1840-1859

    Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions

Letter from J. Y. Mason to James Buchanan
December 24, 1847

J. Y. Mason acknowledges receiving Secretary of State James Buchanan's letter with a request for the US Navy to not enter "ports of Peru" that are closed to "foreign commerce." "Instructions have been given to the Commanding officer of the U. S. naval force in the Pacific to give the necessary...

Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F18

Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to Mr. Osna
December 27, 1847

Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Mr. Osna regarding Peru's request that US Navy ships "abstain from entering the ports and harbors of Peru not open to foreign commerce." Mr. Osna is Peru's representative in the United States. Transcript included.

Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F17

Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to Jacob S. Yost
December 28, 1847

Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to former Representative Jacob S. Yost regarding Pennsylvania politics and Yost's visit to Washington DC. "Luzerne is, I think, one of the few counties in the State which is hostile to me," as Buchanan notes. Transcript included.

Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F17

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

"General Directions for Collecting and Preserving Objects of Natural History" by Spencer Baird
circa 1848

Spencer F. Baird (Class of 1840), the Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, publishes "General Directions for Collection and Preserving Objects of Natural History" in 1848. Baird, who is responsible for the Natural History Department, also includes an overview ("Special Desiderata...

Location: I-Friends-1975-18

Subject: Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence, Reports

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Roger B. Taney to James M. Campbell
January 17, 1848

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to James Mason Campbell regarding the financial troubles of a family member. As Taney's brother "had drawn on me," Taney sends Campbell "the above to pay my brother's draft on me." Taney explains his concern that his brother "had not received...

Location: I-SpahrB-1967-1

Subject: Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from David Wilmot to Reah Frazer
January 27, 1848

Representative David Wilmot, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, writes to Reah Frazer and asks for certain information that could be used to discredit Secretary of State James Buchanan politically. "Your letter shall be confidential if you desire," as Wilmot notes. Transcript included.

Location: I-Purchase-1958-26

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Dickinson College Report for John Harding
January 29, 1848

The report for John L. Harding, a member of the Class of 1849, includes an account of his expenses, notes on his "attention to study" and absences from classes while at Dickinson College in January 1848. Harding is taking Moral Philosophy, Mental Philosophy, Natural Sciences, Ancient Languages,...

Letter from John McLean to N. Sargent
February 24, 1848

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court John McLean, who is also a Trustee at Dickinson College, writes to N. Sargent regarding the death of former President John Quincy Adams on February 23, 1848 in Washington, DC.

Location: I-Friends-1976-3

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to Asbury Dickins
March 16, 1848

Secretary of State James Buchanan writes Asbury Dickins, Secretary of the United States Senate, and requests access to several letters held by the Senate. "To enable [President James K. Polk] to answer the call of the House [of Representatives]," Buchanan asks that a Mr. Appleton be allowed "to...

Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F18

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Christian Humrich to Samuel Davis (Draft)
[May 1848?]

Christian Humrich writes to Samuel K. Davis regarding his experience during his freshman year at Dickinson College. Humrich mentions his Latin class and discusses the differences between Professors Otis Tiffany and George Crooks. In addition, Humrich mentions the suicide of a Major Irvine at a...

Location: I-Original-undated-15

Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Student Life, Education

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Samuel Reynolds to His Mother
May 1, 1848

Samuel Henry Reynolds, a member of the Class of 1850, writes to his Mother about his health, conditions in Carlisle, and asks that his father send money for medicine. Despite "not feel[ing] very well," Reynolds notes that "I have considerable of studying to do this morning." Reynolds also admits...

Letter from Richard Rush to Mr. Corbin
June 26, 1848

Richard Rush, United States Minister to France, informs a Mr. Corbin that the continued siege of Paris means that he is unfortunately "forced to forgo the pleasure of receiving my friends at dinner tomorrow." Rush also comments on and returns the letter that Corbin forwarded to him.

"Italy under Pius IX," by John Andrew Jackson Creswell
July 13, 1848

John Andrew Jackson Creswell prepared this oration, entitled “Italy Under Pius IX," for the commencement ceremonies held July 13, 1848. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.

