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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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August 16, 1869

Professor of Natural Science Charles Francis Himes writes a letter of recommendation for Wilbur Fisk Horn, Class of 1869.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-ClarkeW-1962-1

Subject: Dickinson College Alumni Affairs, Personal and Family Life

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letter from Charles Himes to Unknown Recipient

September 30, 1869

Salmon Portland Chase, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, writes to Associate Justice Robert Cooper Grier (Class of 1812). Chase discusses a recent visit to Philadelphia and says he is glad to hear Grier's health has improved. Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-6

Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letter from Salmon Chase to Robert Grier

October - December 1869

Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes five letters to George Lawrence in which he discusses a collection of birds to be sent to the latter, Zeladon's studies in Central America and the West Indies, John Edward Gray's catalogue of species, and the Sumichrast Collection. Transcripts included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F4

Subject: Science and Technology

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letters from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence (Oct. - Dec. 1869)

November 1, 1869

Carrie M. Thomson writes to Judge John Meredith Read about her family.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-Friends-1975-20

Subject: Personal and Family Life

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letter from Carrie Thomson to John Read

December 15, 1869

President Ulysses S. Grant accepts Associate Justice Robert Cooper Grier's (Class of 1812) resignation from the United States Supreme Court and thanks him for his service to the country. "In looking upon your long and honorable career in the public service," President Grant notes that "it is my agreeable duty and privilege.... to recognize the great service which you were able to render to your country in the darkest hours of her history by the vigor and patriotic firmness with which you upheld the just powers of the Government, and vindicated the right of the nation under the Constitution to maintain its own existence." Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-21

Subject: Politics and Government

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letter from Ulysses Grant to Robert Grier

December 24, 1869

Salmon Portland Chase, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, writes to Associate Justice Robert Cooper Grier (Class of 1812) regarding the death of Edwin M. Stanton. Chase informs Grier of a meeting to be held at his house and that he does not expect Grier to attend. He does trust that Grier will concur with "what we may think best to do." Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-6

Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letter from Letter from Salmon Chase to Robert Grier

1870

The Dickinson College catalog for the 1869-1870 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 - March 1870

Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes four letters to George Lawrence in which he discusses the exchange of various specimens as well as funding for Sumichrast's explorations. Transcripts included. 

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F5

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Science and Technology

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letters from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence (Jan. - Mar. 1870)

January 31, 1870

Associates of United States Supreme Court Justice Robert Cooper Grier (Class of 1812) write to him to express their thanks and affection upon his resignation from the Court. Salmon Portland Chase, Samuel Nelson, Nathan Clifford, Noah Haynes Swayne, Samuel Freeman Miller, David Davis, and Stephen Johnson Field all sign the letter. Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-6

Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letter from Supreme Court Justices to Robert Grier

February 8, 1870

Joe Belford (Class of 1871) writes to George, his friend from Dickinson College, about life as a student in Carlisle as well as a local fair. "There is a fair going on in town now," and as Belford notes, "I wish you were here and could go there a night or two. " Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-CohenB-1973-1

Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Student Life, Education

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letter from Joe Belford to George

April 1, 1870

Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to George N. Lawrence regarding the Sumichrast Collection. "As the number of additional species is not so great as I was led to suppose," Baird warns Lawrence that he will likely be "disappointed in it." In addition, Baird reports that he offered to sell a Mr. Haines "one of the biggest meteorites at $2 a pound."

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-1966-13

Subject: Science and Technology

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letter from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence

May - June 1870

Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes four letters to George Lawrence in which he discusses the exchange of various specimens, the sale of a collection of meteorites, and the arrangement of meetings. Transcripts included. 

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F6

Subject: Science and Technology

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letters from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence (May - Jun. 1870)

June 9, 1870

This copy of the printed program for the commencement exercises held on June 9, 1870 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: 1870 Commencement Program

June 26, 1870

George Lawrence drafts a letter to J. H. McIlvaine informing him about the collection of birds brought to Spencer Fullerton Baird from Venezuela and Panama, which the latter wishes to dispose of. Lawrence inquires if the Smithsonian Institution is to have first choice. Baird is the Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Transcript included. 

