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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 25, 1834
Former Secretary of the Treasury Roger Brooke Taney writes to William Beall, agreeing to attend a dinner "which my friends propose to honor me with" and outlining his travel plans for arriving at the event. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-AsbellY-2004-8
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from Roger B. Taney to William Beall
September 6, 1834
Charles B. Penrose, the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, invites Pennsylvania Governor George Wolf to attend the reopening of Dickinson College on September 10, 1834. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-1999-1
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College Events, Dickinson College History, Education
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from Charles Penrose to George Wolf
October 7, 1834
William Wilkins writes to his wife, Matilda Wilkins, during a trip from Transmundi to St. Petersburg. He discusses sightseeing in Lubeck and an eight-mile ride in "His Lordship's" carriage.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-1982-11
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Time Period: 1820-1839
October 11, 1834
William Wilkins writes to his wife, Matilda Wilkins, and discusses a recent voyage from London to Tansmundi. William also gives his regards to their children. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-1982-11
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Time Period: 1820-1839
November 7, 1834
James Buchanan writes to John Maclean a month before his term as a US Senator from Pennsylvania starts. Buchanan, a Democrat who had resigned as Ambassador to Russia the previous year, also discusses Samuel Porter, son of the late Michigan Governor George Porter, and the possibility of his education at Princeton College. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-2004-4
Subject: Education, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to John Maclean
December 9, 1834
Representative Henry Augustus Philip Muhlenberg writes to John Meredith Read, an attorney in Philadelphia, about various political intrigues and comments on James Buchanan's election to the United States Senate. "I rejoice in the election of our friend Buchanan" and, as Muhlenberg explains, "he will be an honor to the State and of much service to our friends."
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-1954-3
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from Henry A. P. Muhlenberg to John M. Read
December 26, 1834
Diplomat and politician William Wilkins (Class of 1802) writes his son, Charles, and explains the Russian calendar. Wilkins also urges his son to resist temptation.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-1982-12
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Time Period: 1820-1839
December 29, 1834
Minister to Russia William Wilkins writes to his daughter, whom he calls "Pet." Wilkins says that he received her letter and describes packages he sent with Mr. Livingstone. He also says that Mr. Biddle is his best friend, and explains that if his son Charles is good then he will get a horse. Wilkins, who is writing from Saint Petersburg, also describes how he "went to court at the Winter Palace to be presented to the young grand Duke." Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-1982-13
Subject: International Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from William Wilkins to "Pet" Wilkins
January 1835
William Wilkins, United States Minister to Russia, writes to his daughter Maria from abroad. Wilkins tells her about a dinner with the British Minister and wishes that Maria's brother Charles could go to school in St. Petersburg so he could learn French, German, and Russian.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-1982-14
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from William Wilkins to Maria Wilkins
January 15, 1835
US Senator James Buchanan writes to Henry D. Gilpin about his unconfirmed nomination. While "a week ago I thought there was no doubt," Buchanan explains that "from the [temper?] manifested to day on the rejection of John S. Sullivan I fear that your nomination will not be confirmed."
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-2005-5
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Henry Gilpin
February 27, 1835
William Wilkins writes to his wife, Matilda Wilkins, expressing fatigue from a journey to Brussels. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-1982-11
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Time Period: 1820-1839
April 1, 1835
Former Dickinson College Professor Thomas Cooper writes to Nassau William Senior, offering thoughts on the religious and political issues Senior writes about in the pamphlet On National Property. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-2006-2
Subject: Politics and Government, Religion and Spirituality
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from Thomas Cooper to Nassau William Senior
May 17, 1835
William Wilkins, Minister to Russia, writes to all six of his children from St. Petersburg, with a paragraph to each. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: O-Friends-1982-2
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from William Wilkins to His Children
June 18, 1835
Senator James Buchanan writes to Mahlon Dickerson, the Secretary of the Navy, regarding the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election of 1835. The contest was between incumbent Governor Wolf, Joseph Ritner, and Henry A. P. Muhlenberg. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F14
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1820-1839
1835 - circa 1950
This file contains information related to John Wilson's family genealogy. Dr. Wilson (1768-1835) is a member of the Class of 1792. Besides an obituary for Wilson by a Dr. John Lilly, there are also two family descendants charts. The first chart is originally from June 1850 and the second one is most likely from around 1950.
Format: Letters/Correspondence, Maps and Diagrams
Location: I-BlackT-1954-1
Subject: Genealogy and Family History, Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: John Wilson Family Genealogy
November 6, 1835
Chief Justice of the United States Roger Brooke Taney writes to an unknown correspondent and introduces his friend, Mr. Mackall, who is in Washington DC "in consequence of some difficulty concerning his son at West Point."
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Original-1835-2
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1820-1839
November 18, 1835
Senator James Buchanan writes to Roberts Vaux reflecting upon the election of delegates to the Democratic Committee of Correspondence in Pennsylvania for the proposed March 4 Convention. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F14
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Roberts Vaux
1835-1836
Senator James Buchanan writes three letters to Dickinson College President John Price Durbin in regard to the education and financial accounts of William Hopkins at the school. Transcripts included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Education
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letters from James Buchanan to John Durbin
December 18, 1835
John H. Knox, a member of the Class of 1838, receives this diploma as a member of the Union Philosophical Society on December 18, 1835.
Format: Certificates and Diplomas
Location: Diploma Collection
Subject: Education
Time Period: 1820-1839
February 15, 1836
Dickinson College President John P. Durbin sends Rev. John Rhodes a report on the conduct of Joseph Clubine Rhodes (Class of 1838). The report lists the number of times that Joseph has been absent from his literary exercises, prayers, and public worship. Durbin also adds a note about a bill for clothes.
Format: Reports
Location: I-SpahrB-undated-8
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Personal and Family Life, Religion and Spirituality
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Report from John Durbin to John Rhoads
March 8, 1836
Roger Brooke Taney (Class of 1795) sends William George Read the testimony for a case. Taney, who will deliver his speech on Thursday, notes that he will do "justice to the motives & character of" Read, Mr. Howard, and Mr. Hunt. Taney became the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court seven days after sending this letter. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-BeachW-1984-4
Subject: Legal Affairs
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from Roger B. Taney to William Read
March 21, 1836
Senator James Buchanan writes to V. Best and discusses whether to vote for or against "Colonel Benton’s Expunging resolution." "I have been somewhat astonished that several of my friends in Pennsylvania have advised me to disobey the Instructions of the [Pennsylvania] Legislature," as Buchanan notes. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F15
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to V. Best
April 19, 1836
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes a "private" letter to George Newbold asking for a copy of the letter he sent him on December 18, 1833. Taney wants a copy of this letter so he can better consult with some friends on how to address an allegation made against him. "I find there is still a determination to carry on the war against me" and, as Taney explains, "as part of this plan it is now asserted that Mr. [Reuben] Whitney was the agent of the Treasury and that I knew it." Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-1954-6
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from Roger B. Taney to George Newbold
April 26, 1836
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger B. Taney writes to J. Meredith and accepts an invitation to a dinner given in honor of the British Minister. A note on the reverse side states that Taney ultimately did not attend.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-undated-46
Subject: International Affairs, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from Roger B. Taney to J. Meredith
June 3, 1836
George Chambers, trustee of Dickinson College, informs Secretary of the Treasury Levi Woodbury about Representative Thomas McCullough's request that his son, Alexander McCullough, receive an appointment in the United States Navy. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-1974-2
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1820-1839
View Item: Letter from George Chambers to Levi Woodbury