A Mourning Ditty: On the Conflagration of Harvard Hall in Cambridge New England. On the 24th Day of January 1764, [1764]

One-page handwritten copy of "A Mourning Ditty" signed "Philomusus Or A lover of the Muses"describing in a classical style the burning of Harvard Hall. The transcription is signed "Correctly Translated from the Printed Copy, by Peter Thacher." Thacher's translation is of the Latin poem "Threnodia" that appeared on the front page of the Massachusetts Gazette on February 2, 1764.

[Form of Admission of Ephraim Morton (Harvard AB 1787)], 1784 March 15

Printed certificate of admission for undergraduate Ephraim Morton signed by President Joseph Willard. Includes a handwritten emendation to the text made by President Willard on February 17, 1784.

[Form of Admission of Ichabod Tucker (Harvard AB 1791)], 1787 August 16-17

Printed certificate of admission for undergraduate Ichabod Tucker certified by Steward Caleb Gannett on August 16, 1787 and signed by President Joseph Willard on August 17, 1787.

[Form of Admission of Francis Oliver (Harvard AB 1795)], 1791 August 19-20

Printed certificate of admission for undergraduate Francis J. Oliver certified by Steward Caleb Gannett on August 19, 1791 and signed by President Joseph Willard on August 20, 1791.

An oration, Thaddeus M Harris A.M. now minister of Dorchester, 1790

This small paper notebook contains a twenty-one-page handwritten oration on learned societies delivered by Phi Beta Kappa member Thaddeus Mason Harris on September 1, 1790. The oration is followed by five pages of "notes and illustrations" on the text. Title transcribed from title page. Item bound in blue-and-white floral wallpaper covers.

An oration delivered at the request of the PBK society, at Cambridge. By Thomas W. Hooper, 1790

This small paper notebook contains a sixteen-page handwritten copy of an oration on "amiable and useful virtues" delivered by Phi Beta Kappa member Thomas W. Hooper on September 1, 1790. Title transcribed from the first page of text. Item bound in blue-and-white floral wallpaper covers.

Diary of Elias Mann, 1796-1800

Elias Mann kept this diary during his undergraduate years at Harvard College. The diary begins August 17, 1796 and ends in August of 1800 and also includes several undated sheets filled with excerpts of poems. The daily entries describe many aspects of Mann's life, including not only his experiences at Harvard but also his involvement in the larger community. Entries related to life at Harvard describe club meetings (coffee club, Hasty Pudding Club and Phi Beta Kappa); trips to the theater; dinners at taverns; games and recreation, including a card game called "Loo," cribbage, backgammon, bowling, playing ball, fishing, skating and going for sleigh rides; gathering, and sometimes taking from others' gardens, food (most often plums, peaches, nuts and apples); what he ate (including one breakfast of three raw eggs and two glasses of wine); what he read (including Tristram Shandy and one of "Mrs. Ratcliffe's novels"); his friends, often mentioned by name; and academic work and formalities. In one entry he mentions the theft of several possessions from his room, and there are several entries about trips to Fresh Pond.