Henry Hamilton Pfeiffer prepared this oration, entitled “American Literature," for the commencement ceremonies held July 13, 1854. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time....

John Fletcher Hurst receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 13, 1854.

This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 13, 1854 shows the members of the graduating class and the speeches that they were scheduled to deliver.

Diplomat and politician Richard Rush writes to "the Messrs. Corbin of Virginia, Maryland, and their collaterals" to meet and investigate their claims to the Jennings Estate. Rush also recommends his son, Benjamin, as someone qualified to serve as...

Horatio Collins King's diary during his first semester as a student at Dickinson College. King is a member of the class of 1858. Transcript included.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes Deputy Marshall Samuel G. Phillips and asks for information about an individual who asked for an autograph. "Can you tell me any thing about the writer" because, as Taney explains, "I am not...

The Dickinson College catalog for the 1854-1855 academic year. Through the years, the annual catalog was variously titled "The Bulletin," "Catalogue and Register," "Course Catalog," and similar variants. The catalog typically includes the list of...

Israel Gutelius writes sixteen letters to Eli Slifer in which he primarily discusses his political activity and its relation to his paper, a German language newspaper published in New Berlin, Pennsylvania (The Der Demokrat, which is also...

James M. McKim, a member of the Class of 1828 and an editor at the Philadelphia based The Anti-Slavery Standard, writes to a subscriber, Mr. Worrell. McKim mentions the major slavery related event of the day as well as the Anglo-French...

Senator William H. Seward writes to Dr. John McClintock and notes that he cannot send a copy of the speech that McClintock had requested. Seward promises to send this speech to McClintock at a later date.

A printed advertisement for Carlisle Springs, which announces June 10, 1855 as the opening date and lists prices for board and horse keeping.

John Gilmore, class of 1856, writes to his sister and discusses his life as a student at Dickinson College. Gilmore discusses the recent weather, his fellow students especially the women who he says "are very fine looking rather handsome,...