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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This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 13, 1843 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: 
1843 Commencement Program
Barnabas Bates writes to Jesse Miller and asks for a "biographical sketch" of Senator James Buchanan. If "we publish the Democrats' Almanac for 1844," Bates wants to have Buchanan's sketch "prepared." Bates also discusses preparations for the...
Location: I-SpahrB-1954-1
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Barnabas Bates to Jesse Miller
James Buchanan Henry writes to his uncle, US Senator James Buchanan, and describes some of his experiences at his new school. "Last evening I looked at the moon through [my teacher's] telescope and I saw the mountains quite plain" as well as "...
Location: I-Friends-2010-4
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Henry to James Buchanan
Representative Alexander Ramsey writes Joseph Gales and William Seaton to ask for a subscription to their newspaper, the National Intelligencer. Ramsey graduated from Dickinson with a bachelor of laws degree in 1840.
Location: I-BeachW-2010-1
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Alexander Ramsey to Joseph Gales and William Seaton
Thomas McFadden, a member of the Class of 1845, writes Robert Black about life at Dickinson College. McFadden "know[s] not what reasons particularly influenced my parents to chose this place except its known celebrity for every thing good, and...
Location: I-Friends-1978-4
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Personal and Family Life, Weather and Climate
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Thomas McFadden to Robert Black
James Buchanan writes to John M. Read regarding candidates for the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election of 1844 as well as how legislation on slavery is increasing sectional tensions. "At the North we are totally ignorant of the deep, pervading...
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letters from James Buchanan to John M. Read
James Buchanan writes to Henry Welch regarding various political issues in Pennsylvania and Buchanan's chances of winning elections. "My own prospects never were so bright as at the present moment...
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letters from James Buchanan to Henry Welsh
The Dickinson College catalog for the 1844-1845 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: Dickinson College Register for the Academical Year, 1844-45
An unidentified Dickinson College student (Jos. V. F [Meinsch?]) writes to his cousin, Sarah A. Currier, and discusses various aspects of college life. Transcript included.
Location: I-Friends-2008-1
Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from a Dickinson Student to Sarah A. Currier
An unidentified Dickinson College student (Jos. V. F [Meinsch?]) writes to his cousin, Joseph T. Soule, and discusses various aspects of college life. Transcript included.
Location: I-Friends-2008-1
Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from a Dickinson Student to Joseph T. Soule
John Robert Kennaday writes to several members of his family about life as a student at Dickinson. While "there has not been anything special going on here [in Carlisle] lately," John tells his brother, Jim, about "a Temperance meeting in the...
Location: I-SpahrB-1969-3
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Social Reform and Advocacy
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from John Kennaday to His Family
US Senator James Buchanan writes to South Carolina politician Francis Wilkinson Pickens about political issues related to the 1844 Presidential election. Buchanan also discusses the likely candidates at the time (Martin Van Buren as Democrat and...
Location: I-Friends-2003-2
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Senator James Buchanan responds to a Democratic party Committee's request for information on Buchanan's opinion on whether the United States should annex Texas. "I should refrain from any public or extended discussion of the subject, whilst the...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F7
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of War William Wilkins (Class of 1802) responds William Biddle's questions about bids for harbor improvements in Erie, Pennsylvania. Wilkins explains that this project is “under the care of the Topographical Bureau” and “many...
Location: I-Friends-1983-22
Subject: Land and Real Estate, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Beverley Waugh writes to his cousin, J. B. Roberts, over a two day period about a variety of topics. In the first part of the letter, Waugh expresses his pleasure at hearing from him, and describes his fascination with Robertsville, saying: "...
Location: I-RobertsJ-1932-1
Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Beverly Waugh to J. B. Roberts
Senator James Buchanan writes to General William N. Irvine discussing recent political events, including the Presidential election of 1844. Buchanan states that he "feared that the Whigs might make a serious impression against Polk in...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F7
Subject: Economics and Finance, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Henry Baker Harnsberger (Class of 1841) receives his Master of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 11, 1844.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Master of Arts Diploma - Henry Harnsberger
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 11, 1844 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: 1844 Commencement Program
US Senator James Buchanan writes to Arnold Plumer about his Texas speech, a "Judge Cahon Nashville," and a letter that James K. Polk wrote to John K. Kane in June 1844. Buchanan also discuses the Tariff of 1842 and the Whigs in Pennsylvania.
Location: I-Friends-2005-1
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Arnold Plumer
James Buchanan writes two letters to Daniel Sturgeon regarding political maters at the state and national level. The first letter focuses on whether or not Jesse Miller will be a candidate in Pennsylvania for the U.S. Senate. Buchanan does not...
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Senator James Buchanan writes a brief letter to Samuel Hood acknowledging the receipt of Hood's book, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Buchanan states that the book "has a peculiar interest for [him]; as [he is] the son of a native of...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F8
Subject: Genealogy and Family History, Literary Pursuits, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Samuel Hood
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to J. Mason Campbell: "Read the note to Mr. Perine & seal it & send it to him..." Transcript included.
Location: I-BeachW-1971-4
Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
The Dickinson College catalog for the 1845-1846 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: Dickinson College Register for the Academical Year, 1845-46
James Biddle Gordon, a member of the Class of 1845, receives this diploma as a member of the Belles Lettres Society in 1845.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Belle Lettres Society Diploma - James Gordon
Senator James Buchanan writes to General James Tallmadge regarding the Oregon border negotiations. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F9
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859