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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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June 26, 1851
James Monroe Kimberlin prepared this oration, entitled “The Destiny of America," for the commencement ceremonies held June 26, 1851. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. In discussing the future of the United States, Kimberlin noted that "our existence as a nation been endangered by [slavery]." "By some inglorious providence of God, slavery exists among us," Kimberlin explained. Transcript included.
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Location: Orations-1851-K49d
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government, Religion and Spirituality, Social Reform and Advocacy
Time Period: 1840-1859
June 26, 1851
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on June 26, 1851 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: 1851 Commencement Program
July 8-9, 1851
Charles Collins writes two letters to his wife, Harriet, regarding his trip to Portland, Maine, and shares news of their family and friends. Collins also mentions watching a doctor perform an operation with chloroform and listening to a lecture on temperance by John B. Gough. "[Gough] is a fascinating speaker and I am not surprised at his success," as Collins explains. Transcripts included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-EwigC-1990-1
Subject: Health and Medicine, Personal and Family Life, Religion and Spirituality, Social Reform and Advocacy, Travel and Tourism
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letters from Charles Collins to Harriet Collins (Jul. 1851)
August 1851
A description of this letter is not currently available. Transcripts included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Original-undated-15
Subject: Dickinson College Student Life, Education
Time Period: 1840-1859
August 25, 1851
Dickinson College Professor Herman M. Johnson writes this letter to recommend a recent graduate, Martin T. Rohrer (Class of 1851), for a teaching position. Rohrer "is a young gentleman whom we believe to be... well qualified to fill the office of instructor in a public or private school," as Johnson explains.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-1952-9
Subject: Dickinson College Alumni Affairs, Education, Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1840-1859
August 26, 1851
Former Dickinson College Professor Thomas Emory Sudler (Class of 1840) writes this letter to recommend a recent graduate, Martin T. Rohrer (Class of 1851), for a teaching position. Rohrer "is a Gentleman qualified to give instruction" in subjects such as "Algebra, Geometry, [and] Trigonometry," as Sudler explains.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-1952-9
Subject: Dickinson College Alumni Affairs, Education, Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1840-1859
September 12, 1851
Hetty Parker, James Buchanan's housekeeper, writes to James B. Henry, Buchanan's nephew. Parker reports news of various Buchanan family relatives and friends, including Miss Ward, Mr. Lane, Miss Harriet, and many others. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-2010-3
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Hetty Parker to James Henry
September 20, 1851
James Buchanan writes to Henry A. Clover regarding the Pennsylvania gubernatorial election and the election prospects of Clover's relative. "Your relative General Clover is in no danger" because, as Buchanan explains, "his opponent, John Strohm is one of the fourteen in the House of Representatives, who voted against the Bill granting volunteers & supplies to President Polk to enable him to carry on the war against Mexico."
Buchanan also discusses Democratic candidates for the 1852 Presidential election. "The Presidential candidate in whose favor the Democracy of Missouri & New York could unite, would present strong claims before the National Convention," as Buchanan explains. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F4
Subject: International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
November 13, 1851
Roger Brooke Taney, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, writes to Mr. William Prescott Smith: "Accept my thanks for the 'Scientific American,' and the two pamphlets.... I was so much impressed with what I saw in my brief visit to the Institute a few evenings ago...." An engraving of Taney is included, which was likely added by the autograph dealer from whom this letter was acquired.
