Literary Pursuits

    Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions

Collegian (Vol. 1, No. 3)
May 1849

The third issue of the Collegian, Dickinson College's first monthly literary publication. Includes "Reflections on the Coats-of-Arms of the States," "The Indian Maiden," "Philosophy of Fashion," "Epidemic Sympathy," "Last Verses of Voltaire," "The Germans of Pennsylvania," and "A Leaf...

Location: Dickinsoniana Periodicals

Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Literary Pursuits

Format: Newspapers and Magazines

Time Period: 1840-1859

Collegian (Vol. 1, No. 4)
June 1849

The fourth issue of the Collegian, Dickinson College's first monthly literary publication. Includes "The Power of Sacrifice," "The 'Me'," "Logan's Revenge," "True Estimate of Self," and "Extract - Prometheus Chained."

The Belles Lettres and Union Philosophical Societies created a...

Location: Dickinsoniana Periodicals

Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Literary Pursuits

Format: Newspapers and Magazines

Time Period: 1840-1859

Collegian (Vol. 1, No. 5)
July 1849

The final issue of the Collegian, Dickinson College's first monthly literary publication. Includes "Gregory VII," "The Breakers," "A Thunder Storm," "The European Crisis," "The College of the Magii," "American Prejudices," "Recollections," "College Reminiscences," and "Letters from the...

Location: Dickinsoniana Periodicals

Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Literary Pursuits, Politics and Government

Format: Newspapers and Magazines

Time Period: 1840-1859

"The American Newspaper Press," by Henry B. Ridgaway
July 12, 1849

Henry B. Ridgaway prepared this oration, entitled “The American Newspaper Press," for the commencement ceremonies held July 12, 1849. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.

Location: Orations-1849-R544a

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Politics and Government

Format: Speeches and Sermons

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letters from Oliver Worden to Eli Slifer
1850-1859

Oliver Worden writes five letters to Eli Slifer in which he comments on Slifer's "very interesting and very racy" first chapter of Shades of Public Life as well as offers advice for political speeches. Worden also updates Slifer on affairs regarding the Star and Chronicle paper...

Location: MC 2003.4, B11, F11

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Politics and Government

Format: Legal and Government Documents

Time Period: 1840-1859

"Robert Burns," by Alexander M. Hamilton
July 11, 1850

Alexander M. Hamilton prepared this oration, entitled “Robert Burns," for the commencement ceremonies held July 11, 1850. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.

Location: Orations-1850-H217r

Subject: Literary Pursuits

Format: Speeches and Sermons

Time Period: 1840-1859

"The Historian," by Flavel C. Barber
July 11, 1850

Flavel C. Barber prepared this oration, entitled “The Historian," for the commencement ceremonies held July 11, 1850. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.

Location: Orations-1850-B234h

Subject: Education, Literary Pursuits

Format: Speeches and Sermons

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letters from Israel Gutelius to Eli Slifer, 1851-54
1851-1854

Israel Gutelius writes eight letters to Eli Slifer regarding issues related to the publication of Gutelius' German language newspaper, including laws that would allow "reasonable compensation" for the work in translating and publishing county news. Gutelius' paper is the Der Demokrat,...

"American Literature," by Henry H. Pfeiffer
July 13, 1854

Henry Hamilton Pfeiffer prepared this oration, entitled “American Literature," for the commencement ceremonies held July 13, 1854. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.

Location: Orations-1854-P526a

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Politics and Government

Format: Speeches and Sermons

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Howell Cobb to David Tompkins
October 5, 1857

Treasury Secretary Howell Cobb writes to David Tompkins and accepts his election to the James Buchanan Literary Association of New Haven, Connecticut.

Location: I-Purchase-1966-1

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to New York City Burns Club
January 15, 1859

President James Buchanan writes the Burns Club of the City of New York to decline the club's invitation to a dinner celebrating Robert Burns's centennial birthday. Buchanan also expresses his personal views on the poet's life and work. "[Burns] has ever been a favorite poet of mine," as Buchanan...

Location: I-Friends-2011-3

Subject: Literary Pursuits

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Benson Lossing to James Buchanan
July 19, 1865

Benson John Lossing writes Former President James Buchanan with questions about the publication status of "a History of your Administration, prepared under your own eye." Lossing is writing a history of the Civil War and would like his account to be fair to Buchanan's administration. "I am a...

Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F17

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from James Buchanan to Marvin Boves
January 19, 1866

Former President James Buchanan thanks Marvin H. Boves for support of "my much much maligned administration." Buchanan also mentions his new book, Mr. Buchanan's Administration on the Eve of the Rebellion. While "the Book has had an extensive sale," Buchanan complains that "the...

Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F11

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Samuel Clemens to Horatio Collins King and John Howard
March 13, 1869

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, writes to Horatio Collins King and John R. Howard, regretting that he will be unable to lecture for them as he "must make ready from a short visit to California." Envelope included.

Location: I-HartM-1980-1

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Travel and Tourism

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

"Fashion," by Henry P. Cannon
June 21, 1869

Henry P. Cannon prepared this oration, entitled “Fashion," for the Junior Prize contest held in Rheem's Hall on July 9, 1869. Transcript included.

Location: OrationsX-1869-C226f

Subject: Literary Pursuits

Format: Speeches and Sermons

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to Winfrid Stearns
June 17, 1871

Naturalist and Smithsonian administrator Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to ornithologist Winfrid A. Stearns: "it gives me pleasure to authorize any use you desire of the material published in my work on the Birds of N. America."

Location: I-Friends-1989-1

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to Winfrid Stearns
November 11, 1871

Naturalist and Smithsonian administrator Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to ornithologist Winfrid A. Stearns  regarding the classification of birds. Baird also states that he will not have the time to edit Stearns's manuscript, but recommends Dr. Elliott Coues at Fort McHenry as a candidate.

Location: I-Friends-1989-1

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from George Eggleston to Horatio Collins King
November 16, 1871

George Cary Eggleston, the editor of Hearth and Home, warns Horatio Collins King that a "story" he submitted may imply partisanship - a sensitive topic following the Civil War. "We have to decline" those stories "which may, even by implication, give a partisan color to our columns," as...

Letter from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence
March 2, 1872

Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Spencer F. Baird writes George Lawrence regarding the "invoice of the contents of the boxes" sent to the Hague as well as Elliott Coues's "desire of making a monograph of the American [Myiarchi?]."

Location: I-SpahrB-1966-12

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to Alfred Bennett
March 20, 1874

Naturalist Spencer Fullerton Baird (Class of 1843) writes to Dr. Alfred W. Bennett, thanking him for sending a package of notes. Baird acknowledges similar gifts in the introduction of the Annual Report for 1873 and is sending Bennett a copy; he also "hopes that the new Scientific Monthly...

Location: I-Friends-1986-5

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

"Old and Young" No. 46, edited by Horatio Collins King
circa 1875

A copy of the monthly pamphlet "Young and Old," no. 46, edited by Horatio Collins King (Class of 1858).

Location: I-PfliegerP-2005-1

Subject: Literary Pursuits

Format: Newspapers and Magazines

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Henry Beecher to Horatio Collins King
July 20, 1875

Abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher writes to Horatio Collins King about King's apparent change of mind on becoming a publisher for Christian Union. Beecher accepts King's decision regretfully after admonishing that "backward" steps can be taken if they lead to "better promise in the future...

Location: I-HartC-1981-1

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Religion and Spirituality

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Spencer Baird to Robert Bell
May 12, 1877

Naturalist and Smithsonian administrator Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to Professor Robert Bell of the Geological Survey of Canada, regarding a paper Bell ordered that was lost in the mail. Baird writes that he will send another and adds: "Any other Smithsonian publications you desire, you...

Location: I-Friends-1987-4

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

Letter from Charles Deems to Mrs. Lausing Thurber
January 7, 1878

Charles F. Deems thanks Mrs. Lausing Thurber for her "kind note" and asks for her attention "to Frank Leslie Sunday Magazine." Deems, a member of the Class of 1839, explains how he is "now editing" that publication. Transcript included.

Location: I-AsbellY-2005-4

Subject: Business and Industry, Literary Pursuits

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879

"Dante," by Raphael Benham
May 24, 1878

Raphael Benham prepared this oration, entitled "Dante," for the Union Philosophical Society's Sophomore Contest held May 24, 1878. Transcript included.

Location: OrationsX-1878-B466d

Subject: Literary Pursuits

Format: Speeches and Sermons

Time Period: 1860-1879

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