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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The fourth issue of the Collegian, Dickinson College's first monthly literary publication. Includes "The Power of Sacrifice," "The 'Me'," "Logan's Revenge," "True Estimate of Self," and "Extract - Prometheus Chained."
The Belles...
Location: Dickinsoniana Periodicals
Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Literary Pursuits
Format: Newspapers and Magazines
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: 
Collegian (Vol. 1, No. 4)
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Roger Brooke Taney writes to attorney J. Mason Campbell and discusses various financial issues as well as health concerns. As "I do not know whether I have funds in the Bank to pay the [discount?],” Taney admits...
Location: I-SpahrB-1952-8
Subject: Economics and Finance, Health and Medicine, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan writes to his nephew James Buchanan Henry about the formers efforts to help the latter enroll in the sophomore class at Princeton University. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F22
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to James Henry
The final issue of the Collegian, Dickinson College's first monthly literary publication. Includes "Gregory VII," "The Breakers," "A Thunder Storm," "The European Crisis," "The College of the Magii," "American Prejudices," "Recollections...
Location: Dickinsoniana Periodicals
Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Literary Pursuits, Politics and Government
Format: Newspapers and Magazines
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Collegian (Vol. 1, No. 5)
James Buchanan writes to his nephew James Buchanan Henry and informs him that Mr. Bolman will supply his pocket money for Princeton. In addition, Buchanan relays news of family and friends, and advises him against using only his initials when...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F22
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to James Henry
Richard G. Chaney prepared this oration, entitled “The Angel of Assassination," for the commencement ceremonies held July 12, 1849. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time....
Location: Orations-1849-C456a
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "The Angel of Assassination," by Richard G. Chaney
Henry B. Ridgaway prepared this oration, entitled “The American Newspaper Press," for the commencement ceremonies held July 12, 1849. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time....
Location: Orations-1849-R544a
Subject: Literary Pursuits, Politics and Government
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "The American Newspaper Press," by Henry B. Ridgaway
John H. Watters prepared this oration, entitled “Luther before the Diet of Worms," for the commencement ceremonies held July 12, 1848. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time....
Location: Orations-1849-W346l
Subject: Religion and Spirituality
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "Luther before the Diet of Worms," by John H. Watters
Alfred Heno Ames receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 12, 1849.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Bachelor of Arts Diploma - Alfred Ames
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 12, 1849shows 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: 1849 Commencement Program
Smithsonian Institution Secretary Joseph Henry writes to George P. Marsh, requesting favors before Marsh travels to the Ottoman Empire. One wish is that Marsh will write a letter "in favor of our friend Prof. [Spencer Fullerton] Baird [Class of...
Location: I-AsbellY-2005-3
Subject: Education, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Joseph Henry to George Marsh
James Buchanan writes two letters to Charles G. Gonter in which he discusses the condition of the Democratic party, the implications of President Zachary Taylor's death, "the succession of" President Millard Fillmore, and the 1852 Presidential...
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Business and Industry, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Henry Culler, a resident near Jefferson, Frederick County, Maryland, publishes this broadside offering a 400 dollar reward for the return of two run-away slaves; Bill Dorsey and John Ceders, on September 25, 1849.
Location: I-LoganH-1978-2
Subject: Business and Industry, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Broadsides and Posters
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Broadside, Reward for Fugitive Slaves by Henry Culler
Ulysses Hobbs records his thoughts and activities as a college student at Dickinson College. Hobbs includes lists of his fellow students attending events, and details information about the running of the activities that he was involved in such as...
Location: I-Purchase-1962-1
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Events, Dickinson College Organizations, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Diaries and Journals
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Journal of Ulysses Hobbs
The Dickinson College catalog for the 1849-1850 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 and Register of Dickinson College for the Academical Year, 1849-50
James Buchanan writes A. Boyd Hamilton to discuss the details of a loan, Buchanan's decision to sell his house in Lancaster, and to criticize articles in the Pennsylvanian. "One great fault of the Pennsylvanian is its indiscriminate...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F24
Subject: Business and Industry, Economics and Finance, Land and Real Estate, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Oliver Worden writes five letters to Eli Slifer in which he comments on Slifer's "very interesting and very racy" first chapter of Shades of Public Life as well as offers advice for political speeches. Worden also updates Slifer on...
Location: MC 2003.4, B11, F11
Subject: Literary Pursuits, Politics and Government
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letters from Oliver Worden to Eli Slifer
William Snively writes to J. S. Gordon regarding his experience as a student at Dickinson. Snively, who is preparing for the ‘April Examination,’ describes students' rowdy behavior, including an incident when "some persons tore all the seats...
Location: I-AsbellY-2002-30
Subject: Dickinson College Organizations, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence, Memorabilia and Ephemera
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from William Snively to J. S. Gordon
James Buchanan thanks Henry C. Carey for sending two pamphlets with information about "the Tariff question." While "they are written with much ability," Buchanan observes that it seems "somewhat paradoxical to contend that the road to free trade...
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F24
Subject: Economics and Finance, International Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Henry Carey
John Thropp Jr. asks Christian Humrich about an old friend and asks him to write to "let me know... how you are all getting along at Old Dickinson." In addition, Thropp describes a trip he took the previous year and notes his intent to visit...
Location: I-Original-undated-15
Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Flavel C. Barber prepared this oration, entitled “The Historian," for the commencement ceremonies held July 11, 1850. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript...
Location: Orations-1850-B234h
Subject: Education, Literary Pursuits
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "The Historian," by Flavel C. Barber
Alexander M. Hamilton prepared this oration, entitled “Robert Burns," for the commencement ceremonies held July 11, 1850. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript...
Location: Orations-1850-H217r
Subject: Literary Pursuits
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "Robert Burns," by Alexander M. Hamilton
Phil M. Leakin prepared this oration, entitled “Bigotry," for the commencement ceremonies held July 11, 1850. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.
Location: Orations-1850-L435b
Subject: Politics and Government, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "Bigotry," by Phil M. Leakin
Samuel Henry Reynolds prepared this oration, entitled “Democratic Passion," for the commencement ceremonies held July 11, 1850. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time....
Location: Orations-1850-R465d
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "Democratic Passion," by Samuel H. Reynolds
Richard D. Sellman prepared this oration, entitled "The Roman Catholics of Maryland," for the commencement ceremonies held July 11, 1850. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that...
Location: Orations-1850-S467r
Subject: Politics and Government, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "The Roman Catholics of Maryland," by Richard D. Sellman