Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions
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
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
James A. Wilson of Middleton Township signs this receipt for the return of an eight year old male slave.
Location: I-BeetemC-1968-1
Subject: Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life
Format: Financial Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
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
A copy of the Last Will and Testament of Revolutionary War General William Thompson, certified on October 6, 1781.
Location: I-MoyermanS-1963-1
Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
William Bingham welcomes John Jay, an American politician and diplomat, to England and invites Jay to visit him in London. "I am happy at being informed of your Safe Arrival at Bath," as Bingham notes. Bingham serves as a member of the Dickinson College Board of Trustees. Transcript included....
Location: I-SpahrB-undated-19
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
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
Dickinson College Trustee James Wilson writes to William Bingham regarding a loan Wilson seeks from an unspecified Mr. Lettsom. Wilson also discusses the opening of Land Offices and the possibility of changes to the Pennsylvania state constitution. Transcript included.
Location: I-SpahrB-1964-11
Subject: Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
William Irvine writes to recommend Ebenezer Denny as "a young man of good private character" who "conducted himself with propriety." Irvine notes that Denny had served as a "Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Line" from 1780 "to the end of the War.
Location: I-SpahrB-1963-10
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life
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
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 page from an account book of a hatter based in Philadelphia includes purchases by John Dickinson, John Montgomery, and Stephen Duncan.
Location: I-SpahrB-1954-10
Subject: Business and Industry, Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life
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
James Wilson invites William Bingham to spend an hour the following evening visiting with him.
Location: I-Friends-1975-26
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
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
Benjamin Rush writes to his wife, Julia Stockton Rush, regarding poetry, the division of land, and his medical essays. Transcript included.
Location: I-ButterfieldL-1971-1
Subject: Health and Medicine, Land and Real Estate, Literary Pursuits, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
William Young writes a letter to his wife, Agnes McLaws Young, describing his arrival in Carlisle and the people he met throughout his journey. Young also informs her of some errands that need to be taken care of. Young is a bookseller and printer in Philadelphia. Transcript included.
Location: MC 2001.5, B1, F14
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
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
Dickinson President Charles Nisbet writes a series of five letters to William Young that mostly focus on Nisbet's transactions with Young as a printer and book dealer. Nisbet criticizes the August issue of one of Young's magazines, declaring it "a vehicle of infidelity, blasphemy, & ribaldry...
Location: MC 2001.5, B1, F3-4
Subject: Business and Industry, International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
John Armstrong writes to George Thompson stating that he is "going to the woods and will be absent for some months". Armstrong also explains his intention to bring a suit against Meyer McCully on account of a small debt. Transcript included.
Location: I-ValeM-1947-70
Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
James Wilson, United States Supreme Court Justice and signer of the Declaration of Independence, writes to United States Treasurer Samuel Meredith. Wilson requests the immediate payment of his month's salary. Transcript included.
Location: I-SpahrB-undated-15
Subject: Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
John Young writes William Young, a bookseller and printer in Philadelphia, to express his intentions to withdraw his subscription for The Universal Asylum, and Columbian Magazine. "As Doctor [Charles Nisbet's] Course of Lectures is to close in about ten days," John explains that he will...
Location: MC 2001.5, B1, F13
Subject: Business and Industry, Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
Samuel Magaw Thompson writes to James Hamilton and explains that he has been in Georgia since leaving his mother's. Thompson notes that he would be glad to hear from the family and sends compliments to his sister, Mrs. Hamilton.
Location: I-ValeM-1947-66
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
Joseph Priestley writes to Thomas Wedgwood about supplies for the laboratory that Priestley is building after his previous one was destroyed and discusses invitations to move from England to France. Wedgwood's family operated the Etruria Works ceramics factory. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.1, B1, F11
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
Dickinson President Charles Nisbet writes thirteen letters to his daughter, Mary Nisbet, offering advice on marriage and family life in addition to discussions of domestic and political affairs. Transcripts included.
Location: MC 2001.7
Subject: Health and Medicine, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
