St. Charles, Missouri
April 2, 1926
Professor G. Waldo Dunnington
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia
Dear Professor Dunnington:
Some time during the past winter you wrote asking for information and
material concerning Carl Friedrich Gauss, with the view of writing his
biography. I presume you still have this purpose and no doubt
have been obtaining material from other sources. I know that william
T. Gauss of Colorado Springs has a good deal that might assist, not
only of his own collecting, but if I remember correctly - some things
that had been collected by my uncle Robert Gauss, who lived many years
in Denver and died in 1913. Robert Gauss and my father (who also
died in 1913) were cousins of William T. The latter probably
has time to show an interest, being an old man and less active in business,
and no doubt has assisted you. However, I would like to contribute
a little material that perhaps he has not at hand, - in other words,
something from Eugene Gauss' branch of the family. In explanation
of delay will say that I am secretary to the president of a college
here, and this keeps me busy all day, with only a scrap of time in the
evening for my own affairs; no doubt you can understand how hard it
is to give attention to such a matter as this, which is entirely apart
from routine and urgent matters.
I am making a little start by sending you the enclosed copy of a letter
from C. F. Gauss to his son Eugene (my grandfather). I have not
the original, which is probably one of several that quite a number of
years ago were loaned for safe keeping to Lick Observatory. This
copy you need not return; and I expect as I find time to send you copies
of several others, - another from C. F. G. and two or three from his
daughter Theresa. One of the latter I think is especially interesting,
as it gives a glimpse of their life in her father's old age and of a
jubilee celebration in his honor by the University and townspeople.
I have newspaper prints of a number of statues, in case you haven't
these from other sources. In 1911, Helen Gauss (daughter of William
T.) travelled in Germany and was present at the dedication of the Gauss
memorial tower. Her letters, as well as some from her mother and
aunt who were with here, were sent around the family for reading; and
I found them so interesting that I made copies. However, her father
could furnish material connected with that occasion, including photograph
of the bust made for the tower, etc.
I do not know the German language; three-fourths of my ancestry was
from other sources, much of it colonial American; two of my grandparents
came to Missouri from Virginia and we are Southern Presbyterians.
My Grandfather Gauss' marriage and church connections took him away
from the German. an English biography of C. F. Gauss would therefore
be more valuable to me than all those in German.
With best wishes,
Yours very sincerely,
A. D. G.
Note: The college mentioned was Lindenwood College,
St. Charles, Missouri.