Guide to Collections

About Guides to Collections

Collections of college and personal papers, as well as a select number of individual documents, have been briefly described in entries available for browsing and searching on this site. All collection descriptions contain a representative image and a summary of the contents. Collection descriptions also include links to an inventory detailing the contents of the collection.

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Natural History Illustrations - Flickr Collection
Natural History Illustrations - Flickr Collection
1793-1893

These images were taken from a number of books housed in the Dickinson College Archives and Special Collections.

The sources include:

Thomas Pennant's History of Quadrupeds. Vols. 1 and 2 (1793)
William P. C. Barton's...

Location: Special Collections

Subject: Science and Technology

Format: Engravings and Illustrations

Time Period: 1800-1819, 1820-1839, 1840-1859, 1860-1879, 1880-1899

Collection Inventory:


Newspaper Collection - Carlisle and Local, 1769-2001
The Eagle, or, Carlisle Herald - March 3, 1802
1769-2001

The Carlisle and Local Newspaper Collection consists of various newspapers that were produced in south central Pennsylvania, or feature articles which concern local events. The newspapers are arranged alphabetically by title and then...

Location: Carlisle and Local - Newspaper Collection 1769-2001

Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Military Affairs and Conflict, Native Americans, Politics and Government

Format: Newspapers and Magazines

Time Period: 1760-1779, 1780-1799, 1800-1819, 1820-1839, 1840-1859, 1860-1879, 1880-1899, 1900-1919, 1960-1979, 2000-2019

Collection Inventory: PDF icon Carlisle and Local - Annotated Newspaper List, PDF icon Carlisle and Local - Subject Index

Newspaper Collection - Dickinsoniana, 1785-2002
Allegheny Democrat - September 30, 1834
1785-2002

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...

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: PDF icon Dickinsoniana - Annotated Newspaper List, PDF icon Dickinsoniana - Subject Index

Charles Nisbet Family papers
Letters, 1799 (Box 1, folders 22 and 24)
1769-1865

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...

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: PDF icon mc2001.07.pdf

Eugene Allen Noble presidential papers
Eugene Allen Noble - President, 1911-1914
1911-1914

The records contained in the President Eugene Allen Noble record group pertain only to his time and affairs as president of Dickinson College. As such, no personal papers are included in this record group. For records concerning Noble’s...

Location: RG 2/10

Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Education

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1900-1919

Collection Inventory: PDF icon RG 2/10 - Eugene Allen Noble

George Norcross papers
Sermon, 1904 (Box 1, folder 7)
1870-1904

George Norcross (1838-1915) graduated from Monmouth College in 1861 and Princeton Theological Seminary in 1864. He served as minister of the Second Presbyterian Church in Carlisle, Pa., from 1869 until 1909. This collection contains seven sermons...

Location: MC 2005.6

Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Religion and Spirituality

Format: Speeches and Sermons

Time Period: 1860-1879, 1880-1899, 1900-1919

Collection Inventory: PDF icon mc2005.06.pdf

Office of the Chaplain Papers
The Church Speaks program, October 1954
1924-1989, bulk 1967-1989

Record group 5/2 consists of both materials dating from 1962-1989 while the Office of the Chaplain existed under the leadership of a full-time chaplain, as well as materials regarding campus religious affairs functions prior to the establishment...

Location: RG 5/2

Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College Organizations, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Religion and Spirituality

Format: Books and Pamphlets, Financial Documents, Letters/Correspondence, Meeting Minutes, Memorabilia and Ephemera, Music, Reports, Speeches and Sermons

Time Period: 1920-1939, 1940-1959, 1960-1979, 1980-1999

Collection Inventory: PDF icon RG 5/2 - Office of the Chaplain Papers

Jesse Truesdell Peck presidential papers
Jesse Truesdell Peck - President, 1848-1852
1848-1852

The records contained in the President Jesse Truesdell Peck record group pertain only to his time and affairs as president of Dickinson College. As such, no personal papers or papers pertaining to Peck’s tenure as a faculty member are included in...

Location: RG 2/4

Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Education, Religion and Spirituality

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1840-1859

Collection Inventory: PDF icon RG 2/4 - Jesse Truesdell Peck

Esther Popel Shaw diary
Diary, 1914-1915 (Box 1, folder 1)
1914-1915

This collection consists primarily of the diary of Esther Popel Shaw (Class of 1919), the first African American woman to graduate from Dickinson College.  Esther kept this diary between the conclusion of her junior year in high...

Location: MC 2013.4

Subject: Education, Literary Pursuits, Personal and Family Life

Format: Diaries and Journals

Time Period: 1900-1919

Collection Inventory: PDF icon mc2013.04.pdf

Henry Cardwell Potter family papers
Death certificate, 1902 (Box 2, folder 17)
1858-1943

The collection documents the lives of the members of the Potter, Guererro, James, and Lord families from the 1850s to the 1940s, beginning with Henry Cardwell Potter (1822-1902), a Philadelphia businessman who through his business dealings became...

