Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions
The papers of the Board of Trustees of Dickinson College, 1783-1833, include correspondence, reports, financial statements, printed materials, and legal documents, and have been arranged into seven series.
Series 1 – Membership contains...
Location: RG 1/1
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College History, Dickinson College Student Life, Economics and Finance, Education
Format: Books and Pamphlets, Engravings and Illustrations, Financial Documents, Letters/Correspondence, Meeting Minutes, Reports
Collection Inventory: 
RG 1-001.pdf
This collection is comprised of correspondence and legal papers reflecting the legal and political career of John Dickinson, statesman and president of the Supreme Executive Council of Delaware and Pennsylvania. The majority of the collection is comprised of correspondence from Dickinson to such...
Location: MC 2001.13
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Collection Inventory: mc2001.13.pdf
Francis Gurney (1738-1815) was a veteran of the French and Indian Wars, the American Revolution, and the Whiskey Rebellion. A prominent Philadelphia merchant, Gurney held several political offices such as city Alderman and representative and senator to the state legislature. Gurney also served...
Location: MC 2001.6
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance
Format: Financial Documents, Legal and Government Documents, Letters/Correspondence
Collection Inventory: mc2001.06.pdf
The collection consists of the papers of Charles Nisbet, first president of Dickinson College, and his family, particularly his son-in-law, William Turnbull. The majority of these papers is correspondence conducted between Nisbet and his daughter, and also between Nisbet and Lady Leven of...
Location: MC 2001.7
Subject: Business and Industry, Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College History, Genealogy and Family History, International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Artifacts and Objects, Financial Documents, Legal and Government Documents, Letters/Correspondence, Photographs, Poetry and Lyrics
Time Period: 1760-1779, 1780-1799, 1800-1819, 1820-1839, 1840-1859, 1860-1879
Collection Inventory: mc2001.07.pdf
The Presidents 1783-1833 Record Group contains papers related the presidency of the seven men who served at Dickinson from 1783 to 1833. This Record Group corresponds with that of RG 1/1, the Trustees 1783-1833, which also documents the first fifty years of the college. The materials in this...
Location: RG 2/1
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College Student Life, Education
Format: Letters/Correspondence, Reports
Collection Inventory: RG 2/1 - Presidents
This collection is mostly comprised of correspondence received by Philadelphia printer William Young from Charles Nisbet, President of Dickinson College. Young was a scotsman who settled in Philadelphia and set up a bookshop, a printing press, and later, a paper mill. As the president of a...
Location: MC 2001.5
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Administration, International Affairs, Literary Pursuits, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Collection Inventory: mc2001.05.pdf
Charles Nisbet writes this prayer, expressing contrition and hope, while in Edinburgh, Scotland. Transcript included.
Location: I-McIntoshM-1965-4
Subject: Religion and Spirituality
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: Before 1760
Charles Nisbet writes to the Minister of Drumelzier and inquires about various events since his visit three months ago. Nisbet also requests updates on several ministers as well as a few other individuals. "Does [Mr. Plummer] continue his nightly Engagements with the Devil & Sir David Murray...
Location: I-TurnbullM-undated-4
Subject: Health and Medicine, Personal and Family Life, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1760-1779
The testimony of Charles Nisbet against the doctrines contained in an extract from the minutes of some late conversation between Reverend John Wesley and others at a public conference in London on August 7, 1770. Transcript included.
Location: I-TurnbullM-undated-3
Subject: Religion and Spirituality
Format: Meeting Minutes
Time Period: 1760-1779
Charles Nisbet writes to Selina Hastings, the Countess of Huntingdon, about Methodist leader John Wesley's success in England and other related religious issues. Wesley "has been but too successful in seducing many of the ignorant and unwary into his Notions," as Nisbet explains. Transcript...
Location: I-TurnbullM-undated-2
Subject: Religion and Spirituality
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1760-1779
Wilhelmina Nisbet, the Countess of Leven, writes six letters to Charles Nisbet on a number of different issues, including commenting on contemporary religious movements and arguing that Nisbet should not accept the position as President of Dickinson College. "The state of affairs there, &...
Location: MC 2001.7, B1, F27-32
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College History, Personal and Family Life, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Letters/Correspondence
David Erskine, the Earl of Buchan, writes a letter to Charles Nisbet expressing that he does not sympathize with Nisbet's disappointment at being prevented "by the Calvinist party in Pennsylvania" from leaving Scotland to accept "your appointment at Carlisle projected college." Erskine also...
