Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Mr. Osna regarding Peru's request that US Navy ships "abstain from entering the ports and harbors of Peru not open to foreign commerce." Mr. Osna is Peru's representative in the United States. Transcript included.

Spencer F. Baird (Class of 1840), the Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, publishes "General Directions for Collection and Preserving Objects of Natural History" in 1848. Baird, who is responsible for the Natural History Department, also includes an overview ("Special Desiderata...

Representative David Wilmot, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, writes to Reah Frazer and asks for certain information that could be used to discredit Secretary of State James Buchanan politically. "Your letter shall be confidential if you desire," as Wilmot notes. Transcript included.

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court John McLean, who is also a Trustee at Dickinson College, writes to N. Sargent regarding the death of former President John Quincy Adams on February 23, 1848 in Washington, DC.

Christian Humrich writes to Samuel K. Davis regarding his experience during his freshman year at Dickinson College. Humrich mentions his Latin class and discusses the differences between Professors Otis Tiffany and George Crooks. In addition, Humrich mentions the suicide of a Major Irvine at a...

Richard Rush, United States Minister to France, informs a Mr. Corbin that the continued siege of Paris means that he is unfortunately "forced to forgo the pleasure of receiving my friends at dinner tomorrow." Rush also comments on and returns the letter that Corbin forwarded to him.

This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 13, 1848 shows the members of the graduating class and the speeches that they were scheduled to deliver.

General Zachary Taylor writes to Roger Jones, the Adjutant General of the Army, regarding "Indian troubles on frontiers of Texas" and suggesting that the investigation into the Texas frontier "be made under the direction of the officer assigned to that command in that quarter." Transcript...

James Andrew McCauley, a member of the Class of 1847, receives his license to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church on October 15, 1848.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Roger Brooke Taney writes to J. Mason Campbell (Class of 1827) about issues related to several financial matters. In addition, Taney also asks after his grandson.

James Buchanan writes three letters to Nahum Capen regarding the publication of President Thomas Jefferson's papers, the collapse of national political parties like the Whigs, the Compromise of 1850, the Senatorial election in Massachusetts, and the increase in sectional tensions. "...

The second issue of the Collegian, Dickinson College's first monthly literary publication. Includes "The Tyrol," "Love and Scholarship," "Communings with the Departed," "The Song of the Wind," "War," and "Ernest Maltravers."

The Belles Lettres and Union Philosophical Societies...