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
The Dickinsoniana Newspaper Collection consists of various newspapers acquired by the Library over the years. These items feature articles which concern mainly Dickinson College: happenings on campus, curriculum offerings, and doings of famous alumni such as James Buchanan and Roger Brooke Taney...
Location: Dickinsoniana – Newspaper Collection 1769-2001
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College History, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Newspapers and Magazines
Time Period: 1780-1799, 1800-1819, 1820-1839, 1840-1859, 1860-1879, 1880-1899, 1900-1919, 1920-1939, 1940-1959, 1960-1979, 1980-1999, 2000-2019
Collection Inventory: Dickinsoniana - Annotated Newspaper List
Collection Inventory: Dickinsoniana - Subject Index
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
John Armstrong writes to his son James about his attempt to seek his fortune in the West Indies. Armstrong also discusses news of General William Irvine, Dr. McCoskry, Dr. Benjamin Rush, and Mr. Waddell. Transcript included.
Location: I-SpahrB-1968-4
Subject: Business and Industry, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1760-1779
John Dickinson acknowledges the receipt of Benjamin Rush's pamphlet and mentions that he would only reenter Pennsylvania affairs to serve America. Dickinson also thanks Rush, a physician, for his attention to his daughter who is "well-recovered." Dickinson wrote this letter after the defeat of a...
Location: I-SpahrB-1955-4
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1760-1779
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
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.
Location: RG 1/1 - 3.2.1.1
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Education, International Affairs
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
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 Philadelphia..." He also discusses the political...
Location: MC 2001.13, B1, F6
Subject: Business and Industry, Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Education, International Affairs, Politics and Government, Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
Statesman William Bingham writes Benjamin Rush and compares the conditions in England with those in the United States in terms of government, economics, and immigration. "Whilst the United States have the pleasing Prospect of daily increasing in Power and political Importance," Bingham explains...
Location: I-BonisteelR-1958-3
Subject: Economics and Finance, International Affairs, Politics and Government, Science and Technology
Format: Engravings and Illustrations, 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
Statesman William Bingham writes from Paris to Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia. Bingham responds to Rush's previous displeasing letter and discusses United States politics and his travels abroad. Transcript included.
Location: I-SpahrB-undated-20
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
Benjamin Rush writes the "Plan of Education for Dickinson College" in 1785, which outlines the necessary curriculum that the College should follow. Transcript included.
Location: RG 1/1 - 3.2.8
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College History, Education
Format: Miscellaneous
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
This customs declaration and receipt form, sworn and signed by Benjamin Rush, is for "One Box Books a present for Dickinson College."
Location: I-Friends-1984-2
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Economics and Finance, International Affairs
Format: Financial Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
John Dickinson writes ten letters to Benjamin Rush on a number of different topics, including the administrative affairs of Dickinson College, the state of political affairs in the United States, political philosophy, and the death of Dickinson's wife, Mary. Transcripts included.
Location: MC 2001.13
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College History, Education, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Vice-President of Pennsylvania Charles Biddle writes this note, which orders the Treasurer of Pennsylvania to pay £500 to the Trustees of Dickinson College. Benjamin Rush acknowledges the receipt of this note on behalf of the trustees.
Location: I-SpahrB-1966-19
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance
Format: Financial Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
Benjamin Rush signs this affidavit that attests that Terrance Connel's payment certificate for service as a soldier is the property of Dickinson College. Connel's certificate, which is worth $80, is no. 72162 and dated July 1, 1784.
Location: I-SpahrB-1940-2
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Financial Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
Benjamin Rush signs this affidavit that attests that Arthur [Gillas'?] payment certificate for service as a soldier is the property of Dickinson College. Arthur's certificate is no. 77395 and dated July 1, 1784.
Location: I-SpahrB-1951-6
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
Benjamin Rush signs this affidavit that attests that William Ford's payment certificate for service as a soldier is the property of Dickinson College. Ford's certificate, which is worth $80, is no. 77369 and dated July 1, 1784.
Location: I-Original-1786-1
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
Benjamin Rush signs this affidavit that attests that Christopher Finnigan's payment certificate for service as a soldier is the property of Dickinson College. Finnigan's certificate is no. 75525 and dated July 1, 1784.
Location: I-SpahrB-1960-7
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
Benjamin Rush signs this affidavit that attests that Joseph Fletcher's payment certificate for service as a soldier is the property of Dickinson College. Fletcher's certificate, which is worth $80, is no. 77580 and dated July 1, 1784.
Location: I-SpahrB-1966-20
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
Benjamin Rush signs this affidavit that attests that Michael Morrison's payment certificate for service as a soldier is the property of Dickinson College. Morrison's certificate, which is worth $80, is no. 73424 and dated July 1, 1784.
Location: I-SpahrB-1940-2
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Financial Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
