1840-1859

    Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions

1846 Commencement Program
July 9, 1846

This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 9, 1846 shows the members of the graduating class and the speeches that they were scheduled to deliver.

Location: Dickinsoniana Programs

Subject: Dickinson College Events

Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from William Wilkins to William Marcy
July 20, 1846

William Wilkins, Secretary of War from 1844-45, writes to his successor William Marcy. Wilkins introduces his son in law, Captain John Sanders of the Corps of Engineers. Sanders will take the southern mail route to rejoin General Zachary Taylor at the Rio Grande. Transcript included.

Location: I-Friends-1977-10

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Polk to Robert Grier
August 3, 1846

President James Knox Polk informs Judge Robert Cooper Grier (Class of 1812) that he has nominated Grier as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Grier will "fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Judge [Henry] Baldwin," as President Polk explains. Transcript included.

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-24

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Journal of Marcus J. Parrott
August 1846 - February 1851, 1857

Marcus Junius Parrott records his thoughts and activities as a college student in Ohio, then in Pennsylvania at Dickinson College (graduating in 1849), as a law student thereafter at Cambridge Law School, and a few entries from 1857 when Parrott serves as delegate to Congress from the Kansas...

Letter from James Buchanan to George Plitt
August 24, 1846

A description of this document is not currently available.

Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F13

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Henry Dallam to W. Boyd Williams
October 6, 1846

Henry Dallam (Class of 1848) writes W. Boyd Williams and describes starting classes at Dickinson. This experience marks "the first time I have been away from home for any length of time," as Dallam notes. After discussing how his father dropped him off, Dallam briefly mentions his classmates. "...

Letter from James Buchanan to Moses Beach
November 21, 1846

Secretary of State James Buchanan informs Moses Y. Beach that President James K. Polk has appointed him as a Confidential Agent to the Republic of Mexico. "You ought never to give the slightest intimation to any person, either directly or indirectly, that you are an agent of this Government," as...

Letter from James Buchanan to Sarah Maury
January 28, 1847

Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Sarah Maury and asks her to not publish two of his private letters. "If in their publication, you should state that this was done by my permission," Buchanan explains that "it would look like a preconcerted effort to bring my name before the Public...

Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F15

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Richard Rush to Benjamin French
February 3, 1847

Richard Rush, United States Minister to France, asks Benjamin B. French when the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution adjourned and if French has heard about a pair of spectacles Rush lost. French is Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and serves on the Smithsonian's board of...

Location: I-Friends-1991-11

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Richard Rush to Benjamin French
February 7, 1847

Richard Rush, United States Minister to France, thanks Benjamin B. French for finding his glasses and discusses the recent meeting of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. French is Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and serves on the Smithsonian's board of regents.

Location: I-Friends-1991-11

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to W. P. Preston
February 19, 1847

Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to W. P. Preston, responding to his request "to have an authenticated copy taken of documents relating to the debt due by the late Republic of Columbia to Lalung Montrop, recently of Baltimore, deceased." Buchanan claims that this request cannot be...

Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F15

Subject: Business and Industry, International Affairs, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to Nathaniel Chapman
May 8, 1847

Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Nathaniel Chapman, a former student of Benjamin Rush, expressing his regret that he cannot attend a dinner in honor of Benjamin's son Richard Rush in Philadelphia. Partial transcript included.

Location: I-Friends-2009-1

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to R. B. McAfee
March 10, 1847

Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to R. B. McAfee regarding McAfee's request to publish old diplomatic correspondence. While President James K. Polk "feels himself obliged to decline a compliance with your request," Buchanan suggests that McAfee might be able to go through Congress....

Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F15

Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

"National Example," by Dewitt C. Lloyd
July 8, 1847

Dewitt C. Lloyd prepared this oration, entitled “National Example," for the commencement ceremonies held July 8, 1847. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.

Location: Orations-1847-L793n

Subject: Education, Religion and Spirituality

Format: Speeches and Sermons

Time Period: 1840-1859

1847 Commencement Program
July 8, 1847

This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 8, 1847 shows the members of the graduating class and the speeches that they were scheduled to deliver.

Location: Dickinsoniana Programs

Subject: Dickinson College Events

Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera

Time Period: 1840-1859

Bachelor of Arts Diploma - Isaiah McCord
July 8, 1847

Isaiah Willis McCord receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1847.

Location: Diploma Collection

Subject: Education

Format: Certificates and Diplomas

Time Period: 1840-1859

Bachelor of Arts Diploma - James McCauley
July 8, 1847

James Andrew McCauley receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1847.

Location: Diploma Collection

Subject: Education

Format: Certificates and Diplomas

Time Period: 1840-1859

Master of Arts Diploma - Ebenezer Harding
July 8, 1847

Ebenezer Denny Harding, a member of the Class of 1844, receives his Master of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1847.

Location: Diploma Collection

Subject: Education

Format: Certificates and Diplomas

Time Period: 1840-1859

Master of Arts Diploma - Thomas Parker
July 8, 1847

Thomas Brown Parker (Class of 1844) receives his Master of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1847.

Location: Diploma Collection

Subject: Education

Format: Certificates and Diplomas

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to Miss Cutts
July 22, 1847

Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Miss Cutts regarding plans for her and Harriet Lane to travel to Rockaway in New York City. Transcript included.

Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F16

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Andrew Curtin to L. M. Smith
August 7, 1847

Pennsylvania Attorney Andrew Gregg Curtin (Class of 1837) warns L. M. Smith, Esq., "to be cautious not to say to Mr. Ullman that Mr. Clark would or had any designs of making any arrangement in relation to the Philips estate."  Transcript included.

Location: I-Friends-1990-4

Subject: Legal Affairs

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to Stephen Pleasonton
September 10, 1847

Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Stephen Pleasonton, an auditor, and approves John Randolph Clay's expenses related to attending the marriage of the daughter of the Emperor of Russia. Clay was the Secretary of Legation for the United States in Russia. Buchanan, who served as the...

Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F16

Subject: Economics and Finance, International Affairs, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Henry Dallam to W. Boyd Williams
October 5, 1847

Henry Clay Dallam (Class of 1848) asks William Boyd Williams "to procure for me 'a literal translation of the Plays of Sophocles'" and to mail it to Dickinson. "I have a large amount of extra study to do" and, as Dallam explains, "I am anxious to have every facility." Transcript included.

Letter from James Buchanan to M. G. Dale
October 9, 1847

Secretary of State James Buchanan writes M. G. Dale with an update on an appointment for Mr. Holcomb in the War Department and comments on Pennsylvania politics. "Governor Shunk will be elected by a large majority should he have fair play," as Buchanan observes. Transcript included.

Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F17

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Roger B. Taney to J. Mason Campbell
December 21, 1847

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to J. Mason Campbell, an attorney, about a political and legal matter related to Maryland's constitution. While Taney brings up several questions and arguments to consider in regard to the matter, Taney also counsels Campbell to not provide...

Location: O-SpahrB-1965-2

Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Pages

Subscribe to 1840-1859