Letter from Charles Stearns to Edward Wigglesworth, 1781 November 8, and receipt signed by Stephen Sewall, 1781 November 16

In a letter to Wigglesworth, acting president of Harvard and Hollis Professor of Divinity, Stearns resigns his tutorship and writes that he will return an unnamed silver tankard and various books to the College. The folder also includes as a receipt for those objects upon their return, signed by Harvard Professor Stephen Sewall.

Letter from Oliver Wendell to John Thornton Kirkland, 1817

One letter offering Harvard President Kirkland a donation of 100 dollars to acquire a "handsome Christening Cup or Baptismal Basin" for the new College Church, which held services in University Hall.

Twentieth century manuscript copies of correspondence between Thaddeus William Harris and Edward Everett, 1847 August

One letter from Harris, the University Librarian, to President Everett, enclosed with a historical account of the Great Salt and its donor, Richard Harris, and sketches of the new engravings on the Great Salt, Stoughton Cup, and Browne Cup bearing donor names. Harris writes that he hopes to have his account of the Great Salt published in the Cambridge Chronicle and is gratified to hear of Everett’s plans to use an excerpt in his Commencement dinner speech. In a short note of reply, Everett writes that Harris’ account of the silver was "received with great favor" during the dinner.

Memorandum Concerning the Holyoke Bowl, 1904 June 14

One-page typed document reflecting the donation of the Holyoke Caudle Cup by Charlotte A. Hedge in 1903. Provenance information is also included. There is a handwritten note at the bottom of the page regarding the cup’s inclusion in an exhibition catalog published by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

Letter from Walter Kendall Watkins, 1905 October 21

One letter addressed "Dear Sir," enclosed with a one-page biographical sketch of Richard Harris. Walters indicates in the letter he had been permitted to examine the college silver, including the Great Salt, in the spring of 1905.

Sundrypeices of the Plate given to the College, 1736 September 18

One-page inventory of the silver, including the weight of each object, donor, and dates; one passage is crossed out, and written diagonal to the inventory are the words "Fort London Farmer London." Docketed on the verso with an address to the Right Honorable Samuel Bishop of York.

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.

Twentieth century transcription of inventories by Thaddeus William Harris, 1845 July 25-1852 July 3, and undated

Transcription of inventories of College silver completed by Harris in 1845 and 1852, as well as an undated list of silver.

Inventory of Silver Plate, Belonging to Harvard College, and in the Keeping of the President, 1886 December 8

Black and white composition book sent to the Harvard College Library containing a typed "copy of notes made in the spring of 1886" by John H. Buck. Includes historical information, and physical descriptions and valuations of the Great Salt, the Stoughton Cup, the Browne Cup, and the christening basin acquired with the donation of Oliver Wendell, as well as notes on other gifts of silver.

III. Research materials used in William C. Lane's article, "Early Silver Belonging to Harvard College," [1923]

This folder contains transcriptions of archival materials used in Lane's research for the article, published by the Colonial Society of Massachusetts in 1923. Included are two letters from the papers of Harvard President Jared Sparks (1849-1853) regarding the christening basin and the role of the College steward in the care of the silver collection; and a 1781 inventory (see also in folder 7) and 1829 Corporation vote excerpted from College records. There are also two notes containing citations.

IV. College bowl inscription, undated

Inscription likely composed in the eighteenth century by Boston attorney Josiah Quincy, Jr., father of Harvard President Josiah Quincy (1829-1845). There are no known records of this cup, but it may have been part of the College Plate. The inscription begins, "Crown high the Goblet," and references knowledge, truth, and virtue. The last line reads "inquit Quincy," which translates as "says Quincy."