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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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July 9, 1840
A. Herr Smith prepared this oration, entitled “Suicide," for the commencement ceremonies held July 9, 1840. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Location: Orations-1840-S642s
Subject: Health and Medicine, Literary Pursuits
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "Suicide," by A. Herr Smith
July 9, 1840
Samuel A. Harrison prepared this oration, entitled “The Literature of the Age of Elizabeth," for the commencement ceremonies held July 9, 1840. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Location: Orations-1840-H322l
Subject: Education, Literary Pursuits
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "The Literature of the Age of Elizabeth," by Samuel A. Harrison
August 17, 1840
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to James K. Paulding, Secretary of the Navy, about the application of the late Levin Gale's two sons.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-1983-14
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Roger B. Taney to James Paulding
September 8, 1840
Richard Rush, son of Dickinson College Founder Benjamin Rush, responds to a letter from George H. Moore. Rush explains that he cannot fulfill Moore's request for notes or autographs belonging to his father, stating: "all that I had of a nature to part with have been given away from time to time throughout a succession of years, to other applications."
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-AsbellY-2003-13
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Richard Rush to George Moore
December 1840
Spencer Fullerton Baird compiles a "List of the Birds of the United States (from Aububon), prefixed to which is a List of the Birds found near Carlisle, Pennsylvania" The document contains the type of bird, time when first shot, and "when known."
Format: Reports
Location: I-Original-1840-2
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Science and Technology
Time Period: 1840-1859
1840-1842
Senator James Buchanan writes three letters to Edward D. Gazzam regarding political maters in Pennsylvania as well as the national level. Democrats will "leave the Whig party to themselves" because, as Buchanan explains, "this party contains within itself the seeds of its own destruction." Buchanan also shares news of potential cabinet appointments by President John Tyler. Transcripts included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
December 17, 1840
Senator James Buchanan (Class of 1809) writes to lawyer A. B. Cummings regarding his initial non-compliance with a request from the latter. Buchanan believes the "business had all been arranged" but will "call at the Department without delay" if he is mistaken.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-AsbellY-2003-14
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to A. B. Cummings
January 1, 1841
Vice President-elect John Tyler writes Representative Henry A. Wise to discusses several political issues, including the sanctity of party pledges, the character of President-elect William Henry Harrison, and the uncertainty as to the makeup of the new cabinet. Harrison "will be President... in thought and in deed" and, as Tyler argues, "I do not believe that he will submit himself to the dictation of party." Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-1952-5
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from John Tyler to Henry Wise
1841
Richard Van Boskirk Lincoln, a member of the Class of 1841, receives this diploma as a member of the Union Philosophical Society in 1841.
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Union Philosophical Society Diploma - Richard Lincoln
1841
Henry Baker Harnsberger, a member of the Class of 1841, receives this diploma as a member of the Union Philosophical Society in 1841.
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Union Philosophical Society Diploma - Henry Harnsberger
1841
The Dickinson College catalog for the 1841-1842 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 courses offered, requirements for enrollment, requirements for graduation, tuition and other fees, and campus facilities, college policies, and lists of teaching faculty, college trustees, and various administrators.
Format: Books and Pamphlets
Location: Dickinsoniana Periodicals
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Education
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Dickinson College, 1841-42
January 18, 1841
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes J. Mason Campbell to defend a decision he made as Acting Secretary of War (June - August 1831) during President Andrew Jackson's administration. "When I acted as Secretary of War, I was [also] in office as Attorney General," and as Taney explains, "I performed the duties of both offices, [so] I received the salaries of both." This decision remains the "right" one because, as Taney argues, "the public received the benefit of my services in both offices." Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-1965-12
Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
March 1, 1841
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to David Hoffman and explains why he must "decline taking any part in matters" relating "to the mission to Austria." While Taney would prefer to meet with Hoffman to discuss this issue, he notes that there is too much "business on the court."
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-1965-3
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Roger B. Taney to David Hoffman
May 7, 1841
Senator James Buchanan (Class of 1809) writes to Colonel C. W. Gooch, thanking the latter for procuring four James River and Kanawha Bonds on his behalf. Buchanan also extolls Virginia Senator William Henry Roane, calling him an "honest, independent & high-souled patriot" who embodies the "essence & spirit of the ancient Virginia Republicanism." Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-AsbellY-2003-9
Subject: Economics and Finance, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to C. W. Gooch
July 8, 1841
Henry Baker Harnsberger receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1841.
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Bachelor of Arts Diploma - Henry Harnsberger
July 8, 1841
John K Stayman prepared this oration, entitled “Difference of Opinion," for the commencement ceremonies held July 8, 1841. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Location: Orations-1841-S798d
Subject: Education, Religion and Spirituality
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "Difference of Opinion," by John K. Stayman
July 8, 1841
Wilson Lee Spottswood prepared this oration, entitled “Deficiency of Literature," for the commencement ceremonies held July 8, 1841. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Location: Orations-1841-S765d
Subject: Education, Literary Pursuits
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "Deficiency of Literature," by Wilson L. Spottswood
July 8, 1841
Richard Van Boskirk Lincoln receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1841.
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Bachelor of Arts Diploma - Richard Lincoln
July 8, 1841
Joseph Clubine Rhodes (Class of 1838) receives his Master of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1841.
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Master of Arts Diploma - Joseph Rhodes
July 8, 1841
Henry B. Hamsberger prepared this oration, entitled “Tyranny of Public Opinion," for the commencement ceremonies held July 8, 1841. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Location: Orations-1841-H291t
Subject: Politics and Government, Social Reform and Advocacy
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "Tyranny of Public Opinion," by Henry B. Harnsberger
July 8, 1841
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 8, 1841 shows the members of the graduating class and the speeches that they were scheduled to deliver.
Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera
Location: Dickinsoniana Programs
Subject: Dickinson College Events
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: 1841 Commencement Program
August 20, 1841
Senator James Buchanan writes to Stimpson Harvey Woodward, an entrepreneur in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, regarding Whigs politics and the Bank of the United States. Buchanan, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, claims that "the truth is the Whig party have never acquired power without abusing it." Buchanan also refers to William W. Irwin, Mayor of Pittsburgh, and President John Tyler. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-2007-2
Subject: Business and Industry, Economics and Finance, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
August 26, 1841
Senator James Buchanan writes to J. C. Plumer regarding the fate of a Bank Bill that the House of Representatives had recently approved. "We shall show it off in its naked deformity before it passes the Senate," as Buchanan observes. Buchanan also discusses the support for Democratic Pennsylvania Governor David R. Porter as well as the demise of the Whig Party. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F26
Subject: Business and Industry, Economics and Finance, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to J. C. Plumer
September 15, 1841
Charles Stinson (Class of 1845) writes to his father about his trip to Carlisle and starting classes at Dickinson. After meeting with President John Durbin, Stinson notes that the "conclusion is... that I am wholly unprepared to enter" as a Sophomore. Stinson also describes some of the "strange sights on my journey," including a bridge over the Susquehanna river. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-DayL-1972-1
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Charles Stinson to His Father
November 19, 1841
Senator James Buchanan writes to Ross Wilkins a letter reflecting upon Michigan's establishment of the "Wild cat" banking system, which "was one great cause of its prostration." Buchanan also comments on the possibility of a conflict with the United Kingdom if " the States repudiate [their] debts & England interpose[s] to protect her subjects from the effects of this swindling operation." Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F27
Subject: Economics and Finance, International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Ross Wilkins