Cornell University
Albert R. Mann Library
Cornell University Library
237 Mann Drive
Ithaca, New York 14853-4301
t. 607. 255. 2285
www. mannlib. cornell. edu
This journal, Langstroth's handwritten observations, notes and sketches on bees, was
composed in an 1834 edition of John Todd's Index Rerum with additional pages
inserted. Todd's introduction and directions presented at the beginning of this journal
are highly recommended reading, as Langstroth followed and sometimes strayed
from the prescribed organizational scheme. 
Todd's method stated that entries were to be listed based on the first letter of the
topic followed by the first vowel encountered. For example, �Drones� is entered
under �D o�; �Hive� is under �H i� and so forth. From time to time Langstroth's
writings on a topic extend across two pages, left to right. Occasionally his thoughts
run for many pages, which necessitated inserting blank pages to capture his ideas. At
times he used his journal to record thoughts for his sermons as topics freely
intermingled with his bee observations. Daily weather notes, sketches, diagrams,
sales figures for hives and other goods are also present. 
Multiple instances of varying page numberings appear throughout the journal,
probably added by librarians, archivists or researchers over the years. During the
process of creating structural metadata for online viewing the page numbers
described in the metadata were only those identified as being from Langstroth's own
handwriting. All other page numbering has been ignored. 
Although it is unclear if they knew each other, Langstroth (1810-1895) and Todd
 (1800-1873) were both Yale graduates, each were Congregationalist preachers in
Massachusetts and both lived in Philadelphia at various times. According to his
autobiography, John Todd, The Story of his Life told mainly by himself (New York: 
Harper & Brothers, 1876), Todd was also an amateur beekeeper. 
A partial transcript of Langstroth's journal is in the Phillips Beekeeping Collection
of the Albert R. Mann Library, Cornell. 
Michael Cook
Ithaca, NY
March 2020
Cornell University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action educator and employer. 