Francis and Robert Tomes Papers
Collection
Identifier: VAULT-Modern-MS-Tomes
Scope and Content of the Collection
Journals, essays, and memoirs written by British businessman Francis Tomes (1780-1869) and his son, American-born physician and author Robert Tomes (1817-1882). See the notes under each series for more detailed information.
Dates
- 1837-1881
Creator
- Tomes, Francis (Person)
Language
Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The Francis and Robert Tomes Papers are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box or envelope at a time (Priority III).
Ownership and Literary Rights
The Francis and Robert Tomes Papers are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.
Biography of Francis Tomes
English-born businessman.
Francis Tomes was born October 14, 1780, in Chipping Campden, Gloucester, England. Due to financial hardship caused by the death of his father in 1785, Francis began working early in life as a clerk to Edward Lewis, who had a Birmingham-based trading business. In 1812 Tomes married Maria Roberts, and soon after he started his own trading business, which failed. His former employer Lewis hired him to start a branch of his business in New York City, to be called "Lewis & Tomes." Francis moved to New York in 1815 to start up the business: the firm imported British manufactured goods and exported cotton from the United States to England. His wife and two infant sons followed him to New York in 1816, and the couple had four more children (including Robert Tomes, b. 1817). The trading business became so successful Tomes bought out Lewis and became "Francis Tomes & Sons." When Tomes reached old age he handed over the control of the company to his sons Francis Jr. and Benjamin, and Tomes (Sr.) moved back to England. He died in Little Longstone, Derbyshire, England, in 1869, age 79.
His trading business made it necessary for Tomes to travel frequently, both across the Atlantic to England and within the United States. Even with the great difficulties of traveling in the early-to-mid 1800s, Tomes loved to travel, especially by ship. He was less enthused about the United States and its cities. Being a relatively moderate and temperate man, he was dismayed by the debauchery of the frontier life he witnessed while journeying from one city to another throughout the Eastern, Midwestern, and Southern states. His memories of these trips make up his part of the collection, which are his travel journals.
Francis Tomes was born October 14, 1780, in Chipping Campden, Gloucester, England. Due to financial hardship caused by the death of his father in 1785, Francis began working early in life as a clerk to Edward Lewis, who had a Birmingham-based trading business. In 1812 Tomes married Maria Roberts, and soon after he started his own trading business, which failed. His former employer Lewis hired him to start a branch of his business in New York City, to be called "Lewis & Tomes." Francis moved to New York in 1815 to start up the business: the firm imported British manufactured goods and exported cotton from the United States to England. His wife and two infant sons followed him to New York in 1816, and the couple had four more children (including Robert Tomes, b. 1817). The trading business became so successful Tomes bought out Lewis and became "Francis Tomes & Sons." When Tomes reached old age he handed over the control of the company to his sons Francis Jr. and Benjamin, and Tomes (Sr.) moved back to England. He died in Little Longstone, Derbyshire, England, in 1869, age 79.
His trading business made it necessary for Tomes to travel frequently, both across the Atlantic to England and within the United States. Even with the great difficulties of traveling in the early-to-mid 1800s, Tomes loved to travel, especially by ship. He was less enthused about the United States and its cities. Being a relatively moderate and temperate man, he was dismayed by the debauchery of the frontier life he witnessed while journeying from one city to another throughout the Eastern, Midwestern, and Southern states. His memories of these trips make up his part of the collection, which are his travel journals.
Biography of Robert Tomes
American physician and author.
Robert Tomes, son of Francis and Maria Tomes, was born in New York City on March 27, 1817. He attended Columbia College Grammar School in New York, and Washington College (now Trinity College) in Hartford, Connecticut. After one year at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School he continued his medical studies at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1840. After studying further in Paris, he moved back to New York to start his medical practice. Beginning to write around 1853, Tomes gradually relinquished his medical business and became an author. Dr. Tomes married Katherine Fasnet of Wiesbaden, Germany, and had one daughter and two sons. The family lived in New York City, Wiesbaden, Germany, and Rheims, France.
