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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President of Pennsylvania John Dickinson authorizes John Lukens, Pennsylvania Surveyor General, to survey the land that Joseph Martin purchased in Northampton County. This document is a copy of the original, created in September 1820 by Surveyor...
Location: MC 2001.13, B1, F12
Subject: Land and Real Estate, Legal Affairs
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: 
Legal Document, Authorization for Survey of Joseph Martin’s Land (Copy)
This page from an account book of a hatter based in Philadelphia includes purchases by John Dickinson, John Montgomery, and Stephen Duncan.
Location: I-SpahrB-1954-10
Subject: Business and Industry, Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life
Format: Financial Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Page from an Account Book of a Philadelphia Hatter
This customs declaration and receipt form, sworn and signed by Benjamin Rush, is for "One Box Books a present for Dickinson College."
Location: I-Friends-1984-2
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Economics and Finance, International Affairs
Format: Financial Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Customs Declaration and Receipt Form Signed by Benjamin Rush
John Armstrong, Jr. writes to the Secretary's Office about the notice of sale of lands in the fourth district surveyed by Mr. Cunningham. James Trimble signs the document for Armstrong. Transcript included.
Location: I-SpahrB-undated-1
Subject: Land and Real Estate
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Letter from John Armstrong Jr. to Secretary's Office
John Dickinson writes ten letters to Benjamin Rush on a number of different topics, including the administrative affairs of Dickinson College, the state of political affairs in the United States, political philosophy, and the death of Dickinson's...
Location: MC 2001.13
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College History, Education, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Letters from John Dickinson to Benjamin Rush
Location: MC 2001.13
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College History, Education, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1800-1819
View Item: Letters from John Dickinson to Benjamin Rush
George Thompson writes Robert Magaw about obtaining soldiers' pay owed from service during the Revolutionary War and discusses the conditions for selling "the plantation in my absence." Thompson explains how "we must charge the United States...
Location: I-ValeM-1947-64
Subject: Land and Real Estate, Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Letter from George Thompson to Robert Magaw
Vice-President of Pennsylvania Charles Biddle writes this note, which orders the Treasurer of Pennsylvania to pay £500 to the Trustees of Dickinson College. Benjamin Rush acknowledges the receipt of this note on behalf of the trustees.
Location: I-SpahrB-1966-19
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance
Format: Financial Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Promissory Note from Charles Biddle to the Trustees of Dickinson College
Benjamin Rush signs this affidavit that attests that Terrance Connel's payment certificate for service as a soldier is the property of Dickinson College. Connel's certificate, which is worth $80, is no. 72162 and dated July 1, 1784.
Location: I-SpahrB-1940-2
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Financial Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Sworn Affidavit of Benjamin Rush about a Soldier's Pay Certificate
Benjamin Rush signs this affidavit that attests that Christopher Finnigan's payment certificate for service as a soldier is the property of Dickinson College. Finnigan's certificate is no. 75525 and dated July 1, 1784.
Location: I-SpahrB-1960-7
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Sworn Affidavit of Benjamin Rush about a Soldier's Pay Certificate
Benjamin Rush signs this affidavit that attests that Arthur [Gillas'?] payment certificate for service as a soldier is the property of Dickinson College. Arthur's certificate is no. 77395 and dated July 1, 1784.
Location: I-SpahrB-1951-6
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Sworn Affidavit of Benjamin Rush about a Soldier's Pay Certificate
Benjamin Rush signs this affidavit that attests that William Ford's payment certificate for service as a soldier is the property of Dickinson College. Ford's certificate, which is worth $80, is no. 77369 and dated July 1, 1784.
Location: I-Original-1786-1
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Sworn Affidavit of Benjamin Rush about a Soldier's Pay Certificate
Benjamin Rush signs this affidavit that attests that Joseph Fletcher's payment certificate for service as a soldier is the property of Dickinson College. Fletcher's certificate, which is worth $80, is no. 77580 and dated July 1, 1784.
Location: I-SpahrB-1966-20
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Sworn Affidavit of Benjamin Rush about a Soldier's Pay Certificate
Benjamin Rush signs this affidavit that attests that Michael Morrison's payment certificate for service as a soldier is the property of Dickinson College. Morrison's certificate, which is worth $80, is no. 73424 and dated July 1, 1784.
