About Full-Text Documents

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. 

Search Document Descriptions

Browse Document Descriptions

June 18, 1801

John Thompson writes to attorney and Dickinson College trustee James Hamilton regarding a judgment for forty-eight pounds that Mr. Watts obtained against Thompson. "There is no such sum due them by me," as Thompson argues.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-Original-1801-2

Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Legal Affairs

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from John Thompson to James Hamilton

July 18, 1801

This legal document serves notice that Benjamin Rush has filed the necessary documents in Philadelphia to serve as the administrator of Dr. John Hall’s Estate.

Format: Legal and Government Documents

Location: I-Purchase-1957-7

Subject: Economics and Finance, Legal Affairs

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Legal Document, Benjamin Rush as Executor of John Hall’s Estate

August 19, 1801

C. W. Hare writes to Samuel Bryan about a financial matter on the behalf of William Bingham, a member of the Dickinson Board of Trustees. Hare inquires about obstacles that have kept the payment of a certificate from being completed and asks about the "sort of evidence which will be required to destroy them." Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-12

Subject: Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from C. W. Hare to Samuel Bryan

October 28, 1801

Joseph St. Leger d'Happart writes to James Hamilton, a lawyer and member of the Dickinson College Board of Trustees, thanking him for the pleasant stay while in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-ValeM-1948-1

Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Joseph St. Leger d'Happart to James Hamilton

December 11, 1801

Charles Nisbet writes to his son Alexander, an attorney in Baltimore, and offers advice on various topics. "Taverns," as Charles explains, are "the slaughter-houses of the most part of the youth of this country" and should be avoided. Charles also discusses finances, clothing, the prices of food, religion, the use of alcohol, as well as other topics. Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-McIntoshM-1965-3

Subject: Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life, Religion and Spirituality

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Charles Nisbet to Alexander Nisbet

circa 1802

This manuscript page is from an early draft of Joseph Priestley's Notes on All the Books of Scripture. Most of the text on this page appears in volume 3, pages 154-155 of Priestley's Notes on All the Books of Scripture, for the use of the Pulpit and Private Families (Northumberland: Andrew Kennedy, 1803).

Format: Miscellaneous

Location: I-Friends-1993-3

Subject: Religion and Spirituality

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Manuscript Page from Joseph Priestley's Notes on All the Books of Scripture

January 21, 1802

Joseph St. Leger d'Happart writes to James Hamilton asking if General William Irvine is still residing with him and, if so, could he provide details about any land grants that involved the late Captain William Thompson between 1773 and 1778. 

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-ValeM-1948-1

Subject: Land and Real Estate, Legal Affairs

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Joseph St. Leger d'Happart to James Hamilton

April 2, 1802

Joseph Priestley writes to Matthew Carey, sending corrections for a draft of his book Church History.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-Friends-1995-4

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Religion and Spirituality

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Joseph Priestley to Matthew Carey

April 5, 1802

Joseph Priestley writes to Matthew Carey with proof of the Chart and corrections to Priestley's pamphlet Church History. Priestley also asks that the pamphlets are not advertised immediately. Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-2

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Religion and Spirituality

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Joseph Priestley to Matthew Carey

April 16, 1802

Attorney Roger Brooke Taney addresses this legal document to the Judges of Frederick County Court regarding the case of Christian Neff v. Conrad Shafer. Taney represents the prosecution.

Format: Legal and Government Documents

Location: I-BeachW-1976-3

Subject: Legal Affairs

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Legal Document, Christian Neff v. Conrad Shafer

June 11, 1802

Charles Nisbet writes to his son Alexander, an attorney in Baltimore, MD. Nisbet discusses Alexander's recovery from influenza, problems facing universities and colleges, and the health of his family. Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-McIntoshM-1965-2

Subject: Education, Health and Medicine, Personal and Family Life

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Charles Nisbet to Alexander Nisbet

November 30, 1802

Architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe writes to Mary Hazlehurst Latrobe, his second wife, about his dinner with President Thomas Jefferson.  Latrobe discusses the other guests at the dinner and the his thoughts on building a drydock for the United States Navy. Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-AsbellY-2002-1

