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.
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A. Herr Smith prepared this oration, entitled “Suicide," 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 included.
Location: Orations-1840-S642s
Subject: Health and Medicine, Literary Pursuits
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: 
"Suicide," by A. Herr Smith
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 9, 1840 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
View Item: 1840 Commencement Program
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to James K. Paulding, Secretary of the Navy, about the application of the late Levin Gale's two sons.
Location: I-Friends-1983-14
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Roger B. Taney to James Paulding
Richard Rush, son of Dickinson College Founder Benjamin Rush, responds to a letter from George H. Moore. Rush explains that he cannot fulfill Moore's request for notes or autographs belonging to his father, stating: "all that I had of a nature to...
Location: I-AsbellY-2003-13
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Richard Rush to George Moore
Spencer Fullerton Baird compiles a "List of the Birds of the United States (from Aububon), prefixed to which is a List of the Birds found near Carlisle, Pennsylvania" The document contains the type of bird, time when first shot, and "when known...
Location: I-Original-1840-2
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Science and Technology
Format: Reports
Time Period: 1840-1859
Senator James Buchanan writes three letters to Edward D. Gazzam regarding political maters in Pennsylvania as well as the national level. Democrats will "leave the Whig party to themselves" because, as Buchanan explains, "this party contains...
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Senator James Buchanan (Class of 1809) writes to lawyer A. B. Cummings regarding his initial non-compliance with a request from the latter. Buchanan believes the "business had all been arranged" but will "call at the Department without delay" if...
Location: I-AsbellY-2003-14
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to A. B. Cummings
Vice President-elect John Tyler writes Representative Henry A. Wise to discusses several political issues, including the sanctity of party pledges, the character of President-elect William Henry Harrison, and the uncertainty as to the makeup of...
Location: I-SpahrB-1952-5
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from John Tyler to Henry Wise
The Dickinson College catalog for the 1841-1842 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 Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Education
Format: Books and Pamphlets
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Dickinson College, 1841-42
Henry Baker Harnsberger, a member of the Class of 1841, receives this diploma as a member of the Union Philosophical Society in 1841.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Union Philosophical Society Diploma - Henry Harnsberger
Richard Van Boskirk Lincoln, a member of the Class of 1841, receives this diploma as a member of the Union Philosophical Society in 1841.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Union Philosophical Society Diploma - Richard Lincoln
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes J. Mason Campbell to defend a decision he made as Acting Secretary of War (June - August 1831) during President Andrew Jackson's administration. "When I acted as Secretary of War, I was [also...
Location: I-SpahrB-1965-12
Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to David Hoffman and explains why he must "decline taking any part in matters" relating "to the mission to Austria." While Taney would prefer to meet with Hoffman to discuss this issue, he...
Location: I-SpahrB-1965-3
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Roger B. Taney to David Hoffman
Senator James Buchanan (Class of 1809) writes to Colonel C. W. Gooch, thanking the latter for procuring four James River and Kanawha Bonds on his behalf. Buchanan also extolls Virginia Senator William Henry Roane, calling him an "honest,...
Location: I-AsbellY-2003-9
Subject: Economics and Finance, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to C. W. Gooch
Henry B. Hamsberger prepared this oration, entitled “Tyranny of Public Opinion," for the commencement ceremonies held July 8, 1841. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time....
Location: Orations-1841-H291t
Subject: Politics and Government, Social Reform and Advocacy
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "Tyranny of Public Opinion," by Henry B. Harnsberger
Wilson Lee Spottswood prepared this oration, entitled “Deficiency of Literature," for the commencement ceremonies held July 8, 1841. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time....
Location: Orations-1841-S765d
Subject: Education, Literary Pursuits
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "Deficiency of Literature," by Wilson L. Spottswood
John K Stayman prepared this oration, entitled “Difference of Opinion," for the commencement ceremonies held July 8, 1841. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript...
Location: Orations-1841-S798d
Subject: Education, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "Difference of Opinion," by John K. Stayman
Henry Baker Harnsberger receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1841.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Bachelor of Arts Diploma - Henry Harnsberger
Richard Van Boskirk Lincoln receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1841.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Bachelor of Arts Diploma - Richard Lincoln
Joseph Clubine Rhodes (Class of 1838) receives his Master of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1841.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Master of Arts Diploma - Joseph Rhodes
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 8, 1841 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
View Item: 1841 Commencement Program
Senator James Buchanan writes to Stimpson Harvey Woodward, an entrepreneur in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, regarding Whigs politics and the Bank of the United States. Buchanan, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, claims that "the truth is the Whig party...
Location: I-Friends-2007-2
Subject: Business and Industry, Economics and Finance, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Senator James Buchanan writes to J. C. Plumer regarding the fate of a Bank Bill that the House of Representatives had recently approved. "We shall show it off in its naked deformity before it passes the Senate," as Buchanan observes. Buchanan...
Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F26
Subject: Business and Industry, Economics and Finance, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to J. C. Plumer
Charles Stinson (Class of 1845) writes to his father about his trip to Carlisle and starting classes at Dickinson. After meeting with President John Durbin, Stinson notes that the "conclusion is... that I am wholly unprepared to enter" as a...
Location: I-DayL-1972-1
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Charles Stinson to His Father
Senator James Buchanan writes to Ross Wilkins a letter reflecting upon Michigan's establishment of the "Wild cat" banking system, which "was one great cause of its prostration." Buchanan also comments on the possibility of a conflict with the...
Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F27
Subject: Economics and Finance, International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Ross Wilkins