The Laws of Harvard College, 1790

Bound pamphlet copy of the 1790 College laws printed by Samuel Hall, with annotations attributed to Christophe Ebeling. Handwritten inscription on cover: "For Professor Ebeling of Hamburgh from Joseph Willard President of Harvard College in Cambridge." A list of the "present executive officers of the College" for June 1794 is handwritten on the back inside cover, and the number of students in College are listed on the verso.

[Admittatur of Samuel Abbot Kneeland (Harvard AB 1797)], 1793 August 15

Published copy of the 1790 College Laws, with the admittatur of undergraduate Samuel Abbot Kneeland signed by President Joseph Willard on August 15, 1793.

[Admittatur of Henry Gardner (Harvard AB 1798)], 1794 August 13

Published copy of the 1790 College Laws, in a modern hardcover binding, with the admittatur of undergraduate Henry Gardner signed by President Joseph Willard on August 13, 1794.

[Admittatur of Samuel Weed (Harvard AB 1800)], 1796 August 17

Published copy of the 1790 College Laws, bound in modern board binding, with the admittatur of undergraduate Samuel Weed signed by President Joseph Willard on August 17, 1796.

[Admittatur of Timothy Fuller (Harvard AB 1801)], 1797 August 18

Published copy of the 1790 College Laws with the admittatur of undergraduate Timothy Fuller signed by President Joseph Willard on August 18, 1797.

[Admittatur of Benjamin Merrill (Harvard AB 1804)], 1800 August 12

Published copy of the 1790 College Laws with the admittatur of undergraduate Benjamin Merrill signed by President Joseph Willard on August 12, 1800. Four pages of amendments of and additions to the Harvard Laws "enacted since the Summer of 1798, and are now in force Dec. 1, 1800" are tipped in at the beginning of the volume.

[Admittatur of Joseph Estabrook], 1818 February 16

Published copy of the 1816 College Laws with the admittatur of undergraduate Joseph Estabrook signed by President John Kirkland on February 16 , 1818.

Manuscript copy of Joseph Mayhew's complaints against Nathan Prince, Oct. 31, 1740 and Nov. 4, 1740

This is a manuscript copy of meeting minutes concerning fellow Tutor Joseph Mayhew's complaints against Nathan Prince. The minutes are written in a small paper-bound volume whose cover bears these inscriptions: "Oct. 31, 1740. Mr. Mayhew's complaint vs. Mr. Prince to the President and Tutors, Recd 14 Sept. 1741 of a Freshman, seal'd up;" "Acco of Mr. Mayhew's complaint of Mr. Prince contained in the Pres't & Tut's Book;" and "To the Honble Mr. Foxcroft, Chairman of the Committee of the Honble & Revd. the Overseers of Harvard College in Cambridge." Among other complaints, Mayhew was upset that Prince had called him "a Rascall & a rascally Fellow." The minutes also indicate that Prince left two meetings of the President and Tutors without permission, in spite of President Holyoke's having entreated him "Won't you stay?"

Complaint of Harvard President and Tutors against Nathan Prince, submitted to Governor William Shirley and the Board of Overseers on Jan. 29, 1741

President Edward Holyoke and Tutors Henry Flynt, Joseph Mayhew, and Thomas Marsh accused Prince of "sundry crimes & misdemeanors" and "sundry evil actions," including weakening and undermining the College government, showing contempt towards his fellow Tutors and towards Hollis Professor John Winthrop (who he claimed "knew no more of Philosophy than a Brute"), and making insulting remarks on numerous occasions. Prince was accused of calling others "Fool, Rogue, Rascal, Puppy &c." and of calling Col. Brattle "a Devilish Lyar." He was also accused of "appearing often times, to be what is commonly stil'd the worse for Drink" and of neglecting his duties towards his students.

List of further "instances of crimes and misdemeanors" allegedly committed by Nathan Prince (3 copies), Nov. 26, 1741

These three copies are not identical. One copy, which appears to be the original, is signed by Edward Holyoke, Henry Flynt, Joseph Mayhew, and Thomas Marsh. A note on the verso of one copy indicates that it was intended for delivery to Prince. Among many other things, the President and Tutors accused Prince of having said "in a Town meeting at Cambridge [...] that [Edmund Trowbridge] had not the manners to give him a pair of gloves at his Uncle's funeral."

Account book, 1786-1790

Entries in this volume record the costs of Shapleigh's purchases from the Harvard Buttery, expenses incurred while traveling, sundry goods and services (including dozens of visits to a barber, John Goodwin), payment for room and board in Cambridge, funds received from Samuel Leighton, and many other receipts and expenditures made over the course of several years.