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 and document descriptions contain a representative image and a summary of the contents.
Sorted chronologically
Senator James Buchanan writes to Secretary of the Treasury Levi Woodbury regarding a recent resolution from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives that selected the Philadelphia Bank "as one of the Depositories of the public money." Transcript...
Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F18
Subject: Business and Industry, Economics and Finance, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: 
Letter from James Buchanan to Levi Woodbury
Senator James Buchanan writes to Robert Morris and asks him to publish his "remarks" on the coal trade in the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I desire to let those who are interested in the Coal Trade know that I have not abandoned their...
Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F18
Subject: Business and Industry, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Robert Morris
Former US Senator William Wilkins (Class of 1802) writes Secretary of the Navy Mahlon Dickerson and asks for Doctor Watson to be appointed as a Surgeon’s Mate or receive Midshipman’s commission. Wilkins notes that Watson “has already made the...
Location: I-Friends-1983-21
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
Richard Rush writes Sir Gore Ouseley and encloses two short notes with autographs from Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Rush, a member of the Dickinson College Board of Trustees, comments on the veneration in which Washington is...
Location: I-Friends-1976-9
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from Richard Rush to Gore Ouseley
Representative James Buchanan writes seven letters to Representative Charles Jared Ingersoll a number of different political and legal matters, including political appointments, election campaigns, the Mexican-American War, and the Oregon Treaty...
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: International Affairs, Legal Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
John Zug receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 20, 1837.
Location: OC 2000.10, F1
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Bachelor of Arts Diploma - John Zug
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 20, 1837 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: 1820-1839
View Item: 1837 Commencement Program
Dickinson College President John Durbin writes to Board of Trustees member Samuel Harvey to discuss college finances, the new college catalogue, and the state of affairs at the college.
Location: I-Friends-2013-9
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Education
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from John Durbin to Samuel Harvey
Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney (Class of 1795) responds to a request for a sample of the late Chief Justice John Marshall's handwriting and a sample of Taney's own handwriting. While Taney does not have a sample of Marshall's writing, Taney...
Location: I-Friends-1975-19
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
A hand-colored engraving of the Public Square in Carlisle in 1838. The caption reads: "As seen on entering from the east. On the left are the Court House, Town Hall, and Methodist Church, on the main street. On the right, in the foreground, is St...
Location: I-Original-1838-1
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County
Format: Engravings and Illustrations, Maps and Diagrams
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Engraving of the Public Square in Carlisle
Senator James Buchanan writes to Thomas J. Randolph providing details about the Sub-Treasury Bill, including the relation to a Government Bank, as well as predicting that the bill "will pass the Senate by a majority of two votes." Transcript...
Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F20
Subject: Economics and Finance, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
Senator James Buchanan writes two letters to Secretary of War Joel R. Poinsett regarding the appointment of William S. Ramsey as a paymaster in the US Army and issues with how Ordnance Department grants contracts. Transcripts included.
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Business and Industry, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
The Statutes of Dickinson College lists important information and guidelines regarding the administration of the college, faculty, stewards, admissions, instruction, student behavior, the academic calendar, commencement, religious duties...
Location: RG 1/2 10.1.10
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College Organizations, Dickinson College Student Life, Education
Format: Books and Pamphlets
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: The Statutes of Dickinson College, 1838
Amos Slaymaker prepared this oration, entitled "Venice," for the commencement ceremonies held July 19, 1838. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.
Location: Orations-1838-S631v
Subject: International Affairs, Travel and Tourism
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: "Venice," by Amos Slaymaker
James Thompson prepared this oration, entitled “The Effect of the Doctrines of Christianity on the Progress of Philosophy," for the commencement ceremonies held July 19, 1838. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for...
Location: Orations-1838-T473e
Subject: Education, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: "The Effect of the Doctrines of Christianity on the Progress of Philosophy," by James Thompson
William Woodward prepared this oration, entitled “Encouragement Due to Worth and Genius," for the commencement ceremonies held July 19, 1838. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that...
Location: Orations-1838-W899e
Subject: Education, Social Reform and Advocacy
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: "Encouragement Due to Worth and Genius," by William Woodward
John A. Wright prepared this oration, entitled “Mental and Moral Effects of the Mathematics," for the commencement ceremonies held July 19, 1838. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at...
Location: Orations-1838-W951m
Subject: Education
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: "Mental and Moral Effects of the Mathematics," by John A. Wright
Joseph Clubine Rhodes receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 19, 1838.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Bachelor of Arts Diploma - Joseph Rhodes
Joseph Clubine Rhodes, a member of the Class of 1838, receives this diploma as a member of the Belles Lettres Society on July 19, 1838.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1820-1839
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 19, 1838 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: 1820-1839
View Item: 1838 Commencement Program
Senator James Buchanan thanks Charles S. Daveis for his "very kind" letter and notes that he has not received "a single copy of the Report." Buchanan also mentions Maine Governor Edward Kent and edits to a document in which "the province of...
Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F21
Subject: Business and Industry, International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Charles Daveis
Senator James Buchanan writes to Senator Reuel William regarding the 1838 gubernatorial election in Pennsylvania between Joseph Ritner and David Porter. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F21
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Reuel William
Two letters from James Buchanan to American diplomat Aaron Vail regarding relations with the United Kingdom and the "perfect chaos" of the United States' consular system. Transcripts included.
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letters from James Buchanan to Aaron Vail
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letters from James Buchanan to Aaron Vail
Senator James Buchanan writes to James A. Caldwell and offers job advice. "I fear you are about to abandon your noble, safe & prudent position without necessity," as Buchanan explains. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F21
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
John Zug, a member of the Class of 1837, receives this diploma as a member of the Union Philosophical Society on December 22, 1838.
Location: OC 2000.10, F1
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1820-1839