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
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on June 26, 1851 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: 
1851 Commencement Program
Charles Collins writes two letters to his wife, Harriet, regarding his trip to Portland, Maine, and shares news of their family and friends. Collins also mentions watching a doctor perform an operation with chloroform and listening to a lecture...
Location: I-EwigC-1990-1
Subject: Health and Medicine, Personal and Family Life, Religion and Spirituality, Social Reform and Advocacy, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letters from Charles Collins to Harriet Collins (Jul. 1851)
A description of this letter is not currently available. Transcripts included.
Location: I-Original-undated-15
Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Education
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Dickinson College Professor Herman M. Johnson writes this letter to recommend a recent graduate, Martin T. Rohrer (Class of 1851), for a teaching position. Rohrer "is a young gentleman whom we believe to be......
Location: I-SpahrB-1952-9
Subject: Dickinson College Alumni Affairs, Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Former Dickinson College Professor Thomas Emory Sudler (Class of 1840) writes this letter to recommend a recent graduate, Martin T. Rohrer (Class of 1851), for a teaching position. Rohrer "is a Gentleman qualified to give instruction" in subjects...
Location: I-SpahrB-1952-9
Subject: Dickinson College Alumni Affairs, Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Hetty Parker, James Buchanan's housekeeper, writes to James B. Henry, Buchanan's nephew. Parker reports news of various Buchanan family relatives and friends, including Miss Ward, Mr. Lane, Miss Harriet, and many others. Transcript included.
Location: I-Friends-2010-3
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Hetty Parker to James Henry
James Buchanan writes to Henry A. Clover regarding the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election and the election prospects of Clover's relative. "Your relative General Clover is in no danger" because, as Buchanan explains, "his opponent, John Strohm...
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F4
Subject: International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Roger Brooke Taney, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, writes to Mr. William Prescott Smith: "Accept my thanks for the 'Scientific American,' and the two pamphlets.... I was so much impressed with what I saw in my brief visit to...
Location: I-Friends-1978-6
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Science and Technology
Format: Engravings and Illustrations, Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan writes Charles H. Shriner regarding the status of the Democratic party in Union County, Pennsylvania. "What is the matter in Union County?," as Buchanan asks. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F5
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
The Dickinson College catalog for the 1851-1852 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 Academic Year, 1851- 52
George Miller writes sixteen letters to Eli Slifer, Secretary of the Commonwealth during the Civil War, in which he discusses construction of the Sunbury and Erie railroad, repeal of the tonnage tax, the raising of a Corps of Engineers,...
Location: MC 2003.4, B8, F3
Subject: Economics and Finance, Legal Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letters from George Miller to Eli Slifer
Location: MC 2003.4, B8, F3
Subject: Economics and Finance, Legal Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letters from George Miller to Eli Slifer
James Buchanan writes three letters to Henry A. Wise that focus largely on various political matters, including the 1852 Democratic Convention, the election of US Senators from Pennsylvania, and who to appoint to President-elect Buchanan's...
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letters from James Buchanan to Henry Wise
James Buchanan writes five letters to James Campbell regarding Pennsylvania politics, the Democratic conventions, President Franklin Pierce's appointments, and Buchanan's experience working as the United States Minister to the United Kingdom....
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Simon Cameron writes to Reah Frazer, an attorney in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and requests copies of James Buchanan's speeches against the war, presumably the Mexican-American War. With them, Cameron explains that southern senators will...
Location: I-SpahrB-1957-5
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Simon Cameron to Reah Frazer
Andrew Curtin writes four letters to Eli Slifer in which he discusses a recent appointment bill and the potential impact on the political strength of the Democratic party as well as other political developments in Pennsylvania. Transcripts...
Location: MC 2003.4, B3, F9
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letters from Andrew Curtin to Eli Slifer, 1852-57
James Buchanan (Class of 1809) writes to his nephew, James Buchanan Henry, and congratulates him for good grades in mathematics as well as offers advice for an upcoming exam. Buchanan also mentions his niece Harriet Lane, who is in Pittsburgh,...
Location: I-AsbellY-2003-8
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to James Henry
Former Secretary of War William Wilkins writes California Governor John Bigler to recommends Samuel A. Dickey, the son of Representative John Dickey, for a position or an appointment. Samuel "is of good character and correct deportment," as...
Location: I-Purchase-1998-1
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from William Wilkins to John Bigler
Jesse Peck, President of Dickinson College, responds to A. W. Foote's request for an autograph.
Location: I-SpahrB-1963-6
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Jesse Peck to A. W. Foote
James Buchanan writes to William L. Hirst recommending the appointment of Judge Campbell to a position rendered vacant by the death of Judge Coulter, under the rationale that it will benefit the Democratic party of Pennsylvania. Buchanan includes...
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F7
Subject: Legal Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan writes his nephew and legal ward, James Henry, to ask about "the results" of a class meeting at Princeton and discuss plans for an upcoming vacation. Buchanan also includes a brief report on their family, including how "Harriet [...
Location: I-Friends-2010-2
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to James Henry
Thompson Prettyman Ege writes to his father, Oliver Ege, with updates on his life as a student and interactions with people in Carlisle. While "we will commence to review for [end of term] examination" in less than a month, Thompson assures his...
Location: I-StokesM-1964-3
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Thompson Ege to Oliver Ege
James Buchanan writes to Col John H. Wheeler regarding the 1852 Democratic National Convention, which is held in Baltimore, and who the delegates will select as the party's candidate for the 1852 Presidential election. "I think my prospects are...
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letters from James Buchanan to John Wheeler
James Buchanan writes to journalist and lawyer Edward McPherson regarding a list of members of the Lancaster County Bar that McPherson had compiled. Buchanan points out that the list mistakenly dates his admission to the Bar to 1809, when he was...
Location: I-AsbellY-2005-5
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College Alumni Affairs, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Legal Affairs
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Taylor Carlile prepared this oration, entitled “The Democratic Principle," for the commencement ceremonies held July 8, 1852. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time....
Location: Orations-1852-C282d
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
George Jacob Conner prepared this oration, entitled “France," for the commencement ceremonies held July 8, 1852. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included....
Location: Orations-1852-C752f
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government, Social Reform and Advocacy
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "France," by George J. Conner