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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 James Wilson to Samuel Meredith
September 24, 1790

James Wilson, United States Supreme Court Justice and signer of the Declaration of Independence, writes to United States Treasurer Samuel Meredith. Wilson requests the immediate payment of his month's salary. Transcript included.

Letter from Joseph Priestley to William Frend
November 1790

Joseph Priestley writes to Rev. William Frend about various publications that he is interested in as well as "the difficulties" involved in translating works to produce "an improved and...

Location: MC 1998.1, B1, F11

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Letter from Joseph Priestley to William Frend

Letter from John Young to William Young
January 18, 1791

John Young writes William Young, a bookseller and printer in Philadelphia, to express his intentions to withdraw his subscription for The Universal Asylum, and Columbian Magazine. "As Doctor [Charles Nisbet's] Course of Lectures is to...

Letter from Catharine Graham to George Washington (Draft)
March 1791

Draft of a Catharine Macaulay Graham's letter to President George Washington. Graham expresses concern for Washington's health and the French Revolution. Transcript included.

Letter from Samuel Thompson to James Hamilton
July 5, 1791

Samuel Magaw Thompson writes to James Hamilton and explains that he has been in Georgia since leaving his mother's.  Thompson notes that he would be glad to hear from the family and sends compliments to his sister, Mrs. Hamilton.

Location: I-ValeM-1947-66

Subject: Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Letter from Samuel Thompson to James Hamilton

Letter from Matthew Boulton to Unknown Recipient
July 18, 1791

Matthew Boulton provides an account of the Birmingham riots in England and the destruction of property, including Joseph Priestley's house. The recipient's identity is unknown. Transcript included.

Letter from George Clymer to John Montgomery
July 25, 1791

George Clymer of Philadelphia writes John Montgomery and asks for payment of tax on 300 acres he owns in Greenwood, Cumberland County.  Clymer notes that Montgomery is in a danger of losing his investment.

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Unknown Recipient
July 26, 1791

Joseph Priestley writes an unknown recipient and notes that he has enclosed "two copies of my Paper for the Philosophical Transactions." In addition, Priestley requests a "fresh stock of...

Letter from Charles Nisbet to Unknown Recipient
August 10, 1791

Dickinson President Charles Nisbet discusses in what appears to be a postscript how a farmer in Chambersburg has discovered a great body of iron ore. Nisbet also discusses new treaties with Native American tribes as well as the large number of...

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Thomas Wedgwood
October 18, 1791

Joseph Priestley writes to Thomas Wedgwood about supplies for the laboratory that Priestley is building after his previous one was destroyed and discusses invitations to move from England to France. Wedgwood's family operated the Etruria Works...

Letters from Charles Nisbet to Mary Nisbet
1791-1799

Dickinson President Charles Nisbet writes thirteen letters to his daughter, Mary Nisbet, offering advice on marriage and family life in addition to discussions of domestic and political affairs. Transcripts included.

Belles Lettres Society Diploma - Charles Ross
1792

Charles Ross, a member of the Class of 1792, receives this diploma as a member of the Belles Lettres Society in 1792.

Location: Diploma Collection

Subject: Education

Format: Certificates and Diplomas

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Belles Lettres Society Diploma - Charles Ross

Lectures on Languages Criticism by Charles Nisbet
1792?

James Martin, a college student during the fall of 1792, records verbatim a series of 65 lectures on literary criticism as delivered by Charles Nisbet, President of Dickinson College.

Manuscript of 25 lectures on languages (beginning Aug....

Location: SC-Vault Nisbet 18

Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Literary Pursuits

Format: Speeches and Sermons

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item:

Letter from William Irvine to John Nicholson
January 14, 1792

William Irvine, a member of the Dickinson College Board of Trustees, writes to John Nicholson regarding a letter from an unspecified Mrs. Spring. Transcript included.

Location: I-Purchase-1964-11

Subject: Legal Affairs, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Letter from William Irvine to John Nicholson

Letter from Charles Nisbet to Michael Taney
February 6, 1792

Dickinson College President Charles Nisbet writes to Michael Taney in which he discusses the importance of parental guidance in education and praises the conduct of his son, Roger Brooke Taney. Roger Taney is a member of the class of 1795....

Letter from Thomas Jefferson to William Short (Copy)
March 18, 1792

Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson writes to William Short, the US minister to the Netherlands, with instructions regarding his duties as treaty commissioner to Spain. "It is hoped that in consequence of my former letter, you will have made the...

Bachelor of Arts Diploma - John Wilson
May 5, 1792

John Wilson receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on May 5, 1792.

Location: Diploma Collection

Subject: Education

Format: Certificates and Diplomas

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Bachelor of Arts Diploma - John Wilson

Letter from John Montgomery to Anthony Wayne
May 8, 1792

John Montgomery writes to General Anthony Wayne, complimenting Wayne's son on his conduct and oratory skills. Transcript included.

Location: I-SpahrB-1959-12

Subject: Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Letter from John Montgomery to Anthony Wayne

Letters from Charles Nisbet to William Young, 1792-93
1792-1793

Charles Nisbet writes a seven letters to William Young from 1792 to 1793 that mostly focus on Nisbet’s transactions with Young as a printer and book dealer. Nisbet discusses various works with religious and political themes, such as Augustus...

Letter from Thomas Smith to Alexander Dallas
October 11, 1792

Thomas Smith, a Pennsylvania Judge, writes to Alexander James Dallas, the Secretary of the State of Pennsylvania, about the prosecution Colonel John Montgomery's son. "The prosecution is truly disagreable to me, as besides the long acquaintance...

Letter from Joseph Priestley to John Edwards
October 16, 1792

Dr. Joseph Priestley writes to Rev. John Edwards and discusses their recent publications as well as a publication that they are both working on. "I have read 40 pages of your fourth no., and am surprised that any person should object to its...

Location: MC 1998.1, B1, F11

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Letter from Joseph Priestley to John Edwards

Letter from Charles Nisbet to William Young
November 21, 1792

Charles Nisbet writes to bookseller William Young regarding a packet from an unspecified Mr. Wilson with two letters for Europe. Nisbet also asks for a paper, discusses Carlisle weather, and speculates about the French Revolution.

Letter from Charles Nisbet to Jonathan Ingham
January 14, 1793

Dickinson College President Charles Nisbet writes to Dr. Jonathan Ingham of Bucks County, Pennsylvania with reflections on education, politics, international affairs, as well as other contemporary American issues. Transcript included.

Letter from James Hamilton to John Nicholson
February 2, 1793

James Hamilton writes to John Nichols to settle some confusion about a certificate for $99 that is to be made payable to Hannah Rose. Transcript included.

Letter from James Wilson to Hannah Grey
June 20, 1793

James Wilson writes a love letter to Miss Hannah Grey and explains that he will not be able to visit her in Boston as he had hoped. Wilson asks her to "authorize me to think and call you mine." Three months after Wilson sends this letter, James...

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-16

Subject: Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Letter from James Wilson to Hannah Grey

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