Format: Engravings and Illustrations, Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-1978-6
Subject: Personal and Family Life, Science and Technology
Time Period: 1840-1859
November 24, 1851
James Buchanan writes Charles H. Shriner regarding the status of the Democratic party in Union County, Pennsylvania. "What is the matter in Union County?," as Buchanan asks. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F5
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
1852
The Dickinson College catalog for the 1851-1852 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 and Register of Dickinson College for the Academic Year, 1851- 52
1852-1862
George Miller writes sixteen letters to Eli Slifer, Secretary of the Commonwealth during the Civil War, in which he discusses construction of the Sunbury and Erie railroad, repeal of the tonnage tax, the raising of a Corps of Engineers, developments in local elections, several legal cases, as well as appointments to positions such as Quarter Master in volunteer regiments. Transcripts included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 2003.4, B8, F3
Subject: Economics and Finance, Legal Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859, 1860-1879
View Item: Letters from George Miller to Eli Slifer
1852-1857
James Buchanan writes three letters to Henry A. Wise that focus largely on various political matters, including the 1852 Democratic Convention, the election of US Senators from Pennsylvania, and who to appoint to President-elect Buchanan's cabinet. Transcripts included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letters from James Buchanan to Henry Wise
1852-1854
James Buchanan writes five letters to James Campbell regarding Pennsylvania politics, the Democratic conventions, President Franklin Pierce's appointments, and Buchanan's experience working as the United States Minister to the United Kingdom. Buchanan also discusses the possibility of a war between United Kingdom and Russia. Transcripts included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
March 9, 1852
Simon Cameron writes to Reah Frazer, an attorney in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and requests copies of James Buchanan's speeches against the war, presumably the Mexican-American War. With them, Cameron explains that southern senators will demolish "the old sage." Cameron, a Pennsylvania politician and businessman, served in the US Senate from 1845 to 1849 as a Democrat and later switched to the Republican party.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-1957-5
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Simon Cameron to Reah Frazer
1852-1857
Andrew Curtin writes four letters to Eli Slifer in which he discusses a recent appointment bill and the potential impact on the political strength of the Democratic party as well as other political developments in Pennsylvania. Transcripts included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 2003.4, B3, F9
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letters from Andrew Curtin to Eli Slifer, 1852-57
March 26, 1852
James Buchanan (Class of 1809) writes to his nephew, James Buchanan Henry, and congratulates him for good grades in mathematics as well as offers advice for an upcoming exam. Buchanan also mentions his niece Harriet Lane, who is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but expected to return in the coming weeks: "it was difficult to persuade her to go there," he writes, but "it is now equally difficult to persuade her to return."
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-AsbellY-2003-8
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to James Henry
April 2, 1852
Former Secretary of War William Wilkins writes California Governor John Bigler to recommends Samuel A. Dickey, the son of Representative John Dickey, for a position or an appointment. Samuel "is of good character and correct deportment," as Wilkins notes.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Purchase-1998-1
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from William Wilkins to John Bigler
April 7, 1852
Jesse Peck, President of Dickinson College, responds to A. W. Foote's request for an autograph.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-1963-6
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Jesse Peck to A. W. Foote
April 23, 1852
James Buchanan writes to William L. Hirst recommending the appointment of Judge Campbell to a position rendered vacant by the death of Judge Coulter, under the rationale that it will benefit the Democratic party of Pennsylvania. Buchanan includes a copy of the letter he wrote to Pennsylvania Governor William Bigler in which he made the recommendation. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B3, F7
Subject: Legal Affairs, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
May 5, 1852
James Buchanan writes his nephew and legal ward, James Henry, to ask about "the results" of a class meeting at Princeton and discuss plans for an upcoming vacation. Buchanan also includes a brief report on their family, including how "Harriet [Lane] returned from Pittsburgh ten days ago in good health."
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-2010-2
Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to James Henry
May 11, 1852
Thompson Prettyman Ege writes to his father, Oliver Ege, with updates on his life as a student and interactions with people in Carlisle. While "we will commence to review for [end of term] examination" in less than a month, Thompson assures his father that "I am very well and I am trying to get along well in all my studies." Thompson also describes going to "Dr. [Jesse] Peck’s prayer meeting," in which "God filled my heart with a gracious outpouring of his divine love." In addition, Thompson asks his father to send more clothes. While "I can do without the black pants," Thompson explains that "I need a black coat very bad." Thompson, a member of the Class of 1855, writes his father on the reverse side of an old school report from Professor James Marshall. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-StokesM-1964-3
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Religion and Spirituality
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letter from Thompson Ege to Oliver Ege
May 11 ; May 31, 1852
James Buchanan writes to Col John H. Wheeler regarding the 1852 Democratic National Convention, which is held in Baltimore, and who the delegates will select as the party's candidate for the 1852 Presidential election. "I think my prospects are fairer at present than those of any other Candidate," as Buchanan explains. Transcripts included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: Letters from James Buchanan to John Wheeler
May 31, 1852
James Buchanan writes to journalist and lawyer Edward McPherson regarding a list of members of the Lancaster County Bar that McPherson had compiled. Buchanan points out that the list mistakenly dates his admission to the Bar to 1809, when he was still a student at Dickinson College. "According to my recollection," as Buchanan notes, "I was admitted in November 1812; but the record will show." Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-AsbellY-2005-5
Subject: Dickinson College Administration, Dickinson College Alumni Affairs, Dickinson College Student Life, Education, Legal Affairs
Time Period: 1840-1859
July 8, 1852
George Jacob Conner prepared this oration, entitled “France," for the commencement ceremonies held July 8, 1852. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Location: Orations-1852-C752f
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government, Social Reform and Advocacy
Time Period: 1840-1859
View Item: "France," by George J. Conner