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Collections of college and personal papers, as well as a select number of individual documents, have been briefly described in entries available for browsing and searching on this site. All collection and document descriptions contain a representative image and a summary of the contents. 

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Letter from Benjamin Rush to Susan Stockton
August 18, 1781

Benjamin Rush writes to his sister-in-law, Susan Stockton, with directions for making a husband unhappy without incurring the character of a bad wife. Rush states, "in a word you must be opposite to him in everything." Transcript included. 

Location: I-SpahrB-1953-23

Subject: Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Letter from Benjamin Rush to Susan Stockton

Last Will and Testament of William Thompson
August 27, 1781

A copy of the Last Will and Testament of Revolutionary War General William Thompson, certified on October 6, 1781.

Letter from William Irvine to Richard Butler
November 24, 1782

Brigadier General William Irvine writes Colonel Richard Butler in Carlisle to address ongoing operations against the Indians, land speculation, and the limited prospects of frontier officers. Transcript included.

Letter from John Dickinson to Benjamin Rush
1783

John Dickinson writes to Benjamin Rush and offers the idea for the commission of William Bingham, a trustee, to solicit funds for Dickinson College in England. Transcript included.

Letter from James Smith to Frederick Muhlenberg
February 24, 1783

James Smith, a signer of the Declaration of Independence as a representative of Pennsylvania, writes to Frederick Muhlenberg and complains that Mr. Lyon refuses to pay for cattle purchased to feed the troops at Carlisle. Transcript included.

Warrant for Soldier’s Pay from John Dickinson for William Henderson
April 17, 1783

President of Pennsylvania John Dickinson signs this warrant to pay William Henderson, the Pay Master of the Cavalry of the Pennsylvania Line, for his service as a soldier during the Revolutionary War. David Rittenhouse, Esquire, is listed on the...

Engraving of John Dickinson
May 15, 1783

Two engravings of Dickinson College founder John Dickinson. The engravings, by B.B.E., are published by R. Wilkinson in London.

Location: I-SpahrB-1959-14

Subject: Visual and Performing Arts

Format: Engravings and Illustrations

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Engraving of John Dickinson

Letter from Robert Morris to Don Luis Unzaga y Amezao
May 30, 1783

United States Superintendent of Finance Robert Morris writes to Don Luis Unzaga y Amezago, Governor of Cuba, about the return of Mr. Brown from his secret mission to Havana.  Mr. Brown returns with the object that was the purpose of his mission...

Letter from John Dickinson to Thomas Smith
June 14, 1783

President of Pennsylvania John Dickinson writes to Thomas Smith, a loan officer, and explains settling the certificates that public officers used to pay for supplies, the payment of interest, and how to account for depreciation.

Letter from John Dickinson to Elias Boudinot
June 27, 1783

Pennsylvania Governor John Dickinson asks Elias Boudinot, the President of Congress, for copies of the last two dispatches. Transcript included.

Location: I-SpahrB-1951-5

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Letter from John Dickinson to Elias Boudinot

Paycheck from John Dickinson to Jacob Bower
July 14, 1783

Dickinson College founder John Dickinson signs a paycheck to Captain Jacob Bower of the 6th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line.

Letter from William Bingham to John Montgomery
August 10, 1783

William Bingham writes from London to John Montgomery in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Bingham discusses the prospect of British aid to the new college and comments on the conflict between the United States and the United Kingdom. "At present the...

Warrant for Soldier’s Pay from John Dickinson for James Butler
August 14, 1783

President of Pennsylvania John Dickinson signs this warrant to pay James Butler, a Corporal in the Eleventh Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line, for his service as a soldier during the Revolutionary War. David Rittenhouse, Esquire, is listed on the...

Warrant for Wages from John Dickinson for Frederick Snider
September 1, 1783

Warrant for wages from John Dickinson for Frederick Sneider's service as door keeper. Transcript included.

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-51

Subject: Economics and Finance

Format: Financial Documents

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Warrant for Wages from John Dickinson for Frederick Snider

Charter of Dickinson College
September 9, 1783

The charter establishing Dickinson College, approved in the minutes of the Trustees of the College, September 9, 1783.

Warrant for Soldier’s Pay from John Dickinson for James Chrystie
September 30, 1783

President of Pennsylvania John Dickinson signs this warrant to pay Captain James Chrystie, of the Pennsylvania Line, for his service as a soldier during the Revolutionary War. David Rittenhouse, Esquire, is listed on the document as the treasurer...

Military Discharge for James Girdler
September 30, 1783

General William Irvine issues this discharge to James Girdler on September 30, 1783. This document warns that it "shall not avail the bearer as a discharge until the ratification of the definitive treaty of peace." Girdler served in the Third...

Location: I-SpahrB-1958-21

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict

Format: Legal and Government Documents

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Military Discharge for James Girdler

Warrant for Soldier’s Pay from John Dickinson for Alexander Parker
October 3, 1783

President of Pennsylvania John Dickinson signs this warrant to pay Captain Alexander Parker, of the Pennsylvania Line, for his service as a soldier during the Revolutionary War. David Rittenhouse, Esquire, is listed on the document as the...

Warrant for Soldier’s Pay from John Dickinson for Isaac Vanhorne
October 6, 1783

President of Pennsylvania John Dickinson signs this warrant to pay Captain Isaac Vanhorne, of the Pennsylvania Line, for his service as a soldier during the Revolutionary War. David Rittenhouse, Esquire, is listed on the document as the treasurer...

Warrant for Soldier's Pay from John Dickinson for John Hays
October 8, 1783

President of Pennsylvania John Dickinson signs this warrant to pay John Hays for his service as a soldier during the Revolutionary War. David Rittenhouse, Esquire, is listed on the document as the treasurer.

Letter from William Bingham to Thomas Fitzsimons
November 29, 1783

William Bingham writes to Thomas Fitzsimons on Britain's attitude toward the United States in political and commercial affairs. Bingham is a member of the Dickinson College Board of Trustees.

Letter from William Bingham to John Jay
December 2, 1783

William Bingham welcomes John Jay, an American politician and diplomat, to England and invites Jay to visit him in London. "I am happy at being informed of your Safe Arrival at Bath," as Bingham notes. Bingham serves as a member of the Dickinson...

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-19

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Letter from William Bingham to John Jay

Warrant for Soldier’s Pay from John Dickinson for James Gibbons
December 3, 1783

President of Pennsylvania John Dickinson signs this warrant to pay Captain James Gibbons, of the Pennsylvania Line, for his service as a soldier during the Revolutionary War. David Rittenhouse, Esquire, is listed on the document as the treasurer...

Letter from William Bingham to the Dickinson College Board of Trustees
December 29, 1783

William Bingham writes from London to the Dickinson College Board of Trustees concerning his attempts to get support from the British for the College. Bingham, who serves as a trustee from 1783 to 1803, admits that he has "been exceedingly...

Letter from William Bingham to Benjamin Rush
January 1, 1784

William Bingham writes to Benjamin Rush from London and discusses the state of financial support for Dickinson College. Bingham references the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783, stating "the abdication of congress is a severe blow on the interests of...

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