Location: MC 2001.7, B1, F1
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College History, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government, Religion and Spirituality, Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
John Carson writes to Robert McPherson, a member of the Board of Trustees, and discusses Charles Nisbet's qualifications as a candidate for President of Dickinson College. As "I was honoured with that Gentlemans personal acquaintance," Carson explains that Dr. Benjamin Rush "requested" an "...
Location: I-Purchase-1923-1
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Education, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
Benjamin Rush writes a letter to Charles Nisbet discussing various religious and political parties in Pennsylvania and their relative support for the endowment of Dickinson College. Rush states that "a great body of the most respectable Presbyterians" are the "men who love [Nisbet's] character...
Location: MC 2001.7, B1, F41
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College History, Education, Politics and Government, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
Dickinson College President Charles Nisbet writes to John Dickinson lamenting the "divisions that distract" the United States. He also acknowledges the honor bestowed upon him by Dickinson and the trustees of Dickinson College. Transcript included.
Location: MC 2001.13, B1, F5
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College History, Education, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
Wilhelmina Nisbet, the Countess of Leven, writes five letters to Dickinson President Charles Nisbet in which she speaks of the health of her family and disapproves of Nisbet's new position at Dickinson College. "I still think you have been hurried off this stage which I do most sincerely regret...
Location: MC 2001.7, B1, F33-37
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College History, Education, Personal and Family Life, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
President Charles Nisbet delivers this address to students after a "late recess & intermission" on May 13, 1787. John Young, a member of the Class of 1788, transcribed the address. Transcript included.
Location: SC Vault Nisbet 37
Subject: Dickinson College Events, Dickinson College History, Dickinson College Student Life, Education
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1780-1799
John Erskine writes to Dickinson College President Charles Nisbet with news of home and a list of books that he will send for "your College library." Erskine also mentions a letter from Dr. Benjamin Rush, in which Rush notes that the College "was prospering." Transcript included.
Location: I-SpahrB-1969-11
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Education, Personal and Family Life, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
President Charles Nisbet delivers this address to the first graduating class of Dickinson College at commencement on September 26, 1787. John Young, a member of the Class of 1788, transcribed the address. Transcript included.
Location: SC Vault Nisbet 37
Subject: Dickinson College Events, Dickinson College History, Education
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1780-1799
President Charles Nisbet delivers this address to students in October after "a short interval of vacation." John Young, a member of the Class of 1788, transcribed the address. Transcript included.
Location: SC Vault Nisbet 37
Subject: Dickinson College Events, Dickinson College History, Dickinson College Student Life, Education
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1780-1799
Dickinson President Charles Nisbet writes six letters to David Erskine, the Earl of Buchan, on a number of topics that include the consequences of America's independence, the economy, governance, natural history of the country, international politics, relations with Native Americans, the...
Location: MC 2001.7
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Education, International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Native Americans, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
President Charles Nisbet delivers this address to the second graduating class of Dickinson College at commencement on May 7, 1788. John Young, a member of the Class of 1788, transcribed the address. Transcript included.
Location: SC Vault Nisbet 37
Subject: Dickinson College Events, Dickinson College History, Education
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1780-1799
President Charles Nisbet delivers this address to students after a vacation on June 19, 1788. John Young, a member of the Class of 1788, transcribed the address. Transcript included.
Location: SC Vault Nisbet 37
Subject: Dickinson College Events, Dickinson College History, Dickinson College Student Life, Education
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1780-1799
Volume 3 of an unpublished manuscript transcription of 200 lectures on moral philosophy delivered by President Charles Nisbet at Dickinson College Dec. 1, 1788 to May 13, 1789, transcribed by student Samuel S. Mahon, class of 1789. (v. 1. Moral philosophy -- v. 2. Of moral laws -- v. 3. Of...
Location: SC-Vault Nisbet 5, v.3
Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Literary Pursuits
Format: Notes and Notebooks
Time Period: 1780-1799
Wilhelmina Nisbet, the Countess of Leven, writes three letters to Charles Nisbet a series of letters regarding religious affairs in the United States and Great Britain as well as Nisbet's position at President of Dickinson College. One "young gentleman" reported, as Wilhelmina explains, that "...
Location: MC 2001.7, B1, F38-40
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College History, Education, Personal and Family Life, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
