Notebook containing Nathan Prince's defense against the first articles of accusation against him, Nov. 26, 1741

A penciled notation on this notebook's cover indicates that the handwriting is of Thomas Prince, Nathan's brother. Informally titled "An Heavenly Interposition of a Storm & Tempest," this notebook details Prince's point-by-point responses to the accusations against him. Prince also includes lists of each accusation and those making the accusation; he appears to have believed there was a conspiracy against him.

William Brattle's testimony against Nathan Prince, Nov. 27, 1741

Brattle claims to have heard Prince say, in regard to Henry Flynt, that "he hop'd to have an opportunity to stomp upon his grave" and that fellow Tutor Daniel Rogers was "a Cursed Fellow, Ignoramus, Blockhead, and that he was not fit to be admitted a freshman."

Letter from Samuel Checkley to Nathan Prince, Dec. 14, 1741 with copy of Board of Overseers' meeting minutes from Nov. 27, 1741 on verso

The minutes contain votes of the Overseers relative to Prince's case. Checkley appears to have served as the Overseers' Clerk pro hac vice on several occasions.

Notebook containing Nathan Prince's defense of himself before the Overseers, Dec. 24, 1741

"Prince's Defence of himself before the Overseers" is written on the cover in ink. "Papers relating to Mr. Prince's iniquities" is written in pencil, in a different hand. This volume, similar to the one in folder 9, records at great length Prince's responses to the accusations against him.

Letter from Nathan Prince to Edward Holyoke, Feb. 22, 1741/2

In this letter, Prince informs Holyoke of his desire to appeal the Board of Overseers' decision to dismiss him. Prince also asserts his belief that, until his appeal is considered, he should continue to perform his duties as Tutor and that the Corporation has no legal authority to fill a vacancy which does not exist.

Letter from Nathan Prince to Edward Holyoke, June 24, 1742

In this letter, Prince questions the legality of his dismissal.

John Lovell and Jeremiah Allen's statement regarding their visit to Nathan Prince, accompanying Edward Holyoke, July 12, 1742

Lovell and Allen accompanied Holyoke to Nathan Prince's lodging in Boston, to personally inform him that the Board of Overseers had voted for his dismissal and that his belongings had been removed from his chamber and were being stored in town until he chose to claim them.

Nathan Prince's pledge of indemnity towards Henry Prentice and Mary Prentice, ca. 1742

Although the context of this document is not entirely clear, it appears that the Prentices were responsible for storing Prince's belongings – recently removed from his Harvard chamber – until he could claim them. These included his "wearing linnen," "wearing cloathe & five or six papers," and "five or six books."

Paper wrapper formerly used to bundle records related to Nathan Prince, undated

Recto of wrapper reads: "Oct. 31, 1740 to June 24, 1742. Papers relative to the charges against & defence made by Nathan Prince in 1741. Examined & done with." Verso reads "Hon. President [Josiah] Quincy." These annotations suggest that the records in this collection were consulted by Quincy, who served as Harvard's President from 1829 to 1845. It is likely that he used them when writing his two-volume History of Harvard University, which includes a lengthy passage about Prince and his trials at Harvard.

X. Harvard College Papers, 1st series, Volume 10, 1821-1824, 1831

The tenth volume of College Papers contains original documents dating from 1821 to 1824, spanning the tenures of president John Thornton Kirkland and treasurer John Davis. Much of the volume consists of general administrative correspondence exchanged between Kirkland and Davis, as well as correspondence between Davis and Steward Stephen Higginson. It also contains a printed document from 1831, during the tenure of president Josiah Quincy.

IX. Harvard College Papers, 1st series, Volume 9, 1819-1821

The ninth volume of College Papers contains original documents dating from 1819 to 1821, spanning the tenures of president John Thornton Kirkland and treasurer John Davis, as well as correspondence between Davis and Steward Stephen Higginson. Much of the volume consists of general administrative correspondence exchanged between Kirkland and Davis. It also contains an early 20th century typewritten document.