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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, 1846
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 9, 1846 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: 1846 Commencement Program
July 20, 1846
William Wilkins, Secretary of War from 1844-45, writes to his successor William Marcy. Wilkins introduces his son in law, Captain John Sanders of the Corps of Engineers. Sanders will take the southern mail route to rejoin General Zachary Taylor at the Rio Grande. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-1977-10
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from William Wilkins to William Marcy
August 3, 1846
President James Knox Polk informs Judge Robert Cooper Grier (Class of 1812) that he has nominated Grier as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Grier will "fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Judge [Henry] Baldwin," as President Polk explains. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-undated-24
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Polk to Robert Grier
August 1846 - February 1851, 1857
Marcus Junius Parrott records his thoughts and activities as a college student in Ohio, then in Pennsylvania at Dickinson College (graduating in 1849), as a law student thereafter at Cambridge Law School, and a few entries from 1857 when Parrott serves as delegate to Congress from the Kansas Territory. Transcript included.
Format: Diaries and Journals
Location: I-Friends-2004-3
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Journal of Marcus J. Parrott (Transcript)
August 24, 1846
A description of this document is not currently available.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F13
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to George Plitt
October 6, 1846
Henry Dallam (Class of 1848) writes W. Boyd Williams and describes starting classes at Dickinson. This experience marks "the first time I have been away from home for any length of time," as Dallam notes. After discussing how his father dropped him off, Dallam briefly mentions his classmates. "There is every kind of character & disposition to be met with at College and it is sometimes amusing just to mark the difference and disposition you meet with in the course of an hour," as Dallam observes. Dallam also discusses his plans for Christmas break. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-WilliamsW-1957-1
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Henry Dallam to W. Boyd Williams
November 21, 1846
Secretary of State James Buchanan informs Moses Y. Beach that President James K. Polk has appointed him as a Confidential Agent to the Republic of Mexico. "You ought never to give the slightest intimation to any person, either directly or indirectly, that you are an agent of this Government," as Buchanan explains. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F14
Subject: International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Moses Beach
January 28, 1847
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Sarah Maury and asks her to not publish two of his private letters. "If in their publication, you should state that this was done by my permission," Buchanan explains that "it would look like a preconcerted effort to bring my name before the Public with your commendation." Buchanan also thanks Maury for sending a copy of her new book, Statesmen of America. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F15
Subject: Literary Pursuits, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Sarah Maury
February 3, 1847
Richard Rush, United States Minister to France, asks Benjamin B. French when the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution adjourned and if French has heard about a pair of spectacles Rush lost. French is Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and serves on the Smithsonian's board of regents.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-1991-11
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Richard Rush to Benjamin French
February 7, 1847
Richard Rush, United States Minister to France, thanks Benjamin B. French for finding his glasses and discusses the recent meeting of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. French is Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and serves on the Smithsonian's board of regents.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-1991-11
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Richard Rush to Benjamin French
February 19, 1847
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to W. P. Preston, responding to his request "to have an authenticated copy taken of documents relating to the debt due by the late Republic of Columbia to Lalung Montrop, recently of Baltimore, deceased." Buchanan claims that this request cannot be granted, as United States diplomatic agents are discouraged from executing instructions relating to personal business. He refers Preston to Mr. B. A. Bidlack. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F15
Subject: Business and Industry, International Affairs, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to W. P. Preston
May 8, 1847
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Nathaniel Chapman, a former student of Benjamin Rush, expressing his regret that he cannot attend a dinner in honor of Benjamin's son Richard Rush in Philadelphia. Partial transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-2009-1
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
March 10, 1847
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to R. B. McAfee regarding McAfee's request to publish old diplomatic correspondence. While President James K. Polk "feels himself obliged to decline a compliance with your request," Buchanan suggests that McAfee might be able to go through Congress. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F15
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to R. B. McAfee
July 8, 1847
James Andrew McCauley receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1847.
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Bachelor of Arts Diploma - James McCauley
July 8, 1847
Ebenezer Denny Harding, a member of the Class of 1844, receives his Master of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1847.
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Master of Arts Diploma - Ebenezer Harding
July 8, 1847
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on July 8, 1847 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: 1847 Commencement Program
July 8, 1847
Thomas Brown Parker (Class of 1844) receives his Master of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1847.
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Master of Arts Diploma - Thomas Parker
July 8, 1847
Isaiah Willis McCord receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on July 8, 1847.
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Bachelor of Arts Diploma - Isaiah McCord
July 8, 1847
Dewitt C. Lloyd prepared this oration, entitled “National Example," for the commencement ceremonies held July 8, 1847. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Location: Orations-1847-L793n
Subject: Education, Religion and Spirituality
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "National Example," by Dewitt C. Lloyd
July 22, 1847
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Miss Cutts regarding plans for her and Harriet Lane to travel to Rockaway in New York City. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F16
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Miss Cutts
August 7, 1847
Pennsylvania Attorney Andrew Gregg Curtin (Class of 1837) warns L. M. Smith, Esq., "to be cautious not to say to Mr. Ullman that Mr. Clark would or had any designs of making any arrangement in relation to the Philips estate." Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-1990-4
Subject: Legal Affairs
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Andrew Curtin to L. M. Smith
September 10, 1847
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Stephen Pleasonton, an auditor, and approves John Randolph Clay's expenses related to attending the marriage of the daughter of the Emperor of Russia. Clay was the Secretary of Legation for the United States in Russia. Buchanan, who served as the United States Minister to Russia in the early 1830s, describes Russia as "one of the most expensive Courts in the World." Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F16
Subject: Economics and Finance, International Affairs, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
October 5, 1847
Henry Clay Dallam (Class of 1848) asks William Boyd Williams "to procure for me 'a literal translation of the Plays of Sophocles'" and to mail it to Dickinson. "I have a large amount of extra study to do" and, as Dallam explains, "I am anxious to have every facility." Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-WilliamsW-1957-1
Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Literary Pursuits
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Henry Dallam to W. Boyd Williams
October 9, 1847
Secretary of State James Buchanan writes M. G. Dale with an update on an appointment for Mr. Holcomb in the War Department and comments on Pennsylvania politics. "Governor Shunk will be elected by a large majority should he have fair play," as Buchanan observes. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B2, F17
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to M. G. Dale
December 21, 1847
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to J. Mason Campbell, an attorney, about a political and legal matter related to Maryland's constitution. While Taney brings up several questions and arguments to consider in regard to the matter, Taney also counsels Campbell to not provide an opinion on the issue to the legislature because of the potential political and personal consequences. "Why should you put an opinion in the house to be badgered and abused," as Taney notes. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: O-SpahrB-1965-2
Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859