Lyman, Benjamin Smith, 1835-1920

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Benjamin Smith Lyman was a geologist and mining engineer.

From the description of Papers, 1850-1918. (American Philosophical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 122316358

Benjamin Smith Lyman studied geology and mining engineering in France and in Germany. He worked with J. Peter Lesley in the Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania, and later worked on the Iowa Geological Survey. Lyman was surveyor of the coal fields of Cape Breton Island and Nova Scotia and of the gold fields of California, and he worked on many other geological and topographical surveys in the United States. He worked for several years in Japan, having been appointed general geologist and mining engineer for the empire in 1873.

From the guide to the Benjamin Smith Lyman papers, 1850-1918, 1850-1918, (American Philosophical Society)

From Lyman's earliest financial records--those he kept as a student at Phillips Exeter--through the journal notations of his later days in Philadelphia, Lyman's meticulous record-keeping provides much detail about his life and work. Correspondents include his classmate, Franklin B. Sanborn, a friend of the Concord Transcendentalists and an active social reformer, abolitionist, and editor. The papers, 1848-1911, have been organized into nine series: Correspondence, Financial records, Writings, Survey Notebooks, Survey Maps, Photographs, Student Notes and Notebooks, Collections, and Miscellaneous (total 25 linear feet). The collection includes, as well, over 2,000 books in Japanese and Chinese and in Western languages pertaining to Asia, acquired by Lyman in Japan and collected later. They reflect his catholic interests and scholarly bent.

From the description of Benjamin Smith Lyman papers, 1831-1921 (bulk 1851-1915). (University of Massachusetts Amherst). WorldCat record id: 53060362

Benjamin Smith Lyman, 1902

Benjamin Smith Lyman was born December 11, 1835, to Hampshire County Register of Probate Samuel Fowler Lyman and his first wife Almira Smith Lyman in Northampton, where he remained until attending Phillips Exeter Academy from August 20, 1851, to July 8, 1852. From Exeter, he went on to Harvard College, graduating in 1855. He then taught school at Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts, at Charles Short's Classical School for Boys in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and at Franklin B. Sanborn's school in Concord, Massachusetts, where he came to know, through Sanborn, members of the Emerson and Alcott families and Henry David Thoreau, as well as abolitionists active in the region.

In the same exploratory period he was given his first geological job -- chain carrying and rainy day office work for his uncle by marriage, J. Peter Lesley, already a noted geologist, on a topographical and geological survey of Broad Top Mountain in Pennsylvania. According to an 1872 Lyman family genealogy, Lyman's own Uncle Joseph, Lesley's brother-in-law, originally intending a career in law, later studied civil engineering, mining, and metallurgy, and was active in the development of anthracite coal and iron resources in Pennsylvania. His activities and connections may have been an influence on Lyman in his ultimate choice of career, as well as in his sympathies for social reform. Although Benjamin had first intended to become a merchant, his interest in geology and mining engineering grew in the next few years, during which he made a survey of iron foundries in some of the eastern, middle, and southern states for the American Iron Association, accompanied Lesley on additional surveys, and became assistant geologist of the Iowa State Geological Survey.

By 1859 he had finally decided to make geology his life's work and went for a year's study at the Ecole Imperiale des Mines in Paris (1859-1860), followed by a practical course at the Royal Academy of Mines in Freiberg, Saxony (1861-1862). Upon returning to the United States, Lyman established his residence in Philadelphia and opened an office as a consulting mining engineer. Work on surveys took him to the Pottsville coal region of Pennsylvania; Cow Bay and Glace Bay, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia; Arizona; California; and in 1870, the oil lands of the Punjab, India. On his return from India, he traveled through China and Japan, where he was, as he said, "bitten with Orientalism."

The opportunity to return to Japan came to Lyman shortly thereafter. In the hope of making a name for himself in geology, he signed a three-year contract with the Meiji government in 1872 to survey Hokkaido for mining possibilities. Lyman carried out his mission in Japan with passion. It was to be the most productive period of his life. His survey identified the most promising coal fields for Hokkaido's eventually successful mining industry as well as reporting on progress in the reclamation of waste land, the nature of the soil in various districts; the customs, physique, and folklore of the Ainu; useful ores and stones; the development and exploitation of hydraulic power; importation of foreign capital; and the advantage of cooperation with foreign concerns in the mining industry.

