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
William Wilkins, Secretary of War from 1844-45, writes to his successor William Marcy. Wilkins introduces his son in law, Captain John Sanders of the Corps of Engineers. Sanders will take the southern mail route to rejoin General Zachary Taylor...
Location: I-Friends-1977-10
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: 
Letter from William Wilkins to William Marcy
President James Knox Polk informs Judge Robert Cooper Grier (Class of 1812) that he has nominated Grier as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Grier will "fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Judge [Henry] Baldwin," as...
Location: I-SpahrB-undated-24
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Polk to Robert Grier
Marcus Junius Parrott records his thoughts and activities as a college student in Ohio, then in Pennsylvania at Dickinson College (graduating in 1849), as a law student thereafter at Cambridge Law School, and a few entries from 1857 when Parrott...
Location: I-Friends-2004-3
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Diaries and Journals
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Journal of Marcus J. Parrott (Transcript)
A description of this document is not currently available.
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F13
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to George Plitt
Henry Dallam (Class of 1848) writes W. Boyd Williams and describes starting classes at Dickinson. This experience marks "the first time I have been away from home for any length of time," as Dallam notes. After discussing how his father dropped...
Location: I-WilliamsW-1957-1
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Henry Dallam to W. Boyd Williams
Secretary of State James Buchanan informs Moses Y. Beach that President James K. Polk has appointed him as a Confidential Agent to the Republic of Mexico. "You ought never to give the slightest intimation to any person, either directly or...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F14
Subject: International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Moses Beach
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Sarah Maury and asks her to not publish two of his private letters. "If in their publication, you should state that this was done by my permission," Buchanan explains that "it would look like a...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F15
Subject: Literary Pursuits, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Sarah Maury
Richard Rush, United States Minister to France, asks Benjamin B. French when the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution adjourned and if French has heard about a pair of spectacles Rush lost. French is Clerk of the United States House of...
Location: I-Friends-1991-11
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Richard Rush to Benjamin French
Richard Rush, United States Minister to France, thanks Benjamin B. French for finding his glasses and discusses the recent meeting of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. French is Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and...
Location: I-Friends-1991-11
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Richard Rush to Benjamin French
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to W. P. Preston, responding to his request "to have an authenticated copy taken of documents relating to the debt due by the late Republic of Columbia to Lalung Montrop, recently of Baltimore, deceased."...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F15
Subject: Business and Industry, International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to W. P. Preston
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Nathaniel Chapman, a former student of Benjamin Rush, expressing his regret that he cannot attend a dinner in honor of Benjamin's son Richard Rush in Philadelphia. Partial transcript included.
Location: I-Friends-2009-1
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to R. B. McAfee regarding McAfee's request to publish old diplomatic correspondence. While President James K. Polk "feels himself obliged to decline a compliance with your request," Buchanan suggests that...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F15
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to R. B. McAfee
Dewitt C. Lloyd prepared this oration, entitled “National Example," for the commencement ceremonies held July 8, 1847. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript...
Location: Orations-1847-L793n
Subject: Education, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "National Example," by Dewitt C. Lloyd
Ebenezer Denny Harding, a member of the Class of 1844, receives his Master of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1847.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Master of Arts Diploma - Ebenezer Harding
James Andrew McCauley receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1847.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Bachelor of Arts Diploma - James McCauley
Isaiah Willis McCord receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1847.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Bachelor of Arts Diploma - Isaiah McCord
Thomas Brown Parker (Class of 1844) receives his Master of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1847.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Master of Arts Diploma - Thomas Parker
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 8, 1847 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: 1847 Commencement Program
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Miss Cutts regarding plans for her and Harriet Lane to travel to Rockaway in New York City. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F16
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Miss Cutts
Pennsylvania Attorney Andrew Gregg Curtin (Class of 1837) warns L. M. Smith, Esq., "to be cautious not to say to Mr. Ullman that Mr. Clark would or had any designs of making any arrangement in relation to the Philips estate." Transcript included...
Location: I-Friends-1990-4
Subject: Legal Affairs
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Andrew Curtin to L. M. Smith
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Stephen Pleasonton, an auditor, and approves John Randolph Clay's expenses related to attending the marriage of the daughter of the Emperor of Russia. Clay was the Secretary of Legation for the United...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F16
Subject: Economics and Finance, International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Henry Clay Dallam (Class of 1848) asks William Boyd Williams "to procure for me 'a literal translation of the Plays of Sophocles'" and to mail it to Dickinson. "I have a large amount of extra study to do" and, as Dallam explains, "I am anxious to...
Location: I-WilliamsW-1957-1
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Literary Pursuits
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Henry Dallam to W. Boyd Williams
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes M. G. Dale with an update on an appointment for Mr. Holcomb in the War Department and comments on Pennsylvania politics. "Governor Shunk will be elected by a large majority should he have fair play," as...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F17
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to M. G. Dale
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to J. Mason Campbell, an attorney, about a political and legal matter related to Maryland's constitution. While Taney brings up several questions and arguments to consider in regard to the...
Location: O-SpahrB-1965-2
Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
J. Y. Mason acknowledges receiving Secretary of State James Buchanan's letter with a request for the US Navy to not enter "ports of Peru" that are closed to "foreign commerce." "Instructions have been given to the Commanding officer of the U. S....
Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F18
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from J. Y. Mason to James Buchanan