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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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Letter from William Bingham to Benjamin Rush
January 1, 1784

William Bingham writes to Benjamin Rush from London and discusses the state of financial support for Dickinson College. Bingham references the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783, stating "the abdication of congress is a severe blow on the interests of...

Letter from William Bingham to Benjamin Rush
February 6, 1784

Statesman William Bingham writes Benjamin Rush and compares the conditions in England with those in the United States in terms of government, economics, and immigration. "Whilst the United States have the pleasing Prospect of daily increasing in...

Warrant for Soldier’s Pay from John Dickinson for John Barber
March 2, 1784

President of Pennsylvania John Dickinson signs this warrant to pay John Barber, a Sergeant in the 11th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line, for his service as a soldier during the Revolutionary War. David Rittenhouse, Esquire, is listed on the...

Letter from John Carson to Robert McPherson
March 29, 1784

John Carson writes to Robert McPherson, a member of the Board of Trustees, and discusses Charles Nisbet's qualifications as a candidate for President of Dickinson College. As "I was honoured with that Gentlemans personal acquaintance," Carson...

Warrant for Soldier’s Pay from John Dickinson for Henry Martin
April 19, 1784

President of Pennsylvania John Dickinson signs this warrant to pay Henry Martin, a "Captain of the Navy of Pennsylvania," for his service as a soldier during the Revolutionary War. David Rittenhouse, Esquire, is listed on the document as the...

Letter from James Wilson to William Bingham
May 15, 1784

Dickinson College Trustee James Wilson writes to William Bingham regarding a loan Wilson seeks from an unspecified Mr. Lettsom. Wilson also discusses the opening of Land Offices and the possibility of changes to the Pennsylvania state...

Warrant for Soldier’s Pay from John Dickinson for Evan Edwards
June 30, 1784

President of Pennsylvania John Dickinson signs this warrant to pay Major Evan Edwards, of the 11th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line, for his service as a soldier during the Revolutionary War. David Rittenhouse, Esquire, is listed on the document...

Letter from John Dickinson to Robert Magaw
July 8, 1784

John Dickinson writes Robert Magaw regarding Paul Randolph's note for 24 pounds. Transcript included.

Location: I-ValeM-1947-72

Subject: Economics and Finance

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Letter from John Dickinson to Robert Magaw

Letter from William Irvine to John Dickinson
July 23, 1784

General William Irvine writes John Dickinson, the President of Pennsylvania, and recommends Erkurius Beatty's appointment as an officer. "He will do great justice to an appointment of Lieutenant, in the Corps to be raised, should that rank be...

Location: I-SpahrB-1964-10

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Letter from William Irvine to John Dickinson

Letter from William Irvine to Unknown Recipient
July 29, 1784

William Irvine writes to recommend Ebenezer Denny as "a young man of good private character" who "conducted himself with propriety." Irvine notes that Denny had served as a "Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Line" from 1780 "to the end of the War...

Warrant for Soldier’s Pay from John Dickinson for Edward Coyle
August 14, 1784

President of Pennsylvania John Dickinson signs this warrant to pay Edward Coyle, a Corporal in the 11th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line, for his service as a soldier during the Revolutionary War. Coyle receives three pounds, twelve shillings,...

Warrant for Soldier’s Pay from John Dickinson for Edward Coyle
August 14, 1784

President of Pennsylvania John Dickinson signs this warrant to pay Edward Coyle, a Corporal in the 11th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line, for his service as a soldier during the Revolutionary War. Coyle receives three pounds and twelve shillings...

Letter from Benjamin Rush to Charles Nisbet
August 30, 1784

Benjamin Rush writes a letter to Charles Nisbet discussing various religious and political parties in Pennsylvania and their relative support for the endowment of Dickinson College. Rush states that "a great body of the most respectable...

Letter from John Montgomery to Robert Miller, Samuel Laird, and John Agnew
September 11, 1784

John Montgomery writes to Robert Miller, Samuel Laird, and John Agnew informing them that Robert Davidson has accepted the pastorate in Carlisle. Transcript included.

Letter from Samuel Atlee and Francis Johnston to John Dickinson
September 13, 1784

Pennsylvania politician Samuel John Atlee and Colonel Francis Johnston write to Pennsylvania Governor John Dickinson and request the balance of funds that the "House of Assembly were pleased to make" for "the transportation of the Indian goods...

Deed for Land Sold by Pennsylvania to John Culbertson
November 8, 1784

John Culbertson receives this deed for 300 acres in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. John Dickinson, as President of the Supreme Executive Council, signs the deed on November 8, 1784.

Letter from John Dickinson to Speaker of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
November 8, 1784

President of Pennsylvania John Dickinson asks the Speaker of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to distribute the "inclosed Dispatches" to other members of the General Assembly. Transcript included.

Letter from William Bingham to Benjamin Rush
November 10, 1784

Statesman William Bingham writes from Paris to Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia. Bingham responds to Rush's previous displeasing letter and discusses United States politics and his travels abroad. Transcript included.

Letter from Charles Nisbet to John Dickinson
December 18, 1784

Dickinson College President Charles Nisbet writes to John Dickinson lamenting the "divisions that distract" the United States. He also acknowledges the honor bestowed upon him by Dickinson and the trustees of Dickinson College. Transcript...

"Plan of Education for Dickinson College," by Benjamin Rush
1785

Benjamin Rush writes the "Plan of Education for Dickinson College" in 1785, which outlines the necessary curriculum that the College should follow. Transcript included.

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Sir Charles Blagden
January 6, 1785

Joseph Priestley provides Sir Charles Blagden, the Secretary of the Royal Society, with a list of errors in his paper for the Transactions and asks him to correct the "important" ones before it is...

Letters from Wilhelmina Nisbet to Charles Nisbet
1785-1788

Wilhelmina Nisbet, the Countess of Leven, writes five letters to Dickinson President Charles Nisbet in which she speaks of the health of her family and disapproves of Nisbet's new position at Dickinson College. "I still think you have been...

Letter from John Erskine to John Dickinson
March 31, 1785

John Erskine writes to John Dickinson expressing his sorrow in bidding Charles Nisbet farewell as he leaves Montrose for his new post as Principal of Dickinson College. Erskine also expresses faith in Nisbet's abilities and wishes well for the...

Letter from John Dickinson to George Washington
April 14, 1785

John Dickinson writes George Washington to introduce and recommend the portrait painter, Robert Edge Pine.

Location: I-SpahrB-1963-7

Subject: Visual and Performing Arts

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

View Item: PDF icon Letter from John Dickinson to George Washington

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Sir Charles Blagden
May 1, 1785

Joseph Priestley writes Sir Charles Blagden, the Secretary of the Royal Society, and asks for 50 copies of his paper printed and stitched in blue cloth. In addition, Priestley requests that one copy be sent to Henry Cavendish. Priestley also...

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