Lyman's Japanese assistants, to whom he taught surveying, mapping, mathematics, mineralogy, and related subjects, accompanied him on the difficult ground-breaking survey. They all became proficient surveyors and some of them distinguished geologists. Their enthusiasm and support was largely responsible for making Lyman's experience in Japan as rewarding to him as it was, for he did not have good relations with the Kaitakushi (the Bureau of Development for Hokkaido), owing in part to conflict as to who had authority over his assistants and to a discrepancy between his values and those of the Kaitakushi's administrators. Following completion of the Hokkaido survey and the final report and maps associated with it, Lyman was employed by the Interior Department of Japan and later by the Public Works Department, Bureau of Engineering, to survey oil fields in the rest of the country.

When his contract was up in 1879, Lyman remained in Japan at his own expense to complete the survey maps. Before leaving, he encouraged his assistants to form the Geological Society of Japan and to publish a journal. He gave them his house and grounds for headquarters, which they later sold with his permission when the group disbanded (to be succeeded later by the present society). Lyman maintained contact with his assistants for the rest of his life.

Returning to the United States in January 1881, Lyman took up residence in Northampton, Massachusetts, where he continued work on his reports, publishing them at his own expense. Having saved much of his considerable salary in Japan, Lyman did not need to earn money for the time being. Soon thereafter, he bought the house at 134 Elm Street built in 1880 by W.T. Clement, founder of the Clement Cutlery Company, who died in 1882. Lyman participated in civic affairs as a member of the City Improvement Association and the Community Council. In 1882, Tokumatsu Nakajima, the 10-year old son of his Japanese stableman, came to live with him and be educated in the United States. The boy attended public schools in Northampton and was loved by Lyman's family and friends, such as Mrs. Brewer and Mrs. Ferry, Lyman's near neighbors on Elm Street. He moved to Philadelphia with Lyman when the latter accepted the position of Assistant Geologist of Pennsylvania in 1887. Toku graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, returned to Northampton to work at a Banister's bookstore, and died of tuberculosis in 1901 at age 29.

In the years following his return to Philadelphia, Lyman wrote a great many papers and articles, attended meetings of technical and scientific societies as well as the Oriental Club of Philadelphia, and held a reception each year on the birthday of the Emperor of Japan. After retiring in 1895 from his appointed position, Lyman continued a private practice, finding little remunerative work, however, due to the business depression of the 1890s. In 1906-1907 he surveyed the coal lands near Mt. Lantauan on the island of Cebu in the Philippines, for a New York company building a railroad there. On the way, he visited his former assistants in Japan, who greeted him warmly. He hoped to re-visit them on his return trip, but a long bout with dysentery prevented that.

Lyman was convinced that if he hadn't become a vegetarian in 1864, he would have died young from food eaten on his travels. At 81, in 1917 he published a scholarly cookbook of vegetarian recipes.

Lyman died August 30, 1920, aged 84, in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania.

Born in the same year as Mark Twain, Lyman outlived him by ten years. His circumstances and career provide a useful perspective upon major developments in New England, United States, and, indeed, world history during a period of immense changes. Lyman was a member of a prominent Hampshire County family with origins in the earliest European settlements of Massachusetts Bay and the Connecticut Valley. His grandfather was Sheriff of "Old Hampshire" County and, after 1811, of the new; his father was County Register of Probate and later Probate Judge. Thus a scion of a local elite, attending Exeter and Harvard, in communication with Transcendentalism and Abolitionism through Franklin B. Sanborn, he was also an early exemplar of the American exodus to Europe for advanced scientific training. And as a participant in the process of resource exploration through the application of geological science, he participated in the development of industrialization both at home and, perhaps most importantly, in Japan. These historical movements are documented in valuable ways by the collection described here.

