Letter from Edward Holyoke to his child, 1766, January 18

One-page handwritten letter from Harvard President Edward Holyoke (1689-1769) requesting that the letter's unidentified recipient locate a book on academic costume previously mentioned by "Secry Oliver," referring to the Secretary of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, Andrew Oliver (1706-1774; Harvard AB 1724). In the letter, Holyoke explained that College alumni wished to give him a gown, and he wanted to determine the appropriate design for the head of a college. The recipient of the letter is identified only as "My dear Child" from "Yo'r Affect. Father, E. Holyoke." The letter also includes the note, "Give my love to my Dau'ter."

Letter from John Avery to Cotton Tufts, 1790 April 9

A handwritten invitation from John Avery to Cotton Tufts for a meeting of the Harvard Board of Overseers' "Committee to enquire into the state of the College" on April 13, 1790.

Warrant to attach goods of Timothy Phelps and John Farwell, 1773

A warrant for 20 pounds, equal property, or the bodies of Phelps, a cooper, and Farwell a husbandman, both of Harvard to answer a charge of debt made by Nicholas Patterson of Shirley.

Student notebook of John Tufts, 1705

Small vellum-covered notebook containing handwritten transcriptions copied by Harvard undergraduate John Tufts from two Harvard textbooks. The notebook is divided into two sections with the first, numbered 1-100, containing an English transcription of "Compendium of Logick" compiled by William Brattle, and the second, numbered 1-66, containing an untitled Latin transcription of Charles Morton's "Compendium Physicae." The flyleaf is inscribed "John Tufts His Book 1705."

Commonplace book of Benjamin Penhallow, 1721-1724

This leather-bound volume contains excerpts copied by Benjamin Penhallow from books he read while he was a student at Harvard in the 1720s. The volume contains extracts from two texts: Johanis Henrici Alstedii's (John Henry Alsted / Johann Heinrich Alsted) Geometria Domini, and the anonymous text "The Legacy of a dying Father; bequeath'd to his Beloved Children, or Sundry Directions in Order unto a well Regulated Conversation," from 1724 (originally published in 1693-4). The last page of text in the volume contains the hymn "The Sacred Content of Praise" first published in 1734, and added after Penhallow's death.

Letter from William Tudor to his family,

Four letters written from Tudor to his family while he was traveling in France in 1800 and 1802. In two letters, he describes in detail his capture by a French privateer aboard the ship Minerva in the spring of 1800. He also discusses the business activities of "Mr. C" (John Codman), his employer. Tudor additionally describes the French countryside and the impact of the French Revolutionary Wars on the cities.

Letters from William Tudor to his father, William Tudor,

Four letters written from France in which Tudor reflects on the Coup of 18 Brumaire and expresses his admiration for Napoleon Bonaparte, writing, "Europe cannot at present boast so great a character, his indefatigueable industry, the prompt decision and austerity of his character are necessary joined to his eminent and various talents for the arduous situation he is placed in." He also details his travel plans and his activities with his employer, John Codman.

Letter from John H. Ladd to Delia Tudor Stewart,

Letter to Delia in the care of her brother, William Tudor, in Rio de Janeiro.

Letter from Frederic Tudor to his brother, John Henry Tudor,

Letter facetiously addressed to "Juan."

Letter from William Abbot to William Tudor,

One letter from Tudor’s Phi Beta Kappa brother thanking him for a visit to Rockwood and commenting on the deportment of his sisters, as well as the progress his brother John was making at Harvard.

Letter from William Boyd to William Tudor,

One letter outlining plans for the funeral of their Harvard classmate, John Russell.

Letters from Thomas Handasyd Perkins to William Tudor,

Four letters in which Perkins relays details of his travels in Europe, local gossip about friends and associates, including John Quincy Adams and Daniel Webster, news regarding developments in Boston infrastructure, and updates on the Boston Athenaeum and the Anthology Society. Other topics include domestics politics and the movements and activities of Tudor’s family members.

Letters from Nathaniel Amory to William Tudor,

Four letters from the Boston merchant relaying news about mutual friends and associates, including John Quincy Adams, details about Amory’s real estate losses, and thoughts on Yankee sea captains.

Letters from William Lee to William Tudor,

Five letters in which Lee relays his efforts to obtain a political appointment for Tudor from President James Monroe. He also reports on the activities of Tudor’s brother-in-law, Charles Stewart, and a meeting between John Quincy Adams and Tudor’s brother-in-law, Robert Hallowell Gardiner.

Letter from William Tudor to Mr. Reeves,

One letter concerning an English legal manuscript, probably John Reeves’ History of the English Law.