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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 Sarah Vaughan to Sarah Franklin Bache
August 23, 1793

Sarah Vaughan writes to Sarah Franklin Bache, daughter of Benjamin Franklin, introducing her to Mrs. Joseph Priestley and hoping that she will "be so kind when opportunity offers to introduce her to some of [Bache's] friends..."

Location: I-Original-1793-2

Subject: Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Letter from Sarah Vaughan to Sarah Franklin Bache

Letter from James Wilson to James Meredith
August 27, 1793

James Wilson writes James Meredith to request that his salary be paid to his son, William Wilson, who, as noted by Meredith's comments on the back, has power of attorney. Transcript included.

Farewell Address by John Wilson to His Students
August 27, 1793

John Wilson addresses his students in Southampton, Bucks County, stressing the importance of a varied education, living an active life, and maintaining upright moral conduct.

Location: I-BlackT-1954-3

Subject: Education

Format: Speeches and Sermons

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Farewell Address by John Wilson to His Students

Ticket for “Lectures upon the Institutes of Medicine and Clinical Cases,” by Benjamin Rush
1794

William Kirkpatrick's ticket for Benjamin Rush's "Lectures upon the Institutes of Medicine and Clinical Cases" at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 1794.

Letters from Charles Nisbet to William Young, 1794-95
1794-1795

Dickinson President Charles Nisbet writes six letters to William Young from 1794 to 1795 that focus mostly on international affairs and political issues. Nisbet expresses worry over potential military conflict between the United States and Great...

Transfer of "Annexed Deed Poll" from Benjamin Rush to Joseph Priestley, Jr.
February 18, 1794

Benjamin Rush writes and signs this legal document, which transfers a deed to Joseph Priestley, Jr. Transcript included.

Orders from John Dickinson to David Rittenhouse
March 8-21, 1784

President of Pennsylvania John Dickinson instructs David Rittenhouse, treasurer of Pennsylvania, to issue payment for Charles Willson Peale's Triumphal Arch and to pay 150 pounds to the American Philosophical Society. Transcripts included.

Location: MC 2001.13, B1, F8-9

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Legal and Government Documents

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Orders from John Dickinson to David Rittenhouse

Letter from Samuel Vaughan to John Andrews
March 31, 1794

Samuel Vaughan writes to Rev. Dr. John Andrews and introduces Joseph Priestley, who is seeking asylum in the United States. Vaughan explains that Priestley is "now driven to seek an asylum in your rising Empire."

Deed for Land Sold by James Wilson
April 19, 1794

After James Wilson sells land in Pennsylvania (tract no. 5055) to Dr. Benjamin Rush on April 19, 1794, Dr. Rush sells that property to a Richard Stockton of New Jersey on May 28, 1794. John C. Otto, one of the witnesses to the transaction in...

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-13

Subject: Land and Real Estate, Legal Affairs

Format: Legal and Government Documents

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Deed for Land Sold by James Wilson

Promissory Note from James Wilson to Thomas Fitzsimons
May 14, 1794

James Wilson sends this note to Thomas Fitzsimons for a sum of $4500.

Location: I-SpahrB-1970-3

Subject: Economics and Finance

Format: Financial Documents

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Promissory Note from James Wilson to Thomas Fitzsimons

Deed for Land Sold by Francis Mowing Jr. to James Wilson
August 2, 1794

Francis Mowing Jr. sells James Wilson 400 acres of land in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Transcript included.

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Theophilus Lindsey
August 15, 1794

Theologian and scholar Joseph Priestley writes to his friend Theophilus Lindsey. Priestley discusses his recent move to Northumberland, Pennsylvania, trouble with the mail, the local climate, the prospect for building, his work, the French...

Letter from Stephen Johnes to Lydia Johnes
October 8, 1794

Stephen Johnes writes from Carlisle to Lydia Johnes, his wife, about life as a solider in the army assembled to end the Whiskey Rebellion. Johnes mentions a conversation with "Doc. Huston" about some individuals who complain that President...

Letter from Charles Nisbet to Ashbel Green
October 14, 1794

Charles Nisbet writes Ashbel Green to acknowledge Green's letter from September 12th and to justify questions about Green's intent in giving Nisbet's private letters to his political opponents. Nisbet also discusses the Whiskey Rebellion and...

Letter from Stephen Johnes to Lydia Johnes
October 21, 1794

Stephen Johnes writes from Camp Bedford to Lydia Johnes, his wife, about life as a solider in the army assembled to end the Whiskey Rebellion. Johnes expresses concerns over the fact that she has not received all of his letters, explains the...

Promissory Note from James Wilson to James McNeal
December 30, 1794

James Wilson sends this promissory note to James McNeal for a sum of roughly 627 pounds. Transcript included.

Memorandum about Charles Nisbet by David Erskine
c.1795

This memorandum by David Stewart Erskine, the Earl of Buchan, was apparently at one time covering note for a number of letters from Dickinson College President Dr. Charles Nisbet to Erskine. It is known that there was a lively correspondence...

Location: I-SpahrB-1949-1

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Miscellaneous

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Memorandum about Charles Nisbet by David Erskine

Letter from David Erskine to Charles Nisbet
February 26, 1795

David Erskine, the Earl of Buchan, writes a letter to Dickinson President Charles Nisbet in which he recommends John Millar and laments Nisbet's difficulties in finding a literary society in Carlisle. Erskine also comments on how he deals with...

Letter from William Irvine to Callender Irvine
April 9, 1795

William Irvine, a member of the Board of Trustees, writes to his son, Callender Irvine (Class of 1794), and offers advice regarding his career choices. William also mentions the Presque Isle affair as well as the death of Mrs. Samuel Lyon.

Check from the Bank of the United States to James Wilson
May 2, 1795

A check from the Bank of the United States to James Wilson for $1,000.

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-47

Subject: Economics and Finance

Format: Financial Documents

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Check from the Bank of the United States to James Wilson

Promissory Note from James Wilson to George Harrison
August 16, 1795

James Wilson's promissory note to George Harrison for $1700 that has to be paid within sixty days. Transcript included.

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-47

Subject: Economics and Finance

Format: Financial Documents

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Promissory Note from James Wilson to George Harrison

Letter from John Mitchell Mason to William Young
August 25, 1795

Rev. John Mitchell Mason writes William Young, a bookseller and printer in Philadelphia, and asks him to become an agent for the U.S. Christian Magazine in Philadelphia. Mason states that the position requires one to "go through the city...

Master of Arts Diploma - John Wilson
September 30, 1795

John Wilson (Class of 1792) receives his Master of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on September 30, 1795.

Location: Diploma Collection

Subject: Education

Format: Certificates and Diplomas

Time Period: 1780-1799

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

Letter from George Washington to Robert Livingston
October 29, 1795

President George Washington writes Robert Livingston to thank him for looking out for certain packages. Washington asks him to "accept my thanks for your attention to them," happy that his "parcel which came undercover to me from Sir John...

Location: I-SpahrB-1952-6

Subject: Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Letter from George Washington to Robert Livingston

Promissory Note from James Wilson to Henry Lee
February 25, 1796

James Wilson sends this promissory note to Henry Lee for a sum of $5,748.14. Transcript included.

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-28

Subject: Economics and Finance

Format: Financial Documents

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Promissory Note from James Wilson to Henry Lee

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