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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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April 18, 1864
Former President James Buchanan writes James Buchanan Henry and includes payment for stocks that Henry purchased on behalf of Harriet Lane. Buchanan also asks Henry "to take out my will" as "it is neceseary or rather proper that I should make some changes in it on account of changes in my property." Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F8
Subject: Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to James Henry
May 1, 1864
Agnes Cuddy writes a letter to her son, John Cuddy, expressing sorrow over his having to fight again but also relief at his upcoming discharge from the Union Army. "I wish you had your discharge now that you could come now for we would be very glad to see you, I hope you will not be sent in to any more battles for you have done your duty like a good boy," as Agnes notes. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 2001.9, B1, F1
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Agnes Cuddy to John Cuddy
May 8, 1864
Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to Associate Justice Samuel Nelson about various court and other legal matters. As a result of his poor health, Taney asks for details about the procedures Nelson has used for hearing appeals at his office since he is not sure that he will be able to travel to Baltimore. Taney also comments on an ongoing legal cases. "I have made up my mind to continue the indictments for treason" and, as Taney explains, even "if the district attorney presses the prosecutions I shall refuse to take them up and shall order the cases to be continued." Taney argues it is impossible for a person to have "a fair and impartial trial" when Maryland is under martial law. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-1965-13
Subject: Legal Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Roger B. Taney to Samuel Nelson
May 21, 1864
Thomas William Dick writes a letter to his sister describing recent events in his experience as a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War. "We have passed through another campaign of terrible fighting... [and] our losses have been very heavy equal to if not greater than that of the rebels," as Dick explains. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 2001.10, B1, F9
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1860-1879
June 10, 1864
Former President James Buchanan writes to abolitionist T. Apolian Cheney regarding Henry Darwin Roger's Geological Survey of Pennsylvania, a book Buchanan is struggling to find a copy of.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-AsbellY-2004-14
Subject: Science and Technology
Time Period: 1860-1879
June 15, 1864
Associate Supreme Court Justice Robert Cooper Grier writes to his daughter, Sarah Beck, about his recent travels and health. Grier also inquires about her plans for the summer. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-undated-53
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Robert Grier to Sarah Beck
June 27, 1864
Singleton Mercer Ashenfelter prepared this oration, entitled "Capital Punishment," for the Junior Prize (Grigg Prize) contest held on June 27, 1864. Eleven members of the Junior class gave speeches on a variety of subjects.
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Location: Orations-1864-A824c
Subject: Politics and Government, Social Reform and Advocacy
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: "Capital Punishment," by Singleton Mercer Ashenfelter
1864-1866
Governor Andrew Curtin writes eight letters to Eli Slifer, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, in which he reflects upon the recent political election in Philadelphia, his state of health, as well as communications with officers in the Union Army. Transcripts included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 2003.4, B3, F12
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letters from Andrew Curtin to Eli Slifer, 1864-66
August 24, 1864
Former Secretary of War Simon Cameron writes President Abraham Lincoln and asks him to find "some place" for John D. Creigh. While "I do not know the young gentleman himself," Cameron explains that he can "vouch for the claims his family has for recognition by your administration."
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-1977-3
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Simon Cameron to Abraham Lincoln
September 28, 1864
John Linn writes Governor Andrew Curtin to request that he hold off on appointing William Harding of Snyder County as one of the commissioners. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 2003.4, B6, F26
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from John Linn to Andrew Curtin
October 31, 1864 - November 15, 1865
Horatio Collins King, serving as the divisional quartermaster under General Philip Sheridan, describes cavalry activities in the Shenandoah Valley during the final months of the Civil War. In addition, King discusses the adjustments he made in returning to civilian life in New York after the war. Transcript included.