Not unlike his father Francis, Robert Tomes wrote prodigiously about his life and travels. Among his books relating to his journeys and adventures are: Panama in 1855, which he wrote after being invited to inspect the Panama Railroad, and The Champagne Country (1867), about Rheims, France, when he was appointed as U.S. Consul there. He also wrote on historic topics, translating the German publication The Black Man: The Comparative Anatomy and Psychology of the African Negro, publishing an abridgment of The Narrative of Commodore Perry's Expedition to Japan in 1857, a book on American Battles in 1861, and a three-volume work on the Civil War, which appeared in parts from 1862-1867 and was also issued in German. The remainder of his life was spent writing handbooks for Harper and Brothers publishers, including The Bazar Book of Decorum (1870), The Bazar Book of the Household (1875), Youth's Health Book (1878), and My College Days (1880). Dr. Tomes died at his home in Brooklyn, NY, August 28, 1882.
Robert Tomes, son of Francis and Maria Tomes, was born in New York City on March 27, 1817. He attended Columbia College Grammar School in New York, and Washington College (now Trinity College) in Hartford, Connecticut. After one year at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School he continued his medical studies at the University of Edinburgh, graduating in 1840. After studying further in Paris, he moved back to New York to start his medical practice. Beginning to write around 1853, Tomes gradually relinquished his medical business and became an author. Dr. Tomes married Katherine Fasnet of Wiesbaden, Germany, and had one daughter and two sons. The family lived in New York City, Wiesbaden, Germany, and Rheims, France.
Not unlike his father Francis, Robert Tomes wrote prodigiously about his life and travels. Among his books relating to his journeys and adventures are: Panama in 1855, which he wrote after being invited to inspect the Panama Railroad, and The Champagne Country (1867), about Rheims, France, when he was appointed as U.S. Consul there. He also wrote on historic topics, translating the German publication The Black Man: The Comparative Anatomy and Psychology of the African Negro, publishing an abridgment of The Narrative of Commodore Perry's Expedition to Japan in 1857, a book on American Battles in 1861, and a three-volume work on the Civil War, which appeared in parts from 1862-1867 and was also issued in German. The remainder of his life was spent writing handbooks for Harper and Brothers publishers, including The Bazar Book of Decorum (1870), The Bazar Book of the Household (1875), Youth's Health Book (1878), and My College Days (1880). Dr. Tomes died at his home in Brooklyn, NY, August 28, 1882.
Extent
1.7 Linear Feet (4 boxes and 1 envelope)
Abstract
Journals, essays, and memoirs written by British businessman Francis Tomes (1780-1869) and his son, American-born physician and author Robert Tomes (1817-1882).
Organization
Papers are organized in the following series
- Series 1: Francis Tomes Journals, 1837-1839
- Box 1
- Series 2: Robert Tomes Papers, 1840-1881
- Boxes 2-5
Collection Stack Location
VAULT 40 8
Further Biographical and Genealogical Information
For more information about Francis and Robert Tomes and their descendents, see the following works, all available at the Newberry Library:
Tomes, Ian Maxwell. Pedigree of the family of Tomes of Broadway, Bidford, Camden (England) and New York (United States of America) / compiled by I. M. Tomes. Somerset, England I.M. and J.M. Tomes, 1996. Call Number: folio CS 439 .T46 1996 [General Collections].
Tomes, Ian Maxwell. Tomes pedigree. [Fleet, Hampshire? : I.M. Tomes?, 1987?] Call Number: folio CS 439 .T46 1987 no. 1 [General Collections].
Tomes, Ian Maxwell. Pedigree of Tomes family. [Fleet, Hampshire :I.M. Tomes, 1987] Call Number: folio CS 439 .T46 1987 no. 2 [General Collections].
Tomes, James Steel. The private travel journals of Francis Tomes (born 1780, died 1869) / transcribed by Arthur C. Tomes, Christine M. Hanson and James S. Tomes ; edited by James S. Tomes. Wilmette, Ill.: J.S. Tomes, c1996. Call Numbers: Case folio E 165 .T66b [leather-bound copy, Special Collections]; and folio E 165 .T66 [paper-bound copy, General Collections].
