Description

Description: As president of the American Museum of Natural History, Osborn writes a lengthy typed letter signed to his acquaintance, Troy, NY lawyer Seymour Van Santvoord. He writes in part: “I know you will think I am a faddist in the matter of race, but in my opinion the decline and fall of Rome were partly a contest between the best elements of the northern type, represented by Octavia, and of the Alpine type, represented by the majority of the emperors of the period of decline…. I am glad to inscribe to you one of my recent books, ‘Impressions of Great Naturalists,’ hoping you will add it to your library”.

Henry Fairfield Osborn (1857-1935), American paleontologist and geologist was President of the Museum of Natural History for 25 years. He was also the cofounder of the American Eugenics Society in 1922 and firmly believed in the preservation of “good” racial stock.

Written on a 10 1/2″ x 8″ sheet of museum stationery. Item #A01578

Condition: Mailing fold lines, otherwise very good.