Informal Proceedings of the American Institute of the City of New York

1845-1860

Henry Meigs (1782-1861) was a New York lawyer, assemblyman, and congressman. He was the recording secretary of the American Institute of the City of New York for the Encouragement of Science and Invention. The Informal Proceedings of the American Institute consist of four volumes dating from 1845 to 1860. The proceedings sometimes function as Meigs' personal diary as well as a record of meetings. The volumes contain Meigs' comments on topics such as agriculture, new technology, developments in industrial production, current events in New York City, and American politics; they also contain personal recollections. Among the subjects of Meigs' entries are the exchange of agricultural specimens, outbreaks of cholera and yellow fever, the Crystal Palace at the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, the dangers of steam power, and the likelihood of civil war. Each entry contains notes on the weather, at minimum. The volumes have minor annotations.