Sherman, John, 1613-1685, autographed letter signed to John Winthrop; Watertown, Mass., 1 side (3 pages), 1663 June 30

Correspondence describing a hernia Sherman was suffering, and asking for Winthrop's advice and a "little of [your] red powder."

Declaration signed by Harvard students to not speak in the vernacular for one year, 1712 August 23

The declaration, handwritten in Latin and signed by members of the junior and sophomore classes (Harvard Classes of 1714 and 1715), promises that the undersigned will not use the vernacular but instead "whenever, at meals, at banquets,...in our rooms, in all our gatherings, wherever and whenever" will speak in Latin, Greek, or Hebrew through the next May. Additional Latin text appears on both the front and back of the document. The original is accompanied by a typed transcription and two partial handwritten translations. Note at top of original: "Script. Leonardo Dowding, Composit. a Tho. Foxcroft."

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.

The summary of a course of experimental lectures in natural philosophy by Dr. John Winthrop (manuscript copy), 1772-1774

Notebook with a handwritten copy of lecture summaries for a physics course given by Harvard Professor John Winthrop. The notes were made by Timothy Foster in 1772 and 1773. The volume contains twenty-five lectures with some diagrams.

John Oldham counterbond to James Clarke & Richard Moores, 1722 May 14

This legal document, a counterbond, was created on May 14, 1722 and involved John Oldham, James Clark, and Richard Moores. All three men were residents of Cambridge at the time of its creation. The document specifies Oldham's financial obligations to Clark, a cordwainer, and Moores, a tailor and was "Sign[ed], sealed & [delivered] in the presence of Nathaniel Sparhawk and Noah Sparkhawk." The document also refers to the "trustees for the town of Cambridge" Spencer Shipps, Nathaniel Sparhawk and John Dickson.

Clergy in support of gays, Left-right: Rev. C. Edward Egan Jr., Rev. Roy Birchard, Rev. Robert E. Carter S.J., Rev. Gerad Lee, O.F.M., Rev. John D. Carnwale, O.F.M.

General note: Title and date provided by Bettye Lane.