VI. Harvard College Papers, 1st series, Volume 6, 1809-1811

The sixth volume of College Papers contains original documents dating from 1809 to 1811, spanning the tenures of presidents Samuel Webber and John Thornton Kirkland, and treasurers Jonathan Jackson and John Davis. Much of the volume consists of general administrative correspondence exchanged between Kirkland and Davis.

VII. Harvard College Papers, 1st series, Volume 7, 1811-1815, 1819

The seventh volume of the College Papers contains original documents dating from 1811 to 1815, 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. It also contains one document from 1819.

An oration, 1790

This small paper notebook contains a twenty-one-page handwritten oration on learned societies delivered by Phi Beta Kappa member Thaddeus Mason Harris (1768-1842; Harvard AB 1787) during the anniversary meeting of the Alpha Chapter at Harvard University on September 1, 1790. The oration is followed by five pages of "notes and illustrations" on the text.

Papers of Theophilus Parsons, 1778-1811

Bill to Timothy T. Ford for legal services performed from September 1778 to June 1779; letter to Judge Thomas Dawes regarding a probate case (1802); Parsons' report and opinion in the case of the proprietors of the Kennebec Purchase v. Boulton, et al. (1807); a statement of facts in the case of Brooks v. Dorr (1807); a note to Joseph Allen regarding a case (1810); and a letter to Foster regarding the Massachusetts Circuit Court of Common Pleas (1811).

Diploma of Cornelius Coolidge, AB, 1798

Handwritten diploma with the Harvard University seal conferring a bachelor's degree on Cornelius Coolidge and signed by the members of the Harvard Corporation: President Joseph Willard; Fellows Oliver Wendell, John Lowell, James Bowdoin, Simeon Howard, and John Lathrop; and Treasurer Ebenezer Storer.

Student essay composed by Thomas Mason, 1796

Three-page folio-sized handwritten student essay composed by Thomas Mason as a Harvard undergraduate. The verso of the last page is inscribed "Mason February 1796." A quotation from Edward Young appears at the top of the first page: "Heaven gives us friends to bless the present science; / Resumes them, to prepare us for the rest." The essay discusses friendship and the death of friends, and begins, "The author of our nature has so constituted it, that pleasure is unknown without the intervention of pain."

Student compositions of Washington Allston, 1799

Handwritten essay about procrastination and a poem celebrating spring composed by Washington Allston while he was an undergraduate at Harvard. The essay uses a story about a young Italian named Bernardo to discuss the consequences of procrastination. The essay is labeled ���Allston Novem. ���99" and is titled with a quote from Edward Young's poem "The Complaint," ���Procrastination is Theif [sic] of time.��� Allston���s poem celebrates spring and incorporates Phillida and Corydon, two characters from Nicholas Breton���s poem ���Phillida and Cordion.��� The poem is titled with the verses, ���Chief, lovely spring, in thee, and thy soft scenes, / The smiling God is seen��� from James Thompson's poem ���Spring.��� The poem is labeled "Allston July 10, 1799."

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).