Darwin Correspondence Project

Meet the correspondents

GRAY-A-01-01957.jpg Asa Gray CUL DAR 257:109 Cambridge University Library Asa Gray	FOX-W-D-01-01730.jpg William Darwin Fox CUL DAR 250: 22 Cambridge University Library William Darwin Fox	Isitt.jpg Virginia Isitt: Darwin’s secretary?	HOOKER-J-D-01-02357.jpg Joseph Dalton Hooker CUL DAR 257: 114 Cambridge University Library Joseph Dalton Hooker
DARWIN-H-E-01-01225.jpg Henrietta Emma Darwin CUL DAR 225: 52 Cambridge University Library Henrietta Emma Darwin	GALTON-F-01-01797.jpg Francis Galton CUL DAR S405.b.92.1 Cambridge University Library Francis Galton	JENYNS-L-01-02560.jpg Leonard Jenyns, aged 85 CUL Q479.c.8.8 Cambridge University Library Leonard Jenyns	BUSK-G-01-00760.jpg http://wellcomeimages.org/ George Busk V0026123 Wellcome Library, London CC BY 4.0 George Busk

'I hear that Ladies think it delightful reading, but that it does not do to talk about it, which no doubt promotes the sale.' For the first time online you can now read the full texts of nearly 800 letters Darwin wrote and received during 1871, the year in which his controversial first public statement on human evolution was published. The extraordinary number of letters reflects the excitement the book – Descent of man and selection in relation to sex – caused. All 2500 copies of the first printing sold immediately, and 5000 more copies were published during the year.

Mary Everest Boole

CUL 300:2.c.95.12

Cambridge University Library

What did Darwin believe?

What did Darwin really believe about God? the Christian revelation? the implications of his theory of evolution for religious faith? These questions were asked again and again in the years following the publication of Origin of species (1859). They are still asked today by scholars, scientists, students, and religious believers.

Visiting the Darwins

'As for Mr Darwin, he is entirely fascinating…' In October 1868 Jane Gray and her husband spent several days as guests of the Darwins, and Jane wrote a charming account of the visit in a sixteen-page letter to her sister. She described Charles and Emma Darwin, their daughter Henrietta, Down House and its grounds, the daily routine of the household, and her own part in one of Darwin’s experiments.

Darwin didn't say...

after CUL DAR 225: 175

Cambridge University Library

Six things Darwin never said – and one he did

Darwin is often quoted – and often misquoted. Here are some sayings regularly attributed to Darwin that never flowed from his pen. And one thing Darwin did say, but which is often quoted out of context to suggest, quite wrongly, that he had doubts about the validity of his theories.

Tweets by @MyDearDarwin

Read and search the full texts of more than 8,500 of Charles Darwin’s letters, and ﬁnd information on 6,500 more. Discover complete transcripts of all known letters Darwin wrote and received up to the year 1871.

Darwin for Schools

Journey-Thumb-01-01.jpg

Discover our new schools resources for 7-11 year olds.

Visit the schools section

MS-ADD-07984-000-00031.jpg

http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-ADD-07984/31
The Adventure and Beagle at Point Punta Arenas and Isla de Cochinos, Chiloé, by Conrad Martens
CUL Add. 7984: 19
Cambridge University Library

Voyage of HMS Beagle
Darwin-Human-Nature.jpg

http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-DAR-00053-00001
Darwin and human nature - Expression photos
after CUL DAR 53.1: C38r, C52r, C72r & C74r
Cambridge University Library

Human nature
MS-DAR-00219-00012-000-00009.jpg

Some of the Darwin’s relaxing at Down House
CUL DAR 219.12: 9
Cambridge University Library

Home and family
Origin-Spines.jpg

http://wellcomeimages.org/
6 editions of 'The Origin of Species' by Charles Darwin
L0051092
Wellcome Library, London
CC BY 4.0

Origin
Darwin-Geology.jpg

Some of Darwin's geological drawings
after CUL DAR 44: 13 & 33
Cambridge University Library

Geology
MS-DAR-00121-000-p36-Tree-of-Life.jpg

Darwin's Tree of Life sketch from his “B” notebook on Transmutation of Species
CUL DAR 121, page 36
Cambridge University Library

Evolution