collections, Amherst College Library