Letter from William Winthrop to William Bentley, 1810 November 24

Two octavo-sized leaves with a two-and-a-half-page handwritten letter from William Winthrop to Bentley responding to a request to return a book, speculating about the identity of Harvard graduate Peter Cutler (Harvard AB 1698), and questioning Bentley about the interests of "F. Moore," likely referring to Francis Moore (1782-1856).

III. Biographical notes on John Stark, [1810 March]

One leaf containing a page of handwritten biographical notes on Revolutionary War hero General John Stark in Bentley's hand. The note is written on the verso of a short letter from J. Pitcairn regarding a deliver for the "Rev. D. Bently" dated March 2, 1810. The notes were likely copied from the biographical sketch published in the Essex Register May 1, 1810.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Deerfield, Massachusetts, to William Willard and Katherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, March 11, 1810

Willard mentions that he has been anxious because he has heard that “there was such a dreadful sickness in…Petersham, but I have not been able to learn many particulars about it,” and asks for news. He also comments on the weather and lack of snow throughout the past winter.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Deerfield, Massachusetts, to Catherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, April [3?], 1810

Willard explains that he has been anxious to hear news about the family’s health so he sent a “lad that is living with us by the name of Leonard Smith to learn how it is with you + inform you how we are.” He also writes that his wife delivered a baby daughter last week; it was a difficult birth but she is recovering. He describes the baby’s weight and health, and also refers to some election results. At the end of the letter, he says that he has included a lock of his baby’s hair; the lock of hair is no longer enclosed in the letter.

Letter from Josiah Quincy to Francis Sales, 1835 October 12

Brief one-page handwritten letter to Francis Sales from Harvard President Josiah Quincy that accompanied the diploma for Sales's honorary master's degree.

Letter from Frances Sales to Josiah Quincy, 1835 October 22

One-page handwritten letter thanking President Quincy for his October 12, 1835 message and accompanying diploma. The document is pasted on the verso of a sheet also holding Sales's 1854 letter of resignation (HUG 1763 Box 1, Folder 3, Item 2).

Letters from Timothy Pickering to his brother and father, 1797-1798

These two handwritten letters by Timothy Pickering were written on February 14, 1797 and June 14, 1798 to his brother John Pickering and his father Timothy Pickering, respectively. The letter to his brother, John, discusses mutual friends, classmate Thomas Lee, and John’s recent attendance at a sermon by Dr. Joseph Priestley. The letter from Timothy to his father includes a discussion of Timothy’s expenses and the amount of money needed to pay his debts, a request for new shoes for commencement, the news of Timothy’s invitation to join honor society Phi Beta Kappa, and a few comments on his forensics course at Harvard.