Josiah F. Kennedy prepared this oration, entitled “Philanthropy" for the commencement ceremonies held July 12, 1855. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.

Charles Francis Himes receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 12, 1855.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes his grandson, [Roger Brooke] Taney Campbell, and notes that he is glad to have heard so much from the Campbell family this summer. As Taney explains, he and his wife just this morning received letters from Taney Campbell's father and sister...

Horatio Collins King's diary during the fall of his second year at Dickinson College. King is a member of the class of 1858. Transcript included.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to J. Mason Campbell and discusses Mrs. Taney's ill health. "Maria -- who was sleeping the bed with her -- discovered that she was making an effort to raise herself in bed -- and was unable to do so," as Taney explains. Taney also asks...

James Buchanan, the United States Minister to the United Kingdom, writes to W. Hunter and encloses a communication of "an important religious subject" from Edward Ellice, a member of the House of Commons, to C. A. Davis of New York. Transcript included. 

Horatio Collins King's diary during the spring of his second year at Dickinson College. King is a member of the class of 1858. Transcript included.

Albert Slape writes to James Munroe with news of the dismissal of four students on the charge of tarring Professor Henry Otis Tiffany's blackboard. Slape mentions that the dismissal of the students resulted in a "rebellion of the students." Slape is a member of the Class of 1858 while Munroe is...

Postmaster General Horatio Collins King writes to L.A. Thomas, Postmaster of New Haven, CT, about a recent position vacancy. Collins states that Hervey T. Dayton resigned from the job and recommends Nathan U. Brown as a replacement.

John Calhoun Gilmore writes to "Lib" prior to the Dickinson College Commencement exercises about his class rank in the Class of 1856. Gilmore lists the full ranking of the class of 1856 in his letter. "You will see that my standing is high - I am the first one next to the honor men," as Gilmore...

Marvin E. Clark prepared this oration, entitled “Authority" for the commencement ceremonies held July 10, 1856. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.

Democratic Presidential candidate James Buchanan (Class of 1803) writes John S. Cunningham about various political issues, including his support of President John Tyler's veto of the Bank of the United States in 1841. Buchanan also returns President Tyler's letter to Cunningham and notes that he...