Tomes, James Steel. The private memoirs of Robert Tomes (born 1817, died 1882) / transcribed by Christine M. Hanson and James S. Tomes ; edited by James S. Tomes. Wilmette, Ill.: J.S. Tomes, c1996. Call Numbers: Case folio F 128.44 .T65 1996b [leather-bound copy, Special Collections]; and folio F 128.44 .T65 1996 [paper-bound copy, General Collections].
Tomes, James Steel. Serendipity: The Genealogy of Tomes, Steel , Raymaley and Shaeffer Families. Evanston, Ill.: Howard Blake and Company, c2008. Call Number: folio CS 71 .T46 2008 [General Collections].
See also the Information File for the Tomes Papers, available in the Special Collections department.
Tomes, Ian Maxwell. Pedigree of the family of Tomes of Broadway, Bidford, Camden (England) and New York (United States of America) / compiled by I. M. Tomes. Somerset, England I.M. and J.M. Tomes, 1996. Call Number: folio CS 439 .T46 1996 [General Collections].
Tomes, Ian Maxwell. Tomes pedigree. [Fleet, Hampshire? : I.M. Tomes?, 1987?] Call Number: folio CS 439 .T46 1987 no. 1 [General Collections].
Tomes, Ian Maxwell. Pedigree of Tomes family. [Fleet, Hampshire :I.M. Tomes, 1987] Call Number: folio CS 439 .T46 1987 no. 2 [General Collections].
Tomes, James Steel. The private travel journals of Francis Tomes (born 1780, died 1869) / transcribed by Arthur C. Tomes, Christine M. Hanson and James S. Tomes ; edited by James S. Tomes. Wilmette, Ill.: J.S. Tomes, c1996. Call Numbers: Case folio E 165 .T66b [leather-bound copy, Special Collections]; and folio E 165 .T66 [paper-bound copy, General Collections].
Tomes, James Steel. The private memoirs of Robert Tomes (born 1817, died 1882) / transcribed by Christine M. Hanson and James S. Tomes ; edited by James S. Tomes. Wilmette, Ill.: J.S. Tomes, c1996. Call Numbers: Case folio F 128.44 .T65 1996b [leather-bound copy, Special Collections]; and folio F 128.44 .T65 1996 [paper-bound copy, General Collections].
Tomes, James Steel. Serendipity: The Genealogy of Tomes, Steel , Raymaley and Shaeffer Families. Evanston, Ill.: Howard Blake and Company, c2008. Call Number: folio CS 71 .T46 2008 [General Collections].
See also the Information File for the Tomes Papers, available in the Special Collections department.
Provenance
Gift, James S. Tomes, A. Hadden Tomes, and Arthur Tomes Lewry, 1995-2000.
Processed by
Alison Hinderliter, 2009.
- Almshouse of the City of New York
- Almshouses -- New York (State) -- New York -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
- Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.) -- Biography
- Child development
- Children -- Health and hygiene
- College students -- Scotland -- Biography
- Diaries -- Southern States -- 1801-1850
- Journals (notebooks) -- New York (State) -- Brooklyn -- 1851-1900
- Leisure -- Health aspects
- Lewry, Arthur Tomes
- Manuscripts, American
- Medical students -- France -- Paris -- Biography
- Memoirs -- United States -- 1801-1850
- Panama, Isthmus of (Panama) -- Description and travel
- Sex differences
- Slavery -- United States -- Public opinion
- Southern States -- Description and travel
- Tomes, Francis
- Tomes, Francis, 1780-1869. The private travel journals of Francis Tomes
- Tomes, James S.
- Tomes, Robert
- Tomes, Robert, 1817-1882. Hygiene for pleasure
- Tomes, Robert, 1817-1882. Memoirs of Doctor Robert Tomes
- Tomes, Robert, 1817-1882. My later days.
- Tomes, Robert, 1817-1882. Our boys and girls.
- Tomes, Robert, 1817-1882. Travelling for health.
- Transatlantic voyages
- Travel -- Health aspects
- Travel literature -- California -- 1801-1850
- University of Edinburgh
- Voyages to the Pacific coast
Creator
- Tomes, Francis (Person)
- Title
- Inventory of the Francis and Robert Tomes Papers, 1837-1881
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Alison Hinderliter
- Date
- ©2009.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512
reference@newberry.org
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512
reference@newberry.org