W. H. Gibbs phrenological reading in Brief View of Phrenology and Chart , 1844

Summary

Creator:

Gibbs, W. H.

Abstract:

On January 24, 1844, W. H. Gibbs, a "practical phrenologist," performed a phrenological reading of Thomas Mayhew and documented his findings in his Brief View of Phrenology and Chart... (Springfield: Wood & Rupp, 1842). Principally, Gibbs recorded a number between 1 and 7 to note the size of Mayhew's "organs," with one additional comment regarding Mayhew's "Very Small" Constructiveness organ, proclaiming him a "poor mechanic." The printed volume includes one illustration of a phrenological chart, showing the human head from three directions to identify thirty-seven labelled regions.

Extent:

1 volume

Language:

English

Authors:

Collection processed and finding aid created by Jayne Ptolemy, October 2023

Background

Scope and Content:

On January 24, 1844, W. H. Gibbs, a "practical phrenologist," performed a phrenological reading of Thomas Mayhew and documented his findings in his stab-sewn Brief View of Phrenology and Chart, Giving a Description of the Phenomena of the Human Mind, Designed to Assist Man in Obtaining a Knowledge of His Intellectual Faculties, Moral Sentiments, and Animal Propensities - How to Improve His Virtues and Remedy His Defects. Sixth Edition (Springfield: Wood & Rupp, 1842). Principally, Gibbs recorded a number between 1 and 7 to note the size of Mayhew's "organs," with one additional comment regarding Mayhew's "Very Small" Constructiveness organ, proclaiming him a "poor mechanic." The printed volume includes one illustration of a phrenological chart, showing the human head from three directions to identify thirty-seven labelled regions.

Biographical / Historical:

No biographical information is currently available in this finding aid.

Acquisition Information:

2023. M-7935 .

Arrangement:

The collection is a single bound volume.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Related

Additional Descriptive Data:

Related Materials

An additional phrenological reading performed by W. H. Gibbs of Thomas Humes in 1843 is located in the Book Division. Gibbs, W. H. Brief View of Phrenology and Chart... Springfield, [Mass.]: Wood & Rupp, 1842.

Subjects

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Subjects:

Phrenology--Charts, diagrams, etc.
Phrenology--United States--History--19th century.
Skull.

Formats:

Annotations.
Pamphlets.