Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions
Henry Dallam (Class of 1848) writes W. Boyd Williams and describes starting classes at Dickinson. This experience marks "the first time I have been away from home for any length of time," as Dallam notes. After discussing how his father dropped him off, Dallam briefly mentions his classmates. "...
Location: I-WilliamsW-1957-1
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan informs Moses Y. Beach that President James K. Polk has appointed him as a Confidential Agent to the Republic of Mexico. "You ought never to give the slightest intimation to any person, either directly or indirectly, that you are an agent of this Government," as...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F14
Subject: International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Sarah Maury and asks her to not publish two of his private letters. "If in their publication, you should state that this was done by my permission," Buchanan explains that "it would look like a preconcerted effort to bring my name before the Public...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F15
Subject: Literary Pursuits, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Richard Rush, United States Minister to France, asks Benjamin B. French when the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution adjourned and if French has heard about a pair of spectacles Rush lost. French is Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and serves on the Smithsonian's board of...
Location: I-Friends-1991-11
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Richard Rush, United States Minister to France, thanks Benjamin B. French for finding his glasses and discusses the recent meeting of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. French is Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and serves on the Smithsonian's board of regents.
Location: I-Friends-1991-11
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to W. P. Preston, responding to his request "to have an authenticated copy taken of documents relating to the debt due by the late Republic of Columbia to Lalung Montrop, recently of Baltimore, deceased." Buchanan claims that this request cannot be...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F15
Subject: Business and Industry, International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Nathaniel Chapman, a former student of Benjamin Rush, expressing his regret that he cannot attend a dinner in honor of Benjamin's son Richard Rush in Philadelphia. Partial transcript included.
Location: I-Friends-2009-1
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to R. B. McAfee regarding McAfee's request to publish old diplomatic correspondence. While President James K. Polk "feels himself obliged to decline a compliance with your request," Buchanan suggests that McAfee might be able to go through Congress....
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F15
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Miss Cutts regarding plans for her and Harriet Lane to travel to Rockaway in New York City. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F16
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Pennsylvania Attorney Andrew Gregg Curtin (Class of 1837) warns L. M. Smith, Esq., "to be cautious not to say to Mr. Ullman that Mr. Clark would or had any designs of making any arrangement in relation to the Philips estate." Transcript included.
Location: I-Friends-1990-4
Subject: Legal Affairs
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Stephen Pleasonton, an auditor, and approves John Randolph Clay's expenses related to attending the marriage of the daughter of the Emperor of Russia. Clay was the Secretary of Legation for the United States in Russia. Buchanan, who served as the...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F16
Subject: Economics and Finance, International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Henry Clay Dallam (Class of 1848) asks William Boyd Williams "to procure for me 'a literal translation of the Plays of Sophocles'" and to mail it to Dickinson. "I have a large amount of extra study to do" and, as Dallam explains, "I am anxious to have every facility." Transcript included.
Location: I-WilliamsW-1957-1
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Literary Pursuits
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes M. G. Dale with an update on an appointment for Mr. Holcomb in the War Department and comments on Pennsylvania politics. "Governor Shunk will be elected by a large majority should he have fair play," as Buchanan observes. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F17
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to J. Mason Campbell, an attorney, about a political and legal matter related to Maryland's constitution. While Taney brings up several questions and arguments to consider in regard to the matter, Taney also counsels Campbell to not provide...
Location: O-SpahrB-1965-2
Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
J. Y. Mason acknowledges receiving Secretary of State James Buchanan's letter with a request for the US Navy to not enter "ports of Peru" that are closed to "foreign commerce." "Instructions have been given to the Commanding officer of the U. S. naval force in the Pacific to give the necessary...
Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F18
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
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.
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F17
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to former Representative Jacob S. Yost regarding Pennsylvania politics and Yost's visit to Washington DC. "Luzerne is, I think, one of the few counties in the State which is hostile to me," as Buchanan notes. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F17
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
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...
Location: I-Friends-1975-18
Subject: Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence, Reports
Time Period: 1840-1859
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to James Mason Campbell regarding the financial troubles of a family member. As Taney's brother "had drawn on me," Taney sends Campbell "the above to pay my brother's draft on me." Taney explains his concern that his brother "had not received...
Location: I-SpahrB-1967-1
Subject: Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
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.
Location: I-Purchase-1958-26
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
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.
Location: I-Friends-1976-3
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes Asbury Dickins, Secretary of the United States Senate, and requests access to several letters held by the Senate. "To enable [President James K. Polk] to answer the call of the House [of Representatives]," Buchanan asks that a Mr. Appleton be allowed "to...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F18
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
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...
Location: I-Original-undated-15
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Student Life, Education
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Samuel Henry Reynolds, a member of the Class of 1850, writes to his Mother about his health, conditions in Carlisle, and asks that his father send money for medicine. Despite "not feel[ing] very well," Reynolds notes that "I have considerable of studying to do this morning." Reynolds also admits...
Location: I-Original-1848-6
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Health and Medicine
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
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.
Location: I-Friends-1976-11
Subject: International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
