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
The Dickinson College catalog for the 1839-1840 academic year. Through the years, the annual catalog was variously titled "The Bulletin," "Catalogue and Register," "Course Catalog," and similar variants. The catalog typically includes the list of...
Location: Dickinsoniana Periodicals
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College Alumni Affairs, Education
Format: Books and Pamphlets
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: 
Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Dickinson College, 1839-40
Location: Dickinsoniana Periodicals
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College Alumni Affairs, Education
Format: Books and Pamphlets
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Dickinson College, 1839-40
Pennsylvania Representative Henry Logan's draft of his response to a dinner invitation from President Martin Van Buren for January 23, 1839.
Location: I-LoganH-1968-1
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from Henry Logan to Martin Van Buren (Draft)
Dickinson College President John P. Durbin writes C. A. Walborn regarding the case of a Mr. Dodge. "If I can extract any information" from Mr. Dodge, Durbin explains that "I shall have to tell him that we do not consider the case closed at all."...
Location: I-SpahrB-1966-5
Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from John Durbin to C. Walborn
Senator James Buchanan is interested in learning more about "the early history of my father," James Buchanan, Sr., and writes Robert Lamberton to ask for help. "Your father is the only gentleman I know who can furnish me this information," as...
Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F22
Subject: Genealogy and Family History
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
Senator James Buchanan (Class of 1809) writes to General Garret D. Wall regarding the education of his orphaned niece Harriet R. Lane, whom he raised.
Location: I-AsbellY-2002-70
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Garret Wall
"Synopsis of the Birds of Pennsylvania" compiled by Spencer F. Baird from John James Audubon, Alexander Wilson, and Nuttal in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Includes sections on land and water birds.
Location: I-Original-1839-4
Subject: Science and Technology
Format: Reports
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item:
James G. Hamilton prepared this oration, entitled “The Congress of Panama," for the commencement ceremonies held July 11, 1839. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time....
Location: Orations-1839-H218c
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1820-1839
John Lyon prepared this oration, entitled “Inequalities of the Human Condition," for the commencement ceremonies held July 11, 1839. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time....
Location: Orations-1839-L991i
Subject: Education, Social Reform and Advocacy
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1820-1839
John O. Proctor prepared this oration, entitled “Formation of the Female Character," for the commencement ceremonies held July 11, 1839. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time...
Location: Orations-1839-P964f
Subject: Education, Social Reform and Advocacy
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: "Formation of Female Character," by John O. Proctor
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 11, 1839 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: 1839 Commencement Program
William Thomas (Class of 1825) writes to Carlisle lawyer C.B. Penrose, discussing the "election of our entire ticket" and analyzing opposition towards "Loco Focos," a faction of the Democratic party, as well as abolitionists.
Location: I-SpahrB-undated-54
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from Thomas Williams to C. B. Penrose
Former President and Representative John Quincy Adams writes to members of a committee of Union Philosophical Society (UPS) members and declines an invitation to deliver an address before a joint meeting of the Belles Lettres and Union...
Location: I-Friends-2008-3
Subject: Dickinson College Organizations, Dickinson College Student Life, Education
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from John Quincy Adams to the Union Philosophical Society
John Zug (Class of 1837) writes to his girlfriend, Margaret Hood, and describes his first days of work as a lawyer. Zug explains that his colleagues are "ungodly men, not only irreligious, but most of them profane." Zug is happy, however, to have...
Location: I-Friends-2013-8
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from John Zug to Margaret Hood
Senator James Buchanan informs John R. Savage that his son has "no prospect of obtaining a midshipman's warrant" in the United States Navy. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F24
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to John R. Savage
Senator James Buchanan writes two letters to Thomas L. Hamer discussing various contemporary political leaders. In the first letter, Buchanan reflects upon John C. Calhoun's recent visit to the President and the nomination of William H. Harrison...
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Economics and Finance, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Senator James Buchanan writes five letters to Col Reah Frazer regarding a number of different political issues, including the 1840 Democratic National Convention, the 1840 and 1844 Presidential Elections, the Independent Treasury Bill,...
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Business and Industry, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letters from James Buchanan to Reah Frazer
Ellen Lyon discusses how women's education should be structured and what subjects should be included in an essay entitled "What Branch of Study is Most Important in the Education of a Young Lady." "Within a few years female education has received...
Location: I-Original-undated-16
Subject: Education, Social Reform and Advocacy
Format: Essays and Dissertations
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "What Branch of Study is Most Important in the Education of a Young Lady," by Ellen Lyon
Representative Joseph Trumbull writes former Senator James Lanman to discuss the political situation in the United States Congress as well as James Buchanan's political views. The "House [of Representatives] is a perfect Bedlam and the Senate...
Location: I-SpahrB-1960-5
Subject: Business and Industry, Economics and Finance, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Joseph Trumbull to James Lanman
Dickinson College President John P. Durbin writes John Zug (Class of 1837) and appoints him as the principal of the Dickinson College Grammar School until the Board of Trustees meeting in July. "Let us see if we cannot raise the School once more...
Location: I-StokesM-1964-2
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Education
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from John Durbin to John Zug
Senator James Buchanan writes four letters on a number of different topics, including Congressional legislation on bankruptcy, banks, the Tariff bill, the 1844 Democratic National Convention in Baltimore, and political conditions in Pennsylvania...
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Business and Industry, Economics and Finance, International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letters from James Buchanan to Unknown Recipients
Clement Edwin Babb prepared this oration, entitled “Misanthropy," for the commencement ceremonies held July 9, 1840. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript...
Location: Orations-1840-B112m
Subject: Education
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "Misanthropy," by Clement E. Babb
George Alexander Coffey prepared this oration, entitled "Salutatory Oration: Extent of the Duty of Obedience," for the commencement ceremonies held July 9, 1840. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson...
Location: Orations-1840-C674s
Subject: Dickinson College History, Dickinson College Student Life, Legal Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "Salutatory Oration: Extent of the Duty of Obedience," by George Coffey
Samuel George Hare prepared this oration, entitled “The Influence of Literature Upon Morality," for the commencement ceremonies held July 9, 1840. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at...
Location: Orations-1840-H275i
Subject: Literary Pursuits, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "The Influence of Literature Upon Morality," by Samuel G. Hare
Samuel A. Harrison prepared this oration, entitled “The Literature of the Age of Elizabeth," for the commencement ceremonies held July 9, 1840. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at...
Location: Orations-1840-H322l
Subject: Education, Literary Pursuits
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "The Literature of the Age of Elizabeth," by Samuel A. Harrison
Henry Augustus Muhlenberg prepared this oration, entitled “The Past," for the commencement ceremonies held July 9, 1840. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript...
Location: Orations-1840-M952p
Subject: Education, Literary Pursuits
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "The Past," by Henry Augustus Muhlenberg