The Death of John the Baptist, [ca. 1761]

Four-page handwritten English composition containing a sketch of the death of John the Baptist beginning "John was imprisoned in the Castle of Machaerus..."

Measures of hall and chapel, [ca. 1800]

This note, likely in the hand of President Willard, directs Mr. [Josiah] Moore and Mr. [John] Walton measure the length, width, and height of the chapel, hall, and library in Harvard Hall. Includes each room's measurements.

From J. Hunnewell with estimate of repairing Massachusetts Hall, [ca. 1790]

In this letter, J. Hunnewell writes President Willard with estimates for a new roof for Massachusetts Hall. Hunnewell enclosed estimated costs from both a carpenter and a mason for slate and composition roofs. Estimates include supply and labor costs.

Sc[h]edule of work for finishing inside of dining halls & chapel, [ca. 1814]

Detailed list of twelve interior projects that need to be completed in University Hall. The list includes hinging doors, completing architraves, and installing windows. Appears to be simplified version of Memoranda of contract with carpenters, Moore, and others, in Box 1, Folder 42.

Estimate for fence in front of President's house, [ca. 1800]

Title supplied by cataloger.

A Chaldee grammar, founded upon the writings of Daniel and Ezra, ca. 1776

This manuscript grammar notebook, written in Chaldean Aramaic and English, appears to have originally belonged to William Bentley (Harvard A.B. 1777); Bentley's name and a date, "December 1776," appear on the volume but have been struck through, and the handwriting appears to be his. The names of Elisha Parmele and Polly Parmele are also on the volume; presumably it was given to Elisha by Bentley, and upon Elisha's death in 1784 it was passed to Polly.

Records of the Geographical Society, ca. 1796

This small blue-covered paper notebook contains four leaves with the handwritten records of the Geographical Society, an undergraduate organization at Harvard in the late 1790s. The records consist of ten handwritten "Laws of the Geographical Society" and a short list of fines dispensed on October 7th. A list of six student surnames is written on a scrap of paper and attached with pins to the notebook's inside front cover. The surnames likely correspond to six members of the Harvard Class of 1798: John Abbot (1777-1854), Isaac Adams (d. 1807), Francis Brigham (d. November 14, 1796), Humphrey Devereux (1779-1867), Joseph Emerson (1777-1833), and Artemas Sawyer (d. 1826). The notebook is undated but was presumably kept in 1795 or 1796 around the time of Brigham's death on November 14, 1796. While Brigham's surname appears in the list of fines, it is crossed out on the inside front cover.

Extract from Norwich proprietor's book of records, p. 112, ca. 1775?

Record of parcel of lands in Norwich, CT deeded to a group of individuals including many members of the same families around 1770.

[Copy of Edward Hopkins' will], [ca. 1713]

Handwritten copy of Edward Hopkins' 1657 will. Labeled on the verso as document "B."

Photograph of an older woman, ca. 1880-1890

Cabinet card featuring a portrait of an unidentified older woman. "Weiss RW 1314 Bushwick Ave., Brooklyn N.Y." The back of the card has a printed inscription with the photographer, R. Weiss's business information.

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.