From the guide to the Benjamin Smith Lyman Papers MS 190., 1831-1921, 1851-1915, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf [Benjamin Smith Lyman, biographical materials] University of Wisconsin - Madison, General Library System
creatorOf Lyman, Benjamin Smith, 1835-1920. A geological map of Lucas County, Iowa / by Benj: Smith Lyman. University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Benjamin Smith Lyman Papers MS 190., 1831-1921, 1851-1915 Special Collections and University Archives, UMass Amherst Libraries
referencedIn Smithsonian Archives. Ru 305: U.S. National Museum Accession Records.
referencedIn Harvard University Archives Photograph Collection: Portraits, ca. 1852-ca. 2004 Harvard University Archives.
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Library. Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection. 1668-1983. American Philosophical Society
referencedIn American Philosophical Society. John Peter Lesley Papers.
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIi, 1897 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIj, 1898-1988 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn American Philosophical Society. [Contact repository for more information].
creatorOf Harrison, A. M. (Alexander Medina), 1829-1881. The plane table, 1865-1869 / by A.M. Harrison, assistant, U.S. Coast Survey. Smithsonian Institution. Libraries
referencedIn Forbes Library. Benjamin Smith Lyman Papers.
referencedIn Ralph Waldo Emerson letters from various correspondents, ca. 1814-1882. Houghton Library
creatorOf Lyman, Benjamin Smith, 1835-1920. Benjamin Smith Lyman papers, 1831-1921 (bulk 1851-1915). University of Massachusetts Amherst, W.E.B. Du Bois Library
creatorOf Lyman, Benjamin Smith, 1835-1920. Papers, 1851-1918. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Harrison, A. M. (Alexander Medina), 1829-1881. The plane table, 1865-1869 / by A.M. Harrison, assistant, U.S. Coast Survey. Smithsonian Institution. Libraries
creatorOf Lesley, J. P. (J. Peter), 1819-1903. Papers, 1826-1898. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Capron, Horace, 1804-1885. Horace Capron papers, 1837-1884 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Lyman, Benjamin Smith, 1835-1920. Geological sections in southern Iowa / measured (in 1858) and drawn by Benj: Smith Lyman. University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Lyman, Benjamin Smith, 1835-1920. Geological map of Monroe County, Iowa / by Benj: Smith Lyman. University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Coffin, James H. (James Henry), 1806-1873. James Henry Coffin Papers, 1848-1884 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn Historical Society Of Pennsylvania. Benjamin Smith Lyman Papers.
creatorOf Lyman, Benjamin Smith, 1835-1920. A geological map of Appanoose County, Iowa / by Benj: Smith Lyman. University of Chicago Library
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIh, 1892-1896 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn American Philosophical Society. Benjamin Smith Lyman Papers.
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1865-1891 Smithsonian Institution Archives
creatorOf Benjamin Smith Lyman papers, 1850-1918, 1850-1918 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Lyman, Benjamin Smith, 1835-1920. Papers, 1850-1918. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Weather Bureau National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Library Of Congress, Manuscript Division. Horace Capron Papers.
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1863-1879 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn Lesley, J. Peter, 1819-1903. Papers, 1826-1898 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIf, 1866-1886 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Edmunds, Albert J. (Albert Joseph), 1857-1941. Albert J. Edmunds papers, 1844-1941, bulk 1880-1941. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Agassiz, Louis, 1807-1873 person
associatedWith American Philosophical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Banks, Joseph, Sir, 1743-1820 person
associatedWith Capron, Horace, 1804-1885. person
correspondedWith Capron, Horace (General) person
associatedWith Centennial Exhibition (Philadelphia, 1876) corporateBody
associatedWith Cooper, Thomas, 1759-1839 person
associatedWith Coues, Elliott, 1842-1899 person
associatedWith Cuvier, Georges, Baron, 1769-1832 person
associatedWith Darlington, William, 1782-1863 person
associatedWith Ecole impériale des mines (France) corporateBody
associatedWith Edison, Thomas A., (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931 person
