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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Christian P. Z. Humrich prepared this oration, entitled “Our Destiny," 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...
Location: Orations-1852-H929o
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: 
"Our Destiny," by Christian P. Z. Humrich
John McCarty prepared this oration, entitled “A Word for the Poor," for the commencement ceremonies held July 18, 1852. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript...
Location: Orations-1852-M123w
Subject: Politics and Government, Social Reform and Advocacy
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "A Word for the Poor," by John McCarty
William Andrew Snively prepared this oration, entitled “The War of Opinion," 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-S672w
Subject: Politics and Government, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "The War of Opinion," by William A. Snively
Joseph Blake Wilson prepared this oration, entitled “The Instability of Popular Favor," for the commencement ceremonies held July 8, 1852. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that...
Location: Orations-1852-W749i
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "The Instability of Popular Favor," by Joseph B. Wilson
Alfred Heno Ames (Class of 1849) receives his Master of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1852.
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Master of Arts Diploma - Alfred Ames
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 8, 1852 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: 1852 Commencement Program
Dorothea Dix writes former New Jersey Governor Peter D. Vroom to introduce Dr. Richard Stuart and mentions establishing a hospital for the insane in Maryland.
Location: I-Friends-1976-2
Subject: Health and Medicine, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Dorothea Dix to Peter Vroom
Christian Humrich writes to his family regarding traveling to Pittsburgh and the Free Spoilers convention that coincided with his visit. "I have heard many accounts of Pittsburgh, but" as Humrich explains, he "had no idea of the dirt, filth and...
Location: I-Original-undated-15
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Christian Humrich to His Family
Charles Collins records his thoughts and activities during the early years of his tenure as president of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. After his "first sermon in Carlisle," Collins notes how he "was somewhat embarrassed." "I could...
Location: MC 2003.6, B2, F1
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Personal and Family Life, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Diaries and Journals
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Journal of Charles Collins (Transcript)
James Buchanan writes to his nephew and legal ward, James Buchanan Henry. Buchanan is pleased with the news of Henry's success from his last letter. Buchanan also reports that Miss Hetty [Parker], his housekeeper, "says she has not heard any news...
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
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to J. Mason Campbell and provides an update on his travel plans. Campbell should expect Taney and his wife to arrive [in Baltimore?] on Tuesday morning because Mrs. Taney is not well enough to...
Location: I-SpahrB-1965-20
Subject: Health and Medicine, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan (Class of 1809) writes to his nephew James Buchanan Henry after returning from a trip to Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Buchanan encloses $15 to Henry "according to [his] request," but has "no time to write [him] at length."
Location: I-AsbellY-2003-6
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to James Henry
James Buchanan writes to his nephew and legal ward, James Buchanan Henry, regarding how Henry has not confirmed whether he received the $15 mailed on the 11th. Buchanan hopes that Henry is not negligent on this account and that, instead, the...
Location: I-Friends-2010-2
Subject: Economics and Finance, Education, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to James Henry
Spencer F. Baird ('40) writes to Dickinson College Professor James W. Marshall ('48) regarding books (Congressional volumes)that were sent to the Dickinson College library by mistake. As "The State Department is very anxious to have back," Baird...
Location: I-Original-1852-5
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Education, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Spencer Baird to James Marshall
James Buchanan writes Daniel E. Sickles to explain why he cannot deliver a speech at Tammany Hall in New York City so soon after Daniel Webster's death. "It would be indelicate, if not improper, for me so soon after his death" to "make a...
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F9
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Daniel Sickles
Hetty Parker, James Buchanan's housekeeper, writes to James B. Henry, Buchanan's nephew. Parker discusses Buchanan's travels and mentions that "President Pierce is anxious to have your Uncle Secretary of State but wether he will except or not I...
Location: I-Friends-2010-3
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Hetty Parker to James Henry
James Buchanan writes to his nephew and legal ward, James Buchanan Henry, regarding commencement at Princeton and Henry's plans for after graduation. "I shall certainly attend your commencement, should your position in the Class be such as I...
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
James Buchanan writes to his nephew and legal ward, James Buchanan Henry, regarding Henry's request for "the 'wherewithal' to return home" from Princeton College. Buchanan, who sends $10, notes that "Miss Clemens & Mrs. [Rose O'Neal]...
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
James Buchanan writes to James M. H. Beale regarding Beale's hope to secure a diplomatic post in President-elect Franklin Pierce's administration. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F9
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
The Laws and Regulations of Dickinson College lists important information and guidelines regarding the administration of the college, faculty, stewards, admissions, instruction, student behavior, the academic calendar, commencement,...
Location: RG 1/2 10.1.12
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College Organizations, Dickinson College Student Life, Education
Format: Books and Pamphlets
Time Period: 1840-1859
James Buchanan writes to James P. Reily regarding the possibility that President Franklin Pierce would appoint Buchanan as the minister to England. "There seems to be a general impression, such as you indicate, that I will be minister to England...
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F11
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to James P. Reily
Dickinson College President Charles Collins writes two letters to his wife, Harriet Collins, while at a Methodist church conference in Hagerstown, Maryland. Collins also spoke at a missionary meeting along with Abel Stevens. Collins also notes...
Location: I-EwigC-1990-1
Subject: Religion and Spirituality, Travel and Tourism
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letters from Charles Collins to Harriet Collins (Mar. 1853)
James Buchanan writes to President Franklin Pierce and recommends that James C. Van Dyke be appointed as the district attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Transcript included.
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F11
Subject: Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
Attorney Murray Rush writes to Franklin Pierce, President of the United States, campaigning for the district attorney position in Philadelphia. In addition, Murray mentions his father, Richard Rush, who had served in a number of positions...
Location: I-AsbellY-2002-51
Subject: Legal Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Murray Rush to Franklin Pierce
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice John B. Gibson writes to Mr. Johnson about changing the laws of Pennsylvania.
Location: I-AsbellY-2004-3
Subject: Legal Affairs, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from John Gibson to Mr. Johnson