Location: Orations-1848-C923i

Subject: Politics and Government, Religion and Spirituality

Format: Speeches and Sermons

Time Period: 1840-1859

1848 Commencement Program
July 13, 1848

This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 13, 1848 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

Master of Arts Diploma - James Gordon
July 13, 1848

James Biddle Gordon (Class of 1845) receives his Master of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 13, 1848.

Location: Diploma Collection

Subject: Education

Format: Certificates and Diplomas

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Zachary Taylor to Roger Jones
July 18, 1848

General Zachary Taylor writes to Roger Jones, the Adjutant General of the Army, regarding "Indian troubles on frontiers of Texas" and suggesting that the investigation into the Texas frontier "be made under the direction of the officer assigned to that command in that quarter." Transcript...

Location: I-SpahrB-1958-17

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Native Americans

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to John Dickey
July 19, 1848

Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Representative John Dickey regarding inviting the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation over to dinner. "It is good I think that Pennsylvanians should occasionally meet in social intercourse without distinction of party," as Buchanan explains....

Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F19

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

License to Preach for James McCauley
October 15, 1848

James Andrew McCauley, a member of the Class of 1847, receives his license to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church on October 15, 1848.

Location: I-Original-1848-5

Subject: Religion and Spirituality

Format: Miscellaneous

Time Period: 1840-1859

Dickinson College Report for John Harding
December 1848

John L. Harding's (Class of 1849) report from Dickinson College in December 1848 includes details about his financial account, his grades, and a message from President Jesse T. Peck. Thomas E Sudler, who serves as Harding's patron, signed the report.  This report is addressed to a Col. George M...

Letter from Roger B. Taney to J. Mason Campbell
January 11, 1849

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Roger Brooke Taney writes to J. Mason Campbell (Class of 1827) about issues related to several financial matters. In addition, Taney also asks after his grandson.

Location: I-SpahrB-1965-10

Subject: Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from Roger B. Taney to Anne Taney
January 19, 1849

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to his wife, Anne Key Taney, about his health and his daughters' unexpected visit. "I was quite surprised when the girls walked into my room," as Taney notes. However, as there is not enough room at that location, Taney explains that his...

Location: I-SpahrB-1965-5

Subject: Health and Medicine, Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letters from James Buchanan to Nahum Capen
1849-1851

James Buchanan writes three letters to Nahum Capen regarding the publication of President Thomas Jefferson's papers, the collapse of national political parties like the Whigs, the Compromise of 1850, the Senatorial election in Massachusetts, and the increase in sectional tensions. "...

Location: MC 1998.10

Subject: Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Collegian (Vol. 1, No. 1)
March 1849

The first issue of the Collegian, Dickinson College's first monthly literary publication. Includes "Nationality," "Machine for Grinding Poetry," "Love in College," "Translation of Cleanthe's Hymn to Jupiter," and "The Spartan Youth."

The Belles Lettres and Union Philosophical...

Location: Dickinsoniana Periodicals

Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Literary Pursuits

Format: Newspapers and Magazines

Time Period: 1840-1859

Collegian (Vol. 1, No. 2)
April 1849

The second issue of the Collegian, Dickinson College's first monthly literary publication. Includes "The Tyrol," "Love and Scholarship," "Communings with the Departed," "The Song of the Wind," "War," and "Ernest Maltravers."

The Belles Lettres and Union Philosophical Societies...

Location: Dickinsoniana Periodicals

Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Literary Pursuits

Format: Newspapers and Magazines

Time Period: 1840-1859

Letter from James Buchanan to Samuel L. Gouverneur
April 23, 1849

Former Secretary of State James Buchanan writes Samuel L. Gouverneur to discuss political matters and includes something for him that "may prove serviceable." Buchanan states that this item "is not directed to General Z. Taylor; because under the existing circumstances, I cannot ask a favor from...

Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F22

Subject: Legal Affairs, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Pages

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