Format: Diaries and Journals
Location: MC 1999.9, B3, F2
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Civil War Journal of Horatio Collins King (Transcript)
November 30, 1864
Governor Andrew Curtin writes William Taylor regarding the law that allows soldiers to vote and mentions that Taylor has been elected as an elector, presumably to the Electoral College. "I have not yet return from all the counties, but have enough to authorize me to say that you have been elected an elector," as Curtin explains. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 2003.4, B3, F12
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Andrew Curtin to William Taylor
December 24, 1864
Associate Supreme Court Justice Robert Cooper Grier writes to his daughter, S. G. Beck, with news of friends in Washington.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-undated-53
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Robert Grier to Sarah Beck
December 26, 1864
Associate Supreme Court Justice Robert Cooper Grier writes to his daughter, Sarah Beck, about her safe arrival at her destination, and the finding of room and board for a Mr. Catron, who wrote to her while she was away. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-undated-53
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Robert Grier to Sarah Beck
1865
The Dickinson College catalog for the 1864-1865 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: 1860-1879
View Item:
January 20, 1865
Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin writes to James Bruwick[?], Esq. and recommends Mr. Bates "as a reliable, prompt and industrious man of excellent character in all respects."
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-BeachW-1984-11
Subject: Business and Industry, Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Andrew Curtin to James Bruwick
March 11, [1865?]
Cora E. White thanks Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice John Meredith Read for an "unexpected and most generous present."
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-1975-23
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Cora White to John Read
May 23, 1865
Former President James Buchanan writes to Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, and declines to send “any explanation, comment or disclaimer' of the acts of my administration during the last six months of its existence." While he has already "compiled a history of it during this period," Buchanan explains that it is "too long for publication in The Tribune." Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F9
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Horace Greeley
June 16, 1865
Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin (Class of 1837) writes to Major General Samuel Wylie Crawford about a flag ceremony at Gettysburg. As Curtin explains, he is not sure "whether we can arrange for the presentation of the flags at Gettysburg."
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Purchase-1968-5
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Andrew Curtin to Samuel Crawford
June 26, 1865
Vincent Bierbower prepared this oration, entitled “Our Rebellion - An Epoch in History," for the Junior Prize (Pierson Prize) contest held June 26, 1865. A committee selected the top two orations, based on "the combined merits of Declamation and Composition," and awarded those two students with gold and silver medals for first and second place, respectively. Bierbower did not win an award for this oration. Transcript included.
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Location: Orations-1865-B588o
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government, Religion and Spirituality
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: "Our Rebellion - An Epoch in History," by Vincent Bierbower
June 29, 1865
David B. Herman prepared this oration, entitled “Effect of Climate on Character," for the commencement ceremonies held June 29, 1865. Authoring an original speech was among the graduation requirements for Dickinson College seniors at that time. Transcript included.
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Location: OrationsX-1865-H551e
Subject: International Affairs, Weather and Climate
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: "Effect of Climate on Character," by David B. Herman
June 29, 1865
This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on June 29, 1865 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: 1860-1879
View Item: 1865 Commencement Program
July 2, 1865
Former President James Buchanan writes to a group of Democrats who live around Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and explains his inability to attend their independence day celebration. "On this hollowed Anniversary, let us rejoice, that, through the intervention of Divine Providence, peace has once more returned to bless our land," as Buchanan notes. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B4, F10
Subject: Politics and Government
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from James Buchanan to Harrisburg Democrats
July 19, 1865
Benson John Lossing writes Former President James Buchanan with questions about the publication status of "a History of your Administration, prepared under your own eye." Lossing is writing a history of the Civil War and would like his account to be fair to Buchanan's administration. "I am a simple searcher after truth, and wish to be a Chronicler only of truth," as Lossing explains. "While I loathe the selfish man who raised the arm of rebellion against their government," Lossing notes that "I have no party prejudices to serve or obey." Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.10, B1, F17
Subject: Literary Pursuits, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Benson Lossing to James Buchanan
August 16, 1865
Naturalist Spencer Fullerton Baird (Class of 1843) writes to Professor Josiah Dwight Whitney, sending his regrets that he will not able to attend a meeting in Northampton the following week "on account of severe strain experienced a few days ago."
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-1986-4
Subject: Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1860-1879
View Item: Letter from Spencer Baird to Josiah Whitney