First class of women at West Point

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

First class of women to enter West Point

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

First class of women to graduate from West Point

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

First class of women to enter the military academy at West Point

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.

Diplomas from Harvard College and Yale University, 1750

The diplomas are accompanied by a silver case in which the documents were stored.

Harvard Library bookplate collection, 1764-1960

This collection contains samples of bookplate labels that were pasted into books held in the libraries of Harvard University, dating from 1764 to 1960. The collection includes bookplates arranged chronologically and bookplates of the Harvard College Library and departmental libraries arranged alphabetically. The collection also contains correspondence related to bookplates, dating from 1918 to 1921, and a list of printed seals used in Harvard College Library. Some of the bookplates include handwritten inscriptions, while others are blank. There are six 18th century bookplates with inscriptions documenting gifts and bequests made following the 1764 fire that destroyed the bulk of Harvard's Library from Marblehead, Massachusetts, minister John Barnard (1681-1770; Harvard AB 1700); New Hampshire Governor Benning Wentworth (1696-1770; Harvard AB 1715); Portsmouth, New Hampshire, merchant Thomas Wibird (1706-1765; Harvard AB 1728); and merchant Thomas Lee (died 1787) of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Catherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, May 1, 1801

Willard alludes to a situation regarding his father and praises him profusely.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Abigail Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, May 1, 1801

Willard thanks his sister for writing to him and asks her to write as often as possible. He also mentions his cousin Sophia Chadwick, who has been living with President Willard.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to William Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, October 16, 1801

Willard reports on President Willard’s travels and general well-being and asks his father to apologize to his sister for not writing to her often enough. He also tells his father that he is in debt, details his purchases, and asks for money.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to William Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, February 28, 1802

Willard describes his trip back to Harvard from Petersham, reports that President Willard and family were doing well, although “he has had an ill turn since, but has recovered,” and concludes the letter by asking for more money.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to William Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, November 30, 1802

Willard discusses President Willard’s son Sheafe, who he has been tutoring, explains his education and argues for well-rounded studies. He also mentions that Doctor Aaron Dexter, a lecturer on chemistry, gave him a recipe for paint “which I enclose [separately] in this letter,” as well as a recipe for mortar. He explains that his vacation plans are to teach at a school in Groton for eighteen dollars a month, and asks for a loan from his parents to pay a bill.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Catherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, June 22, 1803

Willard mentions his brother’s poor health, his plans to go to teach at Phillips Exeter, and describes various objects that he has sent to different family members, including a razor and books. In his post script, he asks to have a shirt mended.