Commonplace book of Nathaniel Freeman, 1786-1787

Nathaniel Freeman made entries in this commonplace book between 1786 and 1787, while he was an undergraduate at Harvard College. The book includes the notes Freeman took during three of Hollis Professor Samuel Williams' "Course of Experimental Lectures," and cover Williams' lectures on "The Nature & Properties of Matter," "Attraction & Repulsion," and "The Nature, Kind, & Affections [?] of Motion." These notes also include one diagram. The book also includes forensic compositions on the subjects of capital punishment, the probability of "the immortality of the soul," and "whether there be any disinterested benevolence." It also includes a poem Freeman composed for his uncle, Edmund Freeman; an anecdote about Philojocus and Gripus; an essay called "Character"; a draft of a letter to the Harvard Corporation requesting that, in light of the public debt, the Commencement ceremonies be held privately to lower expenses and exhibit the merits of economy; and an "epistle" to his father, requesting money. This epistle begins: "Most honored sire, / Thy son, poor Nat, in humble strains, / Impell'd by want, thy generous bounty claims."

Account book of Mary Hains as executrix of the estate of her husband, James Hains, 1784-1786

James and Mary Hains were residents of Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Sermon notes compiled by Warham Williams, 1716-1718

Parchment-bound notebook containing notes kept by Warham Williams on sermons he attended between May 20, 1716 and April 20, 1718, while he was an undergraduate at Harvard College. The notebook includes two chronological tables, at the front and end of the volume, that list the town, lecturer (generally Harvard tutors), biblical text, year, month, day, and part of the day of sermons attended by Williams. The volume contains one-to-two page entries on specific sermons and provides the biblical text and related questions and conclusions. From the front of the volume, the pages contain entries for sermons attended between May 20, 1716 through February 13, 1717. Sermon entries for April 7, 1717 to April 20 1718 are written tête-bêche from the other end of the volume.

Sermon notes compiled by Solomon Prentice, 1724-1726

Leather top-bound volume containing notes kept by Solomon Prentice on sermons he attended between April 1724 and December 17, 1726, while he was an undergraduate at Harvard College. The volume contains one-to-two page entries on specific sermons and provides the biblical text and related questions and conclusions.

Mathematical notebook attributed to Thaddeus Mason Harris, ca. 1787

Hardcover notebook containing handwritten transcriptions of rules, cases, and examples from 18th century mathematical texts. The author and purpose of the volume is unclear, though it has been connected with Thaddeus Mason Harris (Harvard AB 1787). Most of the entries include questions and related answers, suggesting the notebook was used as a manuscript textbook and workbook. The extracts appear to be copied from John Dean's " Practical arithmetic" (published in 1756 and 1761), Daniel Fenning's "The young algebraist's companion" (published in multiple editions beginning in 1750), and Martin Clare's "Youth's introduction to trade and business" (extracts first included in 1748 edition).

Preaching Book, 1768-1777

Small soft-cover notebook containing handwritten entries made by Caleb Gannett between 1768 and 1777. The notebook consists of a one-page "An Account of my eating at the Steward's from August 7th, 1772" consisting of a short list kept between August 7 and September 21, 1772 of coffee, milk, tea, and meat consumed; twenty-two pages used as an accounting ledger for personal expenses between 1769 and 1775; and ten pages listing preaching fees received from 1768 to 1777. The entries listing ministerial fees generally follow the format: "April 3. Mr. Eliot to preaching at S. Cambridge 6..15..0."

Sales at auction of property of the late Caleb Gannett Esq. of Cambridge, 1818

Eleven-page handwritten list of items sold from the estate of Caleb Gannett, dated May 29, 1818. Items are arranged by house location (such as "in the kitchen") and entries consist of the item name, the purchaser, and the price. The list includes a substantial section of "books in Office sold June 3, 1818." The verso of the last page includes the note: "Account of Sales at auction of the personal estate of C. Gannett- copied from auctioneer's book."

Diary, 1734

The diary is interleaved in Nathaniel Ames’ An Astronomical Diary: or, An Almanack for the Year of our Lord Christ, 1734 ... (Boston, 1734). The thin soft-cover book is handsewn in marbled paper, and holds single-line entries about Eliot’s daily life. The entries are brief and irregular and include mention of the weather, visits to Boston, occasional birth and death notices, and in the later months, church attendance (often to hear the Rev. Nathaniel Appleton). Eliot intermittently mentions his studies.

Diary, 1739

The diary is interleaved in an unbound copy of Ames’ An astronomical diary, or, An almanack for the year of our Lord Christ, 1739 ... (Boston, 1738). The entries, covering only the months of February through November, are written on blank pages and followed by the almanac calendar pages for January through August 1739. Each page holds a month of single-line entries that focus on Eliot’s lecture and sermon attendance. The entries also occasionally mention traveling to Boston and community news such as burials.

Notebook, 1686-1741

The hardcover-bound notebook includes entries created by Aaron Bordman and his nephew Andrew Bordman II. Both men used the notebook for personal and business entries, including accounting records kept in their capacities as Harvard Steward. There is no clear distinction of authorship beyond the knowledge of Aaron's death on January 15, 1702/3. The second half of the volume is written tête-bêche (from the back cover forward), and includes entries by both Bordmans.

Almanac, annotated, 1736

Copy of Nathaniel Ames’ An Astronomical Diary: or, An Almanack for the Year of our Lord Christ, 1736 ... (Boston, 1736) annotated by Andrew Bordman II with brief entries in the margins beginning on the page for June 1736.

Almanac, annotated, 1737

Copy of The New England Diary: Or, Almanack for the year of our Lord Christ, 1737 ... (Boston 1737) annotated by Andrew Bordman II with brief entries in the margins. "Bowen, 1737" reflecting the name of the almanac's author, Nathan Bowen, is written in the top margin of the title page. "Andrew Bordman of Cambridge" inscribed on title page. The volume includes notes on the installation of Edward Holyoke as President of Harvard.

Almanac, annotated, 1737

Copy of Nathaniel Ames’ An Astronomical Diary: or, An Almanack for the Year of our Lord Christ, 1737 ... (Boston, 1737) annotated by Andrew Bordman II with brief entries in the margins.

Almanac, annotated, 1739

Copy of Nathaniel Ames’ An Astronomical Diary: or, An Almanack for the Year of our Lord Christ, 1739 ... (Boston, 1739) annotated by Andrew Bordman II with brief entries in the margins, generally noting deaths in the community.

Almanac, annotated, 1740

Copy of Nathaniel Ames’ An Astronomical Diary: or, An Almanack for the Year of our Lord Christ, 1740 ... (Boston, 1740) annotated by Andrew Bordman II with entries filling the margins with notes about the weather, local news, and deaths in the community. Bordman noted the deaths of his grandchildren on the June page and payment for their gravestones. Some entries are illegible.