Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes Professor Joseph Henry, the first Smithsonian Secretary, to explain that he cannot meet with the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. As the Supreme Court Justices are meeting to decide cases, Taney explains that "every one of us must...
Location: I-SpahrB-1969-7
Subject: Legal Affairs, Politics and Government, Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
J. Howard Beckwith prepared this oration, entitled “The Triumph of American Genius," for the Junior Prize (Grigg Prize) contest held on July 3, 1858. Twelve members of the Junior class gave speeches on a variety of subjects. Transcript included.
Location: Orations-1858-B397t
Subject: Education, Politics and Government
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 8, 1858 shows the members of the graduating class and the speeches that they were scheduled to deliver.
Location: Dickinsoniana Programs
Subject: Dickinson College Events
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1840-1859
Joseph John Stuart receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1858.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1840-1859
Thomas Miller Griffith receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1858.
Charles Francis Himes (Class of 1855) receives his Master of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1858.
John Fletcher Hurst (Class of 1854) receives his Master of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1858.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1840-1859
Joseph John Stuart, member of the class of 1858, receives this diploma as a member of the Union Philosophical Society on July 8, 1858.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1840-1859
Andrew Curtin writes fourteen letters to Eli Slifer in which he discusses a number of political issues, including who to nominate as candidates in Congressional elections. Curtin also reflects upon Slifer's potential candidacy for treasurer of Pennsylvania. In addition, Curtin requests a...
Location: MC 2003.4, B3, F10
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Horatio Collins King, a member of the Class of 1858, records his thoughts and activities of his daily life in the first year after his graduation from Dickinson College. King's entries include notes on his travels through New England, Canada, and New York. In addition, King discusses social life...
Location: MC 1999.9, B3, F1
Subject: Education, Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Format: Diaries and Journals
Time Period: 1840-1859
President James Buchanan explains why he cannot grant E. L. Molineux's request that a merchant clerk of New York City receive an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F26
Subject: Education, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
United States Attorney General Jeremiah Sullivan Black writes to Jacob Thompson, Secretary of the Interior, with a legal opinion on the question of whether widows of officers and soldiers could receive a government pension if they remarry. "Upon the whole it is clear," as Black concludes, that...
Location: I-BeachW-1974-1
Subject: Legal Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Lily Macalester writes this biographical sketch of President James Buchanan in 1859. Macalester is friends with First Lady Harriet Lane, Buchanan's niece. Transcript included.
Location: I-BeachW-2001-1
Subject: Genealogy and Family History, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Essays and Dissertations
Time Period: 1840-1859
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
President James Buchanan writes Charles E. Wentz regarding possible political appointments for Col. Samuel Stambaugh. "I have offered him two good offices; but he will accept neither of them," as Buchanan explains. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F2
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
President James Buchanan writes to Secretary of State Lewis Cass, Secretary of War John B. Floyd, and Attorney General Jeremiah S. Black regarding orders that they need to send to federal officials in Utah. "The State of Affairs in Utah renders it necessary that new & harmonious instructions...
Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F2
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
United States Secretary of the Interior Jacob Thompson forwards a commission from President James Buchanan (Class of 1809) to John A. B. Leonard. The commission appoints Mr. Leonard as "Secretary to sign patents for lands."
Location: I-AsbellY-2002-63
Subject: Land and Real Estate, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to A. Haen & Company about the redrawing of some plates. Dr. John Newberry has left, and Baird has no authority in the matter but will write to Newberry.
Location: I-BeachW-1983-2
Subject: Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Governor of Virginia Henry Alexander Wise comments on various national political issues and on the 1860 presidential election. Wise tells his correspondent that "I hope you will deal hardly by the Softs and expose their connection at Cincinnati in...
Location: I-SpahrB-1954-9
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Clarence G. Jackson prepared this oration, entitled “Posthumous Glory," for the Junior Prize (Grigg Prize) contest held on July 9, 1859. Transcript included.
Location: Orations-1859-J12p
Subject: Religion and Spirituality
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
William L. Cannon prepared this oration, entitled “The Central Idea of History," for the Junior Prize (Grigg Prize) contest held on July 9, 1862. Transcript included.
Location: Orations-1859-C226c
Subject: Education, Politics and Government
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
George Baylor prepared this oration, entitled “The Power of Thought," for the Junior Prize (Grigg Prize) contest held on July 9, 1859. Transcript included.
Location: Orations-1859-B358p
Subject: Education
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
Charles F. Thomas' diary includes intermittent entries dating from leaving Dickinson College in July 1859, to attending at Garrett Bible Institute in Evanston, Illinois, and to working as a Methodist circuit rider in Pennsylvania as the Civil War begins. In March 1860, Thomas saw Abraham Lincoln...
Location: I-Friends-1983-17
Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Diaries and Journals
Zebulon Dyer prepared this oration, entitled “Manifest Destiny," for the commencement ceremonies held July 14, 1859. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.
Location: Orations-1859-D996m
Subject: Education, Politics and Government
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 14, 1859 shows the members of the graduating class and the speeches that they were scheduled to deliver.
Location: Dickinsoniana Programs
Subject: Dickinson College Events
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1840-1859
