Letter from W. D. Peck to William Bentley, 1815 May 17

One leaf containing a one-page handwritten letter from Peck to Bentley briefly commenting on the receipt of a fish specimen.

Letters from John Hubbard Church to William Jenks, 1795-1798

John Hubbard Church wrote these twelve letters to his friend and classmate William Jenks between 1795 and 1798. Church wrote the letters from Boston, Rutland, Cambridge, and Chatham in Massachusetts and from Somers, Connecticut; they were sent to Jenks in Cambridge and Boston, where for a time he worked as an usher in Mr. Vinall's school and Mr. Webb's school. Church's letters touch on various subjects, ranging from his increased interest in theology and his theological studies under Charles Backus to his seasickness during a sailing voyage to Cape Cod. Church also informs Jenks of what he is reading, including works by John Locke, P. Brydone, James Beattie, John Gillies, Plutarch, and Alexander Pope. He describes his work teaching that children of the Sears family in Chatham, Massachusetts, where he appears to have spent a significant amount of time between 1795 and 1797. Church's letters are at times very personal, and he often expresses great affection for Jenks and their friendship.

Letter from James Winthrop to Edward Wigglesworth, 1780 October 4

In this brief letter College Librarian James Winthrop requests that Harvard College Tutor William Bentley be allowed to serve as a deputy librarian.

A Chaldee grammar, founded upon the writings of Daniel and Ezra, ca. 1776

This manuscript grammar notebook, written in Chaldean Aramaic and English, appears to have originally belonged to William Bentley (Harvard A.B. 1777); Bentley's name and a date, "December 1776," appear on the volume but have been struck through, and the handwriting appears to be his. The names of Elisha Parmele and Polly Parmele are also on the volume; presumably it was given to Elisha by Bentley, and upon Elisha's death in 1784 it was passed to Polly.

[Committee report], 1780 May 16

One-page report signed by Hollis Professor Samuel Williams and Tutor William Bentley examining the complaint made by "Kendall" (probably Samuel Kendal, a member of the Class of 1782) of a "great abuse he received after Commons" on May 9, 1780 from Fortescue Vernon (Class of 1780) and Edward Sohier (Class of 1781). The report finds Vernon guilty and recommends a light punishment. Williams and Bentley then propose six regulations intended to keep order after breakfast and dinner service in the dining hall.

Committee Report on College Silver, 1781

Report of a committee appointed by the College to inventory the College Plate, listing faculty members and the pieces in their possession. The folder also includes two receipts signed by Harvard tutors Charles Stearns (Harvard AB 1773) and William Bentley (Harvard AB 1777, AM 1780), acknowledging the vessels they were loaned.

A Map of the Dead Sea, Low plains and Gulf of Eloth, [1812 May 4]

A pen-and-ink map of the Dead Sea from Jericho to the Gulf of Eloth on a grid. The map accompanied a letter by Winthrop (HUG 1203.5 Box 1, Folder 13).

[Map of the Dead Sea before the Biblical destruction of Sodom, 1812 May 4]

A pen-and-ink and watercolor map of the Dead Sea noting the "Course of Jordan before the destruction of Sodom." The map accompanied a letter by Winthrop (HUG 1203.5 Box 1, Folder 13).

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.

VI. [Announcement for Elisha Sylvester], 1815 April 25

One leaf containing a one-page handwritten announcement for a Boston visit by book distributor Elisha Sylvester of Turner, Maine.

Letter from William Croswell to Dr. Dingley, 1795 July 9

One-page letter from Croswell to Dr. Dingley in New York City, requesting information on teaching opportunities in the area.

Note from William Croswell to Mrs. Crocker, [1795] July 30

Note regarding the return of Mrs. Crocker's books.

Student mathematical notebook of William Emerson Faulkner, 1795

Leather hardcover notebook with unruled pages containing the handwritten mathematical exercises of William Emerson Faulkner, begun in 1795 while he was an undergraduate at Harvard College. The volume contains rules, definitions, problems, drawings, and tables on geometry, trigonometry, surveying, calculating distances, sailing, and dialing. Some of the exercises are illustrated by unrefined hand-drawn diagrams, including some of buildings and trees.

Letters from Daniel Bates to William Jenks, May 1795-September 1798

Daniel Bates wrote these five letters to his friend and classmate, William Jenks, between May 1795 and September 1798. In a letter written May 12, 1795, Bates informs Jenks, who was then employed as an usher at Mr. Webb's school, of his studies of Euclid, the meeting of several undergraduate societies, and various sightings of birds, gardens and trees. In a letter written in November 1795 from Princeton, where he was apparently on vacation with the family of classmate Leonard Jarvis, he describes playing the game "break the Pope's neck" and tells Jenks what he was reading (Nicholson, Paley?, and Thompson) and what his friend's father was reading (Mirabeau and Neckar).

Financial bills and receipts, 1795

This folder contains three receipts.