Attempts in penmanship, 1826-1827

This folder contains two drafts of a document describing Croswell's experiments with penmanship.

Journal concerning the bequest and division of James Winthrop's personal library, 1822-1826

As described in the above biographical note, Winthrop bequeathed most of his library – including his father John Winthrop's books – to the newly established Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. All the books in his library did not go to Allegheny, though, and Winthrop bequeathed over 500 books to two individuals, Thaddeus Mason Harris and Harriet H. Peck. This paper-bound journal contains three lists: one list of all the books which were part of this bequest, with notations indicating their financial value; another list of "Mrs. Peck's part in the division of the legacy" (i.e. the books she selected); and another list of "TM Harris's part of Judge Winthrop's Legacy" (the books he selected). The lists indicate that Peck and Harris chose books from the library on February 3, 1822, and that the few books which remained afterwards were sold by Deacon Hilliard and the profits returned to Peck and Harris.

Payment order for Hull Abbot on behalf of his son, 1764 July 5

Handwritten order to John Sale to pay scholarship funds to Hull Abbot for use by his son Thomas Abbot (Harvard AB 1764) signed by Thomas Foxcroft, Charles Chauncey, Thomas Waite, and Jonathan Williams.

A Mourning Ditty: On the Conflagration of Harvard Hall in Cambridge New England. On the 24th Day of January 1764, [1764]

One-page handwritten copy of "A Mourning Ditty" signed "Philomusus Or A lover of the Muses"describing in a classical style the burning of Harvard Hall. The transcription is signed "Correctly Translated from the Printed Copy, by Peter Thacher." Thacher's translation is of the Latin poem "Threnodia" that appeared on the front page of the Massachusetts Gazette on February 2, 1764.

Accounts with Harvard College, 1745-1753, 1764

The folio-sized paper covered notebook contains Steward Andrew Bordman III's accounts with Harvard College from 1745-1753. The final page of text, signed on September 19, 1764 by Bordman's son, Andrew Bordman IV, settles the accounts.

Recentes approbati, 1764

List of the matriculating members of the Harvard Class of 1768.

First Floor, Old Harvard Hall 1667-1764, 1935

Floor plan of the first floor of Old Harvard Hall drawn by H.R. Shurtleff in 1935. Includes the hall, kitchen, buttery, and two chambers

Second Floor, Old Harvard Hall, 1677-1764, 1935

Floor plan of the second floor of Old Harvard Hall drawn by H.R. Shurtleff in 1935. Includes student chambers, tutor chambers, and the library.

Engravings of a plan and an exterior view of Harvard Hall drawn by Pierre Eugène du Simitière, (photographic prints, photostats, and negative photostats), [ca. 1764]

The floor plan details all three floors of Harvard Hall, including its cellars, kitchen, chapel, and library. The items in this folder were reproduced from "The Burning of Harvard Hall, 1764, and its consequences," presented by F. Apthorp Foster at the April 1911 meeting of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, and published in the Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, Volume XIV. The floor plan and exterior views were created by Pierre Eugène du Simitière in circa 1764. The original drawings are held in the Pierre Eugène du Simitière collection in the Ridgeway Branch of the Library Company of Philadelphia.

Subjects suggested by John Webster, 1826 July

A handwritten letter with suggested subjects from John White Webster, a lecturer of chemistry, mineralogy, and geology at the Harvard Medical College from 1824 until 1827, when he was appointed the Erving Professor of Chemistry (1827-1850).

Forensic questions, [ca. 1826], undated

Five slips of paper containing handwritten forensics questions beginning "Whether..." One of the documents identifies "Keith and Goodwin," indicating the question was probably performed by Omen Southworth Keith and Hersey Bradford Goodwin of the Harvard Class of 1826. The verso of that document is inscribed: "The Exhibition at the University will take place on Monday at eleven o'clock, AM.

List of books received, Oct. 24, 1763 with 1764 addition

This document also lists volumes donated by a Mr. Bradstreet and Mr. Harris, as well as a list of "books saved [from the 1764 fire] by being borrowed" by individuals named Sewall, Parker, Cushing, Appleton, Brigden, Marsh, Cooke, Bowdoin, and Chardon.