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.

Papers of William Merchant Richardson, 1797-1806

The collection contains a four-page handwritten poem titled "Invention" composed by graduate William Richardson for the 1797 Harvard College Commencement, and an 1806 letter of introduction written by Richardson. The rhyming poem begins, “Long had creations anthem peal been rung…” and contains classical references, and mentions scientists and philosophers including Voltaire, Franklin and Newton. The poem is accompanied by a one-page handwritten letter of introduction for lawyer Benjamin Ames (Harvard AB 1803) written by William M. Richardson to Reverend William Jenks (Harvard AB 1797). The letter is dated November 10, 1806.

Boston & Maine Railroad, 1849 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Map of the Boston & Maine Railroad : published by order of the Legislature of Massachusetts, showing its relative position & connection with other railroads, prepared by order of the Committee of Investigation ; Wm. P. Parrott, engineer ; George B. Parrott, del. It was published in July 1849 by W.C. Sharp's Lith. Scale [ca. 1:162,925]. Covers area from Portland, Me. to Boston, Mass. and west to Concord, N.H.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the USA Contiguous Albers Equal Area Conic projection (Meters). All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, railroads, drainage, state, county and selected town boundaries, and more.This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps of New England from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates, scales, and purposes.

Boston proper, Massachusetts, 1895, showing historic shorelines (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Plan of Boston proper : showing changes in street and wharf lines, 1795 to 1895, by Charles C. Perkins, Jan. 31st, 1895. It was printed by Geo. H. Walker, lith., for the Boston (Mass.). Engineering Dept. Annual report of the City Engineer, 1895. Scale [ca. 1:4,800]. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Massachusetts State Plane Coordinate System, Mainland Zone (in Feet) (Fipszone 2001). All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows Boston proper's original shoreline and changes in wharf line for years 1795, 1850 and 1895. It also shows early streets with later changes and discontinued streets. It includes features such as roads, railroads, drainage, wharves, some public buildings, parks, and more. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps of Massachusetts from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates (1755-1922), scales, and purposes. The digitized selection includes maps of: the state, Massachusetts counties, town surveys, coastal features, real property, parks, cemeteries, railroads, roads, public works projects, etc.

Burnt district of Boston, Massachusetts, 1873 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Plan of burnt district (by fire of Nov. 9th and 10th, 1872) : showing street improvements as adopted by Board of Street Commissioners and City Council, 1873, Thos. W. Davis, city surveyor ; presented by the Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Co. It was published in 1876. Shows street improvements, property lots, lot ownership, and square footage of lots affected by the fire of 1872. Covers area bounded by Washington St. to Oliver St., State St. to Summer St. and Atlantic Ave., Boston, Massachusetts. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Massachusetts State Plane Coordinate System, Mainland Zone (in Feet) (Fipszone 2001). All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, or other information associated with the principal map. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps of Massachusetts from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of regions, originators, ground condition dates (1755-1922), scales, and purposes. The digitized selection includes maps of: the state, Massachusetts counties, town surveys, coastal features, real property, parks, cemeteries, railroads, roads, public works projects, etc.

Interleaved almanac, 1748

John Holyoke’s diary is interleaved in Nathaniel Ames’ An astronomical diary, or, An almanack for the year of our Lord Christ, 1748 (Boston, 1747). The thin paper-covered book holds brief notes about Holyoke’s daily life as a Harvard undergraduate, written on blank pages bound with the almanac. Holyoke's diary offers a resource for information about the relational networks of the Holyoke family, travel in 18th century Massachusetts, and colonial dress.