Location: MC 1998.8

Subject: Business and Industry, Health and Medicine, Land and Real Estate, Personal and Family Life, Sport and Recreation, Travel and Tourism

Format: Financial Documents, Legal and Government Documents, Letters/Correspondence, Memorabilia and Ephemera, Newspapers and Magazines, Photographs, Scrapbooks

Time Period: 1840-1859, 1860-1879, 1880-1899, 1900-1919, 1920-1939, 1940-1959

Collection Inventory: PDF icon mc1998.08.pdf

Charles Augustus Poulson Sr. family papers
Newspaper, 1817 (Oversized, folder 1)
1809-1918

The collection documents several generations of the Poulson family and its role in publishing Poulson's American Daily Advertiser. It includes submissions, woodcuts, and sample issues from the Daily Advertiser; correspondence;...

Location: MC 2006.2

Subject: Economics and Finance, Education, Genealogy and Family History, Health and Medicine, Land and Real Estate, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government, Religion and Spirituality

Format: Books and Pamphlets, Essays and Dissertations, Financial Documents, Legal and Government Documents, Letters/Correspondence, Newspapers and Magazines, Photographs, Poetry and Lyrics, Scrapbooks

Time Period: 1800-1819, 1820-1839, 1840-1859, 1860-1879, 1880-1899, 1900-1919

Collection Inventory: PDF icon mc2006.02.pdf

Presidents, 1783-1833
Charles Nisbet
1783-1831

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...

Location: RG 2/1

Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College Student Life, Education

Format: Letters/Correspondence, Reports

Time Period: 1780-1799, 1800-1819, 1820-1839

Collection Inventory: PDF icon RG 2/1 - Presidents

Eli Kirk Price collection
Booklet, 1854 (Box 2, folder 2)
1797-1937

The collection consists of correspondence, legal and financial materials primarily related to Price's law practice, his service in the Pennsylvania State Senate (1854-1856), and as a commissioner for Fairmount Park Association. Also included in...

Location: MC 1999.13

Subject: Business and Industry, Economics and Finance, Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Social Reform and Advocacy

Format: Books and Pamphlets, Financial Documents, Legal and Government Documents, Letters/Correspondence, Newspapers and Magazines

Time Period: 1780-1799, 1800-1819, 1820-1839, 1840-1859, 1860-1879, 1880-1899, 1900-1919, 1920-1939

Collection Inventory: PDF icon mc1999.13.pdf

Priestley Award papers
Joseph Priestley
1952-present

The Priestley Award was established by Dickinson College in honor and memory of Joseph Priestley, the eighteenth century scientist and theologian best known as the discoverer of oxygen. Every year the award is presented to a distinguished...

Location: RG 9/2

Subject: Dickinson College Events, Education, Science and Technology

Format: Broadsides and Posters, Financial Documents, Letters/Correspondence, Memorabilia and Ephemera

Time Period: 1960-1979, 1980-1999, 2000-2019

Collection Inventory: PDF icon RG 9/2 - Joseph Priestley Award Papers

Joseph Priestley family papers
Engraving, undated (Box 2, folder 9)
1717-1964

This collection includes letters, documents, clippings, pamphlets, and photographs relating to Joseph Priestley and his descendants. It was presented to the college by Mrs. Temple Fay.

Location: MC 1998.1

Subject: Health and Medicine, Politics and Government, Science and Technology

Format: Artifacts and Objects, Engravings and Illustrations, Essays and Dissertations, Letters/Correspondence, Newspapers and Magazines, Photographs, Scrapbooks

Time Period: Before 1760, 1760-1779, 1780-1799, 1800-1819, 1820-1839, 1840-1859, 1860-1879, 1880-1899, 1900-1919, 1920-1939, 1940-1959, 1960-1979

Collection Inventory: PDF icon mc1998.01.pdf, PDF icon Priestley Family Collection Pamphlet

Joseph Priestley miscellaneous papers
Envelope and postcard, 1983 (Box 2, folder 23)
1833-1994

This collection includes articles, manuscripts, newspaper clippings, and programs about Joseph Priestley and related topics. Also included in the collection are genealogical materials - correspondence, notes, charts - collected by Priestley...

Location: MC 2003.8

Subject: Genealogy and Family History, Literary Pursuits, Religion and Spirituality, Science and Technology

Format: Books and Pamphlets, Essays and Dissertations, Letters/Correspondence, Maps and Diagrams, Memorabilia and Ephemera, Newspapers and Magazines

Time Period: 1820-1839, 1840-1859, 1860-1879, 1880-1899, 1900-1919, 1920-1939, 1940-1959, 1960-1979, 1980-1999

Collection Inventory: PDF icon mc2003.08.pdf

Leon Cushing Prince papers
Program, undated (Box 4, folder 9)
1790-1937

Leon Cushing Prince (1878-1937) graduated from Dickinson College in 1898 and received his law degree from the Dickinson School of Law and his masters from New York University. Prince returned to Dickinson in 1907 to become a professor of history...