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F20

Subject: Science and Technology

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letter from George Lawrence to J. H. McIlvaine (Draft)

July - August 1870

Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes four letters to George Lawrence in which he discusses the exchange of specimens with the Vienna Museum and Smithsonian, and offers his sympathy for the loss of Lawrence's brother. Transcripts included. 

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F7

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Science and Technology

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letters from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence (Jul. - Aug. 1870)

September 4, 1870

Samuel Miller (Class of 1874) writes to his brother, David Miller, about his room and his class schedule at Dickinson. While his "first impressions of life at Coll. were anything but pleasant," Miller explains that after some cleaning it now "begins to look as if civilized people tenanted the rooms." Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-MillerE-1984-1

Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Dickinson College Student Life, Education

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letter from Samuel Miller to David Miller

October - December 1870

Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes six letters to George Lawrence in which he inquires about the Directory for Brooklyn and describes Salvin's wish to send some of his specimens, hunting hawks and owls, and purchasing items for a Mr. Hague. Transcripts included. 

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F8

Subject: Science and Technology

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letters from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence (Oct. - Dec. 1870)

January - March 1871

Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes nine letters to George Lawrence in which he discusses the sending of small birds of the Grayson and Xantus Collections and Mexico to Lawrence, as well as the examination of Hammond's Fly-Catcher, specimens of Attila, and fish specimens. Transcripts included. 

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F9

Subject: Science and Technology

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letters from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence (Jan. - Mar. 1871)

February - July 1871

George Lawrence writes six letters to Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, regarding the exchange and naming of various bird specimens. Transcripts included. 

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F21

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Science and Technology

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letters from George Lawrence to Spencer Baird (Drafts)

April 1, 1871

Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries Spencer F. Baird writes O. M. Dorman about specimens of fish that Dorman sends from Norfolk, Virginia. "I shall be glad to have these transmissions continued" and, as Baird explains, "I hope the system of labeling the specimens by their provincial name & locality will be continued, as that is of great importance." In addition, Baird includes a warning about when the specimens should be sent. "The result might be somewhat disastrous" if any items are sent "later in the week than Thursday," as Baird notes. Baird also hopes that Dorman will be appointed the Commissioner of Fisheries in Virginia.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-Purchase-1955-20

Subject: Science and Technology

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letter from Spencer Baird to O. Dorman

April - June 1871

Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes nine letters to George Lawrence in which he discusses Mr. Ridgeway's analysis and classification of the geographical distribution of fish specimen variations, arranging a meeting with Ridgeway, the receipt of Salvin's Veragua birds, and the procurement of carbolic acid. Transcripts included. 

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F10

Subject: Science and Technology

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letters from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence (Apr. - Jun. 1871)

June 8, 1871

George Durbin Chenoweth, a member of the Class of 1868, receives his Master of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on June 8, 1871.

Format: Certificates and Diplomas

Location: Diploma Collection

Subject: Education

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Master of Arts Diploma - George Chenoweth

June 17, 1871

Naturalist and Smithsonian administrator Spencer Fullerton Baird writes to ornithologist Winfrid A. Stearns: "it gives me pleasure to authorize any use you desire of the material published in my work on the Birds of N. America."

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-Friends-1989-1

Subject: Literary Pursuits, Science and Technology

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letter from Spencer Baird to Winfrid Stearns

July - September 1871

Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes five letters to George Lawrence in which he invites Lawrence to Edgartown for fishing and dredging and discusses the specimens of Sclater and Salvin, among others. Transcripts included. 

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F11

Subject: Science and Technology

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letters from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence (Jul. - Sept. 1871)

October - December 1871

Spencer Fullerton Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, writes four letters to George Lawrence on issues that include finding a taxidermist for collection mounting as well as the exchange of specimens. Transcripts included. 

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: MC 2000.11, B1, F12

Subject: Science and Technology

Time Period: 1860-1879

View Item: Letters from Spencer Baird to George Lawrence (Oct. - Dec. 1871)