Theses of 1663

Handwritten document written in Latin and dated August 1663 purported to be the Harvard College Commencement Theses of 1663, but considered by John Noble of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts to be a contemporary parody. Noble notes of the 1663 Theses, that "there seems to be no reason to doubt that this is a genuine, original manuscript of the date which it bears," but describes it as a "blaze of literary and scholastic pyrotechnics" that suggests it was created satirically (John Noble, "Harvard Theses of 1663" in the Publications of the Colonial Society, Volume V: Transactions, April 1898, pages 322-339).

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.

Diplomas from Harvard College and Yale University, 1750

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

Low-cost cottage construction in America: a study based on the housing collection in the Harvard social museum

by Winthrop A. Hamlin.

Photostat copy of On the Death of Old Abdy Sweeper at Harvard College in Cambridge, undated

Photostat copy of a three-page poem based on Father Abbey's Will, beginning "Ah mournfull found in Abdy ye small is dead / and with him all our ease and joy is fled." There is no provided information about the author, date, or owner of the original volume.

Note from William Croswell to President Kirkland and the Corporation of Harvard College, 1817-1821

This folder contains six documents: three drafts of a brief March 10, 1817, note to Harvard President John Kirkland, with two of the drafts followed by an October 25, 1819, note to the Harvard College Corporation concerning Croswell's work on Harvard's Library Catalogue.

Letters to the Corporation of Harvard College, 1819-1829

Paper notebook containing copies of letters sent by Croswell to the Harvard Corporation in relation to his work on the Harvard Library Catalogue.

Memorials to the Harvard Corporation, 1819 October-1821 June

Six documents containing drafts and copies of eleven letters.

Memorial to the Harvard Corporation, 1821 November

Three drafts of a letter.

Memorial to the Harvard Board of Overseers, 1822 April

Two drafts of a letter.

Memorial to the Harvard Board of Overseers, 1823 November 3

Five drafts of a letter.

Memorial to the Harvard Corporation, 1824 March 31

Two drafts of a letter.

Memorial to the Harvard Corporation, 1824 June 24

One draft of a letter.

Memorial to the Harvard Corporation, 1824 November 10

Three drafts of a letter.

Memorial to the Harvard Corporation, 1825 April 30

Two drafts of a letter.