Autobiographical Letter to Lyman C. Draper

...the fluctuation of the level of the Lake which I have never yet made known to the world.
Very many of the scientific publications not excepting Agassiz's great work on the Natural History of the United States as founded in part upon contributions from our favorite State of Wis. for which acknowledgements are usually made to me.
It must be remembered that all my services thus rendered have been almost without compensation; there being very little disposition on the part of public authorities to extend the aid of the government funds to the promotion of such object, even when it be shown that the public are directly benefitted.
A large share of my time has also been devoted gratuitously for the benefit of my more immediate neighbors, by performing the duties of Register of Claims (upon the Goverment lands before the land sale); school commissioners; trustee of town, Alder of the city; President of the Female College; director of the Y. Men's Association &c &c &c.

Very truly yours,
I.A. Lapham

Lyman C. Draper Esqur.