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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Senator James Buchanan writes to George Guier and explains why he cannot help Guier's son secure an appointment as a notary public in California. "The President has no power to appoint a Notary Public in California or to make any other civil...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F21
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: 
Letter from James Buchanan to George Guier
Spencer F. Baird, a Professor of Natural Sciences at Dickinson, publishes "Contributions Towards a Catalogue of the Trees and Shrubs of Cumberland County, PA" in the Literary Record and Journal of the Linnaean Association of Pennsylvania College...
Location: I-Original-1845-1
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Science and Technology
Format: Essays and Dissertations
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "Contributions Towards a Catalogue of the Trees and Shrubs of Cumberland County," by Spencer Baird
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes former Representative Caleb Cushing and offers him an appointment as "the chief clerkship in the Department of State." "Your services in this position, in the present state of our foreign relations might...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F9
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Caleb Cushing
Secretary of State James Buchanan (Class of 1809) writes to Charles Breuil, who wishes to be relieved of his current government duties. Buchanan advises Breuil to "get a few of [his] best known friends to write strong letters to" President James...
Location: I-AsbellY-2004-4
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Charles Breuil
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Francis W. Pickens, a member of the South Carolina Senate, regarding the new James K. Polk administration, Buchanan's adjustment to life as a cabinet appointee, and Pickens' decision to not accept the...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F10
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Richard Rush writes Colonel Thomas Aspinwall to discuss the publication of the English edition of his book, Memoirs of a Residence at the Court of London, which contains "important additions and corrections" that were missing from the...
Location: I-SellersC-1973-2
Subject: Literary Pursuits
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Richard Rush to Thomas Aspinwall
Diplomat and politician Richard Rush writes to Colonel Thomas Aspinwall, discussing the upcoming publication of Aspinwall's book in Philadelphia, the possibility of publishing a second edition in London, and the reproduction of excerpts in...
Location: I-Friends-1976-10
Subject: Business and Industry, Literary Pursuits
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Richard Rush to Thomas Aspinwall
Professor John Reed responds to John Penn Brock's question on whether he can receive his diploma at Commencement. While Brock is "entitled to your diploma conferring the Degree of Bachelor of Laws," Reed notes that Brock must first send money. "...
Location: I-SpahrB-1940-1
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Education, Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from John Reed to John Brock
James Biddle Gordon receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 10, 1845.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Bachelor of Arts Diploma - James Gordon
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 10, 1845 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: 1845 Commencement Program
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Charles Ward regarding Ward's appointment as the new "Consul of the U. States for the Island of Zanzibar." Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F10
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Charles Ward
Benjamin Rush III, grandson of Dickinson College founder Benjamin Rush, writes to attorney Jervis Spencer regarding debt of Joseph Newcomer. Transcript included.
Location: I-AsbellY-2003-2
Subject: Economics and Finance
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan to diplomat J. Randolph Clay regarding future diplomatic appointments, the annexation of Texas, and the possibility of a war with Mexico. "I think, from present appearances we shall have no war with Mexico; but...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F11
Subject: International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Spencer F. Baird, a Professor of Natural Sciences at Dickinson, publishes "Catalogue of Birds Found in the Neighborhood of Carlisle, Cumberland County, PA" in the Literary Record and Journal of the Linnaean Association of Pennsylvania College...
Location: I-Original-1845-1
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Science and Technology
Format: Essays and Dissertations
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "Catalogue of Birds Found in the Neighborhood of Carlisle," by Spencer Baird
Dickinson Professor John Reed writes to John Brock with information about a legal issue. "Judge [Samuel] Hepburn is absent at Juniata Court," but Reed is confident that "I can have the certificate in due form upon his return." Transcript...
Location: I-SpahrB-1940-1
Subject: Legal Affairs
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from John Reed to John Brock
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney responds to Garret Dorset Wall's recommendation of former New Jersey Governor Peter Dumont Vroom for the vacancy at the United States Supreme Court. While he may hold Governor Vroom in high regard,...
Location: I-SpahrB-1965-16
Subject: Legal Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Roger B. Taney to Garret Wall
The Dickinson College catalog for the 1846-1847 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, 1846-47
Henry Martyn Harman writes to his father, Andrew Harman, about classes starting at Dickinson. After he "overtook the class in Algebra," Harman explains that he is "now in the second class in college, which is the Sophomore." Harman notes "I have...
Location: I-EdwardsR-1946-1
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Henry Harman to Andrew Harman
Former Dickinson College President John P. Durbin writes to a committee, which consists of Daniel Gans, William M. Hall, and Charles Black, and thanks them for "the honor" of electing him into their society. Durbin, however, notes his "regret" in...
Location: I-SpahrB-1966-4
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from John Durbin to Daniel Gans, William Hall, and Charles Black
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Jacob B. Weidman regarding appointments of midshipmen to the United States Navy as well as Judge Woodward's confirmation. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F11
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Jacob Weidman
Secretary of State James Buchanan (Class of 1809) writes to Massachusetts Senator John Davis regarding the burglary of Mrs. Sally Blake's house in Boston. The burglar, William Baird, has fled the United States for Britain, and it is Buchanan's...
Location: I-AsbellY-2002-45
Subject: Legal Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to John Davis
William Findlay Shunk, a member of the class of 1847, describes his flight from Dickinson College in April 1846 in his journal. "Amid all my troubles, feeling as if I was under the curse of god and my father [Pennsylvania Governor Francis R....
Location: I-Purchase-1965-14
Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Personal and Family Life
Format: Diaries and Journals
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Journal of William Shunk (Copy)
Dickinson Professor John Reed writes to John Brock and discusses legal issues related to whether women have the right to make a deed. Even though he cites various case law, Reed notes that Brock's "questions... are of a vexed sort and not readily...
Location: I-SpahrB-1940-1
Subject: Legal Affairs
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from John Reed to John Brock
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Commander William W. McKean instructing him to deliver communications to Mr. Jewett at Callao, Peru. Buchanan also encloses a letter addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru. Transcript...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F12
Subject: International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 9, 1846 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: 1846 Commencement Program