An abridgment of what I extracted while an undergraduate at Harvard College, 1766-1769

The bound volume contains excerpts copied by Benjamin Wadsworth from books he read as a student at Harvard in the late 1760s. The volume includes almost no personal commentary on the readings. The excerpts are arranged by year of study for the academic years 1766-1769, beginning when Wadsworth was a sophomore. Each entry begins with a title indicating the book title and author for the passage, and there is an alphabetical index at the end of the volume. Wadsworth selected “extracts” from both religious and secular texts including several histories of England, American histories (with a focus on Puritans), the Bible, and in his senior year, “the Koran of Mohammed.” He also read several books on the art of speech and the art of preaching. There are few science texts included, though the final five-page entry is titled, “What I thought fit to note down from Mr. Winthrop’s experimental Lectures” and contains notes both on the content of Professor John Winthrop’s lectures as well as the types of experiments being performed in class. Wadsworth’s commonplace book offers a window on the state of higher education in the eighteenth century and offers a firsthand account of academic life at Harvard College.

Request to parents of students, 1809 March 21

This brief handwritten note requests a meeting with the parents of Croswell's students in order to continue the school.

List of female students, undated

One-page handwritten list of six girls with their ages and learning goals.

Journal concerning the bequest and division of James Winthrop's personal library, 1822-1826

As described in the above biographical note, Winthrop bequeathed most of his library – including his father John Winthrop's books – to the newly established Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. All the books in his library did not go to Allegheny, though, and Winthrop bequeathed over 500 books to two individuals, Thaddeus Mason Harris and Harriet H. Peck. This paper-bound journal contains three lists: one list of all the books which were part of this bequest, with notations indicating their financial value; another list of "Mrs. Peck's part in the division of the legacy" (i.e. the books she selected); and another list of "TM Harris's part of Judge Winthrop's Legacy" (the books he selected). The lists indicate that Peck and Harris chose books from the library on February 3, 1822, and that the few books which remained afterwards were sold by Deacon Hilliard and the profits returned to Peck and Harris.

Phi Beta Kappa dissertation on the study of history at Harvard, by Daniel White and John Collins Warren, February 21, 1797

This dissertation, apparently delivered at a Phi Beta Kappa assembly on February 21, 1797 by Warren and White, concerns the study of history at Harvard College at the time they were students. In this manuscript version of their dissertation, Warren and White bemoan the insufficient attention paid to the discipline of history by the students and faculty at Harvard.

Confession of students for walking out of commons, April 1807

This document, signed by 108 students, contains a confession for their part in the 1807 student rebellion. Students were required to sign this confession in order to avoid expulsion.

Report of a Committee of the Corporation of Harvard College appointed “to consider the expediency of making further regulations relative to Commons,” May 19, 1807

This report expressed the opinion of the Committee that, despite the students' complaints, Commons should be not changed in any meaningful regard (save for the method of purchasing beef). Among other reasons for explaining the inflexible position of the Corporation, they stated, “alacrity, cheerfulness and docility are the companions of temperance; petulance, disquietude and perverseness are the intractable offspring of indulgence.” In addition, they suggested that students should refrain from sampling delicacies in town to better appreciate the "plain, simple, and wholesome food of the hall."

III. Diary, 1799

This diary, which John Henry Tudor titled A Registry of College Adventures, documents his life as a student at Harvard College. The entries describe his daily activities and notable events, including trips to the theater, hunting outings to "shoot Robbins," adventures with other students in local taverns, visits with his family in Boston and at the family estate, Rockwood, and the illumination of Cambridge in honor of George Washington's birthday. Tudor created and recorded a humorous classology, describing his peers at Harvard in a sometimes scathing manner, and also recorded information about those obliged to leave the College, usually following pranks or other unacceptable behavior. He also recounts his own involvement in pranks and other antics, which he believed to be the only antidote to the dullness of college life, and in one entry he describes an evening when he and several friends "disguised [them]selves like Negroes" and wandered into scholars' rooms without detection. Tudor was a member of the Hasty Pudding Club and the Porcellian Club ("the Pig club") while at Harvard and describes club meetings in several entries. There are also more reflective and personal entries, describing Tudor's feelings about his aging grandmother, his brother William's departure for Holland, and his desire for a "wife who shall make [him] happy[,] an affectionate dog [and] a farm & garden."

Accounts with Harvard College, 1719-1722

The thin paper-covered notebook contains the Steward's accounts with Harvard College kept by Steward Andrew Bordman II from 1719-1722. Arranged by quarters, the entries list money collected by the Steward from students, and money paid for food supplies, household provisions, the Butler's salary, and for services provided to the College.

The Lawes and Orders of Harvard Colledge, 1655

Handwritten copy of the College laws used by Harvard presidents Charles Chauncy and Leonard Hoar, in a modern hardcover binding. The last six pages of the volume contain additional entries through 1672, some in the hand of President Chauncy. One entry details the 1666 expulsion of Harvard students Mason, Hubbard, and Wintrop for the hanging of "Goodma Sells doge upon the signe post."

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.

Conjectural restoration Indian College of 1655-56 to 1698 in Harvard College, photo lithograph on heavy paper, May 1934

Floor plans and front and end elevations of Indian College drawn by H.R. Shurtleff in May 1934 based on research conducted by Shurtleff from the Harvard College Records and surveys of local period buildings. Shows likely configuration of Indian College with lodging for 20 students, studies, and the printing room which housed the printing press.

List of students in April 29, 1828 exhibition, 1828

List of the student names from the Harvard Classes of 1828 and 1829 performing in the April 29, 1828 exhibition.

Diplomas from Harvard College and Yale University, 1750

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

List of students, 1789

Small notebook with brown paper covers containing handwritten lists of the members of the Harvard Classes of 1790, 1791, 1792, and 1793 (through Charles Jackson) with unidentified annotations next to some names of a, c, o, s, t, and x.