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Benjamin Latrobe to Mary Latrobe

1803

Dr. Joseph Priestley writes to James Taylor with instructions regarding which picture of Dr. Priestley should be used. "The picture taken of me by Stewart at the request of the Philosophical Society is much better than that taken by Mr. Peale," as Priestley explains. This postscript has been detached from Priestley's original letter. Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: MC 1998.1, B1, F11

Subject: Personal and Family Life

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Joseph Priestley to James Taylor

1803-1808

A description of this ledger is not currently available.

Format: Financial Documents

Location: RG 1/1 - 6.1.3

Subject: Dickinson College Academic Affairs, Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College History, Economics and Finance, Education

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Receipt book of John Montgomery

January 8, 1803

Joseph Priestley writes to Rev. John Evans in London, thanking him for his "valuable book." Priestley sends a tract on baptism in return. Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-Friends-1990-5

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Personal and Family Life, Religion and Spirituality

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Joseph Priestley to John Evans

February 1, 1803

Dickinson College Trustee William Irvine writes to William Simmons, Accountant of the War Department. Irvine's Army account has not yet been closed due to a supposed surplus of firewood drawn by his company.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-Original-1803-1

Subject: Economics and Finance, Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from William Irvine to William Simmons

March 17, 1803

Attorney Samuel Duncan sends this printed legal notice to Charles Nisbet, informing Nisbet that the house and lot he occupies are the property of John and Richard Penn.

Format: Legal and Government Documents

Location: I-GappK-1956-1

Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Land and Real Estate, Legal Affairs

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Notice from Samuel Duncan to Charles Nisbet

May 18, 1803

Architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe creates these two sketches as part of his proposal for the new academic building at Dickinson College. Latrobe's two sketches are for the north front and the basement of West College.

Format: Maps and Diagrams

Location: RG 1/1 - 5.4.2

Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Education

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Two Sketches of West College by Benjamin Latrobe

May 18, 1803

Benjamin Latrobe, the architect of Old West, writes to Dickinson College trustee Hugh Henry Brackenridge and explains his plan as well as his design choices for the building. This letter accompanies his sketches for the new building. Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: RG 1/1 - 5.4.1

Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Education

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Benjamin Latrobe to Hugh Henry Brackenridge

May 19, 1803

Joseph Priestley Jr. writes to John Beckley and asks about having a tract of land surveyed on behalf of his father, Dr. Joseph Priestley, who is "very unwell."

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: MC 1998.1, B1, F12

Subject: Land and Real Estate, Personal and Family Life

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Joseph Priestley Jr. to John Beckley

May 19, 1803

Dickinson College trustee Hugh Henry Brackenridge writes to trustee James Hamilton about architect Benjamin Latrobe's plans for a new building (West College). Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: RG 1/1 - 5.4.1

Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Education

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Hugh Henry Brackenridge to James Hamilton

May 22, 1803

Dickinson College trustee Hugh Henry Brackenridge writes to another trustee, James Hamilton, and further discusses Benjamin Latrobe's design for the new building (West College) at the school. Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: RG 1/1 - 5.4.1

Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Education

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Hugh Henry Brackenridge to James Hamilton

July 9, 1803

Benjamin Rush writes to an unidentified doctor and thanks him for his long letter as well as the enclosed newspaper clippings. Rush is glad to hear that his publications are useful to the doctor, and he comments positively on this doctor's own publications arguing against capital punishment. Rush notes that the Medical Repository of New York is his primary mode of publication. Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-Willoughby-2009-1

Subject: Health and Medicine, Social Reform and Advocacy

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Benjamin Rush to Unknown Recipient

August 29, 1803

Joseph Priestley Jr. writes to John Smith of Philadelphia (102 S. 18th St.) after receiving reports that Mr. Dean's tract of land is on a mountain top and not worth surveying.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: MC 1998.1, B1, F12

Subject: Land and Real Estate

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Joseph Priestley Jr. to John Smith