Location: I-SpahrB-1940-2
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Financial Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Sworn Affidavit of Benjamin Rush about a Soldier's Pay Certificate
James Ross writes William Young, a bookseller and printer in Philadelphia, regarding the publication of books on grammar. Ross, a Professor of Greek and Latin at Dickinson, offers edits and improvements to Young's "edition of the rudiments, now...
Location: MC 2001.5, B1, F12
Subject: Business and Industry, Education, Literary Pursuits
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Letter from James Ross to William Young
Acting President Robert Davidson presents the annual report to the Board of Trustees on the current state of Dickinson College.
Location: RG 1/1 - 2.1.1
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration
Format: Reports
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Annual Report of the President to the Board of Trustees, May 1786
Benjamin Rush signs this affidavit that attests that Albion Guest's payment certificate for service as a soldier is the property of Dickinson College. Guest's certificate, which is worth $44, is no. 74942 and dated July 1, 1784.
Location: I-SpahrB-1940-3
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Economics and Finance, Military Affairs and Conflict
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Sworn Affidavit of Benjamin Rush about a Soldier's Pay Certificate
James Wilson invites William Bingham to spend an hour the following evening visiting with him.
Location: I-Friends-1975-26
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Letter from James Wilson to William Bingham
Joseph Priestley writes Sir Charles Blagden, the Secretary of the Royal Society, and asks him to “lay before the Royal Society Mr. [Abraham] Bennet's account of his Electrometer.” Priestley explains that “the value” of Bennet's electrometer “...
Location: I-RichardsonD-1992-3
Subject: Science and Technology
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Letter from Joseph Priestley to Sir Charles Blagden
John Dickinson writes Robert Magaw and asks him to conduct a "strict Enquiry" into "a [mortgage] by James Wilson Esquire on my Land near Carlisle." Transcript included.
Location: I-ValeM-1947-69
Subject: Economics and Finance, Land and Real Estate, Legal Affairs
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Letter from John Dickinson to Robert Magaw
John Dickinson asks Robert Magaw to have representatives of George Stevenson search for a particular survey that might be among his papers. If they find it, Dickinson requests that they "send it to the survey or general's office." Transcript...
Location: I-ValeM-1947-71
Subject: Land and Real Estate, Legal Affairs
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Letter from John Dickinson to Robert Magaw
President Charles Nisbet delivers this address to students after a "late recess & intermission" on May 13, 1787. John Young, a member of the Class of 1788, transcribed the address. Transcript included.
Location: SC Vault Nisbet 37
Subject: Dickinson College Events, Dickinson College History, Dickinson College Student Life, Education
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Address after a Vacation by Charles Nisbet (Transcript)
John Erskine writes to Dickinson College President Charles Nisbet with news of home and a list of books that he will send for "your College library." Erskine also mentions a letter from Dr. Benjamin Rush, in which Rush notes that the College "was...
Location: I-SpahrB-1969-11
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Education, Personal and Family Life, Religion and Spirituality
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Letter from John Erskine to Charles Nisbet
John Dickinson writes to Jasper Yates regarding financial issues and encloses copies of two bonds. Dickinson expresses his wish "to have the debt perfectly secured as soon as possible," and asks for advice on the best way to proceed with these...
Location: MC 2001.13, B1, F3
Subject: Economics and Finance, Legal Affairs
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Letter from John Dickinson to Jasper Yates
William Irvine writes to Robert Magaw that Dickinson College Trustees' memorial to Congress was favorably reported from committee. Irvine also notes that he has advised Senator William Grayson to send his nephew, a Mr. Orr, to Dickinson....
Location: I-HookJ-undated-1
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Education, Politics and Government
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799
View Item: Letter from William Irvine to Robert Magaw
Benjamin Rush writes to his wife, Julia Stockton Rush, regarding poetry, the division of land, and his medical essays. Transcript included.
Location: I-ButterfieldL-1971-1
Subject: Health and Medicine, Land and Real Estate, Literary Pursuits, Personal and Family Life
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Time Period: 1780-1799