associatedWith Edmunds, Albert J. (Albert Joseph), 1857-1941. person
associatedWith Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955 person
correspondedWith Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 1803-1882 person
associatedWith Everett, Edward, 1794-1865 person
associatedWith Fitch, John person
associatedWith Foucou, Felix person
associatedWith Genth, F. A., (Frederick Augustus), 1820-1893 person
associatedWith Geological Survey of Pennsylvania. corporateBody
associatedWith Geological Survey (U.S.). corporateBody
associatedWith Gilman, Daniel C. person
associatedWith Gray, Asa, 1810-1888 person
associatedWith Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872 person
associatedWith Hall, James person
associatedWith Harding, Warren G. person
associatedWith Harrison, A. M. (Alexander Medina), 1829-1881. person
correspondedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 person
associatedWith Imperial School of Mines (Paris, France). corporateBody
associatedWith Japan corporateBody
associatedWith Japanese Embassy corporateBody
associatedWith Johns Hopkins University corporateBody
correspondedWith Kuroda, K. person
associatedWith Lesley, Allen person
associatedWith Lesley, J. P. (J. Peter), 1819-1903. person
correspondedWith Lesley, M. person
associatedWith Lesley, P. person
correspondedWith Lesley, Susan person
correspondedWith Leyman, E. H. R. person
correspondedWith Lyman, Lizzy person
correspondedWith Lyman, Mr. person
correspondedWith Mallery, Garrick person
correspondedWith Mccartee, Divie Bethune person
correspondedWith Mori, Arinori person
correspondedWith Myer, Albert James person
associatedWith Newcomb, Simon person
correspondedWith Newton, H. A. person
associatedWith Newton, Isaac, Sir, 1642-1727 person
associatedWith Poinsett, Joel Roberts, 1779-1851 person
associatedWith Richthofen, Baron F. person
associatedWith Rittenhouse, David, 1732-1796 person
associatedWith Rockwell, G. J. person
associatedWith Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813 person
correspondedWith Sanborn, F. B. (Franklin Benjamin), 1831-1917 person
associatedWith Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe, 1793-1864 person
associatedWith Seybert, Adam, 1773-1825 person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Stevens, Henry person
associatedWith Sully, Thomas, 1783-1872 person
associatedWith Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824 person
associatedWith Thornton, Mr. person
associatedWith Varenius, Bernard. person
associatedWith Varenius, Bernhardus, 1622-1650 person
correspondedWith Wahl, William person
associatedWith Waterton, Charles, 1782-1865 person
associatedWith Wayne, Anthony person
associatedWith Wesley, William person
correspondedWith Yoshida, Kiyonari person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Germany
Pennsylvania
United States
Europe
Iowa
Iowa--Appanoose County
France
Maryland
Iowa--Monroe County
Japan
Virginia
Japan
Iowa--Monroe County
Japan
Germany
New Jersey
Ohio
Iowa--Appanoose County
Cape Breton Island (N.S.)
France
New Mexico
Illinois
West Virginia
Alabama
Iowa--Lucas County
Iowa--Lucas County
Colorado
Japan
Pennsylvania
India--Punjab
Subject
Education
Agriculture
Ainu language
Applications for positions
Astronomy
Blacks
Chinese language
Coal mines and mining
Congress
Ethnology Archaeology Anthropology
Exposition
French language
Gardening
Gardening
Geological Survey, Illinois
Geological surveys
Geological surveys
Geological surveys
Geological surveys
Geological surveys
Geological surveys
Geological surveys
Geological surveys
Geological surveys
Geological surveys
Geologists
Geologists
Geology
Geology
Geology
Geology
Geology
Geology
Geology
Geology
Geology
Geology
Geology
Geology
Geology
Geology
Geology
Geology
Geology
Indians
Iron mines and mining
Japanese language
Meteorology
Mines and mineral resources
Mines and mineral resources
Mining engineering
Mining engineering
Mining engineering
Mining engineering
Mining engineers
Mining engineers
Mining machinery
Mint
National Academy of Sciences
National Museum
Natural history
Painting, Japanese
Photography
Railroads
Railroads
Recommendations For Positions
Scientific organizations
Scientific publications
Smithsonian Exchange
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Publications
Smithsonian Weather Service
Standardization
Surveying
Surveys And Explorations, General
Theodolites
Vegetarianism
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1835-12-11

Death 1920-08-30

Americans

French,

German,

English

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