Location: MC 1998.7

Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Economics and Finance, Education, Literary Pursuits, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government, Religion and Spirituality, Social Reform and Advocacy

Format: Books and Pamphlets, Essays and Dissertations, Legal and Government Documents, Letters/Correspondence, Memorabilia and Ephemera, Newspapers and Magazines, Scrapbooks, Speeches and Sermons

Time Period: 1780-1799, 1800-1819, 1820-1839, 1840-1859, 1860-1879, 1880-1899, 1900-1919, 1920-1939

Collection Inventory: PDF icon mc1998.07.pdf

Julius N. Proeschel family papers
Letters, 1887, 1889 (Box 1, folder 4)
1865-1926

Julius N. Proeschel was a French immigant who was an employee and friend of John McClintock, a professor at Dickinson College. The Proeschel Family Collection is comprised entirely of correspondence and is housed in one document box. The...

Location: MC 2001.3

Subject: Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1860-1879, 1880-1899, 1900-1919, 1920-1939

Collection Inventory: PDF icon mc2001.03.pdf

Public Interest Resource Center (PIRC) papers
Newsletter, 1980 (Box 1, folder 22)
1978-1993

The Public Interest Resource Center (PIRC) collection consists of the various papers, newsletters, court dockets, and publications which were housed by PIRC in an effort to organize all efforts against the restart of Three Mile Island, following...

Location: TMI-PIRC

Subject: Health and Medicine, Legal Affairs, Politics and Government, Three Mile Island

Format: Artifacts and Objects, Books and Pamphlets, Financial Documents, Legal and Government Documents, Letters/Correspondence, Meeting Minutes, Memorabilia and Ephemera, Newspapers and Magazines, Reports

Time Period: 1960-1979, 1980-1999

Collection Inventory: PDF icon TMI-PIRC.pdf

Earl Eugene Rahn Scrapbook
Photo from Earl Eugene Rahn scrapbook
1909-1912

Earl Eugene Rahn graduated from Dickinson College in 1912. This scrapbook includes images of people, places, events at Dickinson between 1909 and 1912, as well as at Rahn's home in Weavertown, PA.

Location: MC 2018.07

Subject: Dickinson College Student Life

Format: Scrapbooks

Time Period: 1900-1919

Collection Inventory: PDF icon mc2018.07rahn.pdf

William Rawle family papers
Letter, 1853 (Box 1, folder 10)
1786-1896

The collection consists of the correspondence of William Rawle (1759-1836), William Rawle, Jr. (1788-1858), William Henry Rawle (1823-1889), Charles Wallace Brooke, and William Brooke Rawle, primarily concerning legal and financial matters. The...

Location: MC 2000.5

Subject: Economics and Finance, Legal Affairs

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799, 1800-1819, 1820-1839, 1840-1859, 1860-1879, 1880-1899

Collection Inventory: PDF icon mc2000.05.pdf

John Meredith Read papers
Letter, 1844 (Box 1, folder 1)
1818-1870

This collection contains the personal and legal papers of John Meredith Read, a Pennsylvania lawyer and state supreme court justice. The collection is housed in one document box and is divided into two categories: Correspondence and Legal and...

Location: MC 2001.19

Subject: Business and Industry, Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life

Format: Financial Documents, Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1800-1819, 1820-1839, 1840-1859, 1860-1879

Collection Inventory: PDF icon mc2001.19.pdf

George Edward Reed presidential papers
George Edward Reed - President, 1889-1911
1889-1911

The records contained in the President George Edward Reed record group pertain only to his time and affairs as president of Dickinson College. As such, no personal papers are included in this record group. For records concerning Reed’s...

Location: RG 2/9

Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Education

Format: Financial Documents, Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1880-1899, 1900-1919

Collection Inventory: PDF icon RG 2/9 - George Edward Reed

George Edward Reed II war journals
Journal, 1941 (Box 1, folder 2)
1941-1945

George Edward Reed II (1912-1998) graduated from Dickinson College in 1935. This collection contains journals that document his service during World War II. The journals include diary entries, which start in June 1941 and end in November 1945....

Location: MC 2009.1

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Religion and Spirituality, Travel and Tourism

Format: Diaries and Journals, Letters/Correspondence, Memorabilia and Ephemera, Newspapers and Magazines, Photographs

Time Period: 1940-1959

Collection Inventory: PDF icon mc2009.01.pdf

William Charles Ford Reed papers and books
Copybook, c.1847-1851 (Box 1, folder 7)
1832-1861

The William Charles Ford Reed Collection was donated to the college in 1951 by the sons of William C. F. Reed, Class of 1851. The collection contains some of Reed's student writings, notebooks, and his complete set of school books. A subsequent...

Location: MC 2001.16

Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Education

Format: Books and Pamphlets, Essays and Dissertations, Maps and Diagrams, Memorabilia and Ephemera, Notes and Notebooks, Photographs, Speeches and Sermons

Time Period: 1820-1839, 1840-1859, 1860-1879

Collection Inventory: PDF icon mc2001.16.pdf

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