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Descriptive Summary
Title:
Simon Varey Papers Relating to Francisco
Hernández, 1992-2003
Collection number:
87
Creator:
Varey, Simon
1951-2002
Extent:
2 storage cartons,
1 document box
(30 linear inches)
Abstract:
The collection consists of materials stemming from
Simon Varey's Hernández research, which culminated in the editorship of
two volumes: 1) "The Mexican Treasury; the Writings of Dr. Francisco
Hernández" (English translations of some of Hernández's primary
texts, and an unraveling of the complex history of the discovery and
dissemination of his writings); 2) "Searching for the Secrets of Nature; the
Life and Works of Dr. Francisco Hernández" (interpretive essays by
various authors, edited with Rafael Chabrán and Dora B. Weiner). The
eminent physician Francisco Hernández was sent to New Spain in 1570 by
King Philip II of Spain as the first "protomédico de las Indias", to
gather scientific descriptions of indigenous natural history and medical
practices. Purchase by the UCLA Biomedical Library in 1992 of Hernández'
"Thesaurus" ("Rerum Medicarum Novae Hispaniae Thesaurus"), published in Rome in
1651, sparked wide scholarly interest in Hernández' life and work. Simon
Varey joined a group of scholars at UCLA in the organization of a lecture series
and two major conferences built around Hernández, and became a major
force in the project to translate significant portions of the Hernández
texts into English. The Varey papers include copies of 16th and 17th century
texts, historical and contemporary commentaries, documents pertaining to New
World natural history and the impact discoveries from the New World had on
Europe, and extensive bibliographies and notes.
Physical location:
Collection stored off-site (Southern Regional
Library Facility): Advance notice required for access.
Collection materials in English
, Spanish
,
Nahuatl
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