Notebook, 1686-1741

The hardcover-bound notebook includes entries created by Aaron Bordman and his nephew Andrew Bordman II. Both men used the notebook for personal and business entries, including accounting records kept in their capacities as Harvard Steward. There is no clear distinction of authorship beyond the knowledge of Aaron's death on January 15, 1702/3. The second half of the volume is written tête-bêche (from the back cover forward), and includes entries by both Bordmans.

Almanac, annotated, 1736

Copy of Nathaniel Ames’ An Astronomical Diary: or, An Almanack for the Year of our Lord Christ, 1736 ... (Boston, 1736) annotated by Andrew Bordman II with brief entries in the margins beginning on the page for June 1736.

Almanac, annotated, 1736

Copy of Nathaniel Ames’ An Astronomical Diary: or, An Almanack for the Year of our Lord Christ, 1736 ... (Boston, 1736) annotated by Andrew Bordman II with brief death notices in the margins.

Almanac, annotated, 1737

Copy of The New England Diary: Or, Almanack for the year of our Lord Christ, 1737 ... (Boston 1737) annotated by Andrew Bordman II with brief entries in the margins. "Bowen, 1737" reflecting the name of the almanac's author, Nathan Bowen, is written in the top margin of the title page. "Andrew Bordman of Cambridge" inscribed on title page. The volume includes notes on the installation of Edward Holyoke as President of Harvard.

Almanac, annotated, 1737

Copy of Nathaniel Ames’ An Astronomical Diary: or, An Almanack for the Year of our Lord Christ, 1737 ... (Boston, 1737) annotated by Andrew Bordman II with brief entries in the margins.

Almanac, annotated, 1739

Copy of Nathaniel Ames’ An Astronomical Diary: or, An Almanack for the Year of our Lord Christ, 1739 ... (Boston, 1739) annotated by Andrew Bordman II with brief entries in the margins, generally noting deaths in the community.

Almanac, annotated, 1740

Copy of Nathaniel Ames’ An Astronomical Diary: or, An Almanack for the Year of our Lord Christ, 1740 ... (Boston, 1740) annotated by Andrew Bordman II with entries filling the margins with notes about the weather, local news, and deaths in the community. Bordman noted the deaths of his grandchildren on the June page and payment for their gravestones. Some entries are illegible.

Almanac, annotated, 1741

Copy of Nathaniel Ames’ An Astronomical Diary: or, An Almanack for the Year of our Lord Christ, 1741 ... (Boston, 1741) annotated by Andrew Bordman II with brief entries in only a few margins.

Almanac, annotated, 1742

Copy of Nathaniel Ames’ An Astronomical Diary: or, An Almanack for the Year of our Lord Christ, 1742 ... (Boston, 1742) annotated by Andrew Bordman II with brief entries in the margins about the weather and community news, including mention of an Indian who murdered a child.

Almanac, annotated, 1743

Interleaved copy of Nathaniel Ames’ An Astronomical Diary: or, An Almanack for the Year of our Lord Christ, 1743 ... (Boston, 1743) annotated by Andrew Bordman II with regular entries about the weather, and occasionally community news.

Almanac, annotated, 1744

Interleaved copy of Joseph Stafford's An Almanack for the Year of our Lord Christ, 1744 ... (Boston, 1744) annotated by Andrew Bordman II with regular entries about the weather, and occasionally community news. An October entry notes that an "Irish man" was hanged in Worcester for murder.

Almanac, annotated, 1745

Interleaved copy of Nathaniel Ames’ An Astronomical Diary: or, An Almanack for the Year of our Lord Christ, 1745 ... (Boston, 1745) annotated by Andrew Bordman II with regular entries about the weather, and occasional community news. Copy mutilated with some text missing.

College Book 4, 1686-1750

Regular recording of Corporation meetings began in College Book 4, which includes minutes from July 23, 1686 through September 5, 1750. Its spine title reads "College Book 4 & 5" due to a nineteenth century labeling error. The creation of College Book 4 was precipitated by the English Court of Chancery's October 1684 judgment, which annulled the Royal Charter of the Massachusetts Colony and seemed to render the College Charter of 1650 – and with it the Corporation and Board of Overseers – defunct. In May 1686, Joseph Dudley (Harvard AB 1665) received a commission as the President of the Council of New England, and on July 23, 1686, Dudley and the Council met in Boston to create a provisional College governing board led by Increase Mather as Rector of the College and John Leverett and William Brattle as Tutors. The "Rector and Tutors" mirrored in purpose if not in name the Corporation's "President and Fellows," and the agreements of President Dudley and the Council creating the new governing board comprise the first entry in College Book 4. In June 1692, a new act of incorporation for Harvard College was passed in the Massachusetts Legislature and signed by the Governor. The Charter of 1692 merged the functions of the Board of Overseers and the Corporation into one Corporation consisting of the President, Treasurer, and eight Fellows. As the Corporation created by this 1692 act (and modified in later versions of the Charter) grew unwieldy, its members met less frequently. As a result, the Faculty (known until 1825 as the "Immediate Government") assumed more responsibility in managing the College's daily operations and addressing student discipline. On December 6, 1707 the Massachusetts General Court restored the Charter of 1650, thus reestablishing the Board of Overseers and the Corporation as the governing bodies of Harvard College. The changes in name and composition of the Harvard Corporation between 1686 and 1707 are documented in the proceedings recorded in College Book 4.

Fatḥ al-ʻazīz li-ahl al-tamyīz : manuscript, [ca. 1686]

Written in one column, 17 lines per page, in black rubricated in red, framed within triple red, golden and black lines.

al- Ḥāshiyah al-jadīdah ʻalá Fatḥ al-ʻazīz li-ahl al-tamyīz : manuscript, 1686

Copy completed in the hand of Jaʻfar Bīk ibn Farrukh Bīk on 18 Dhū al-Qaʻdah 1097 [October 6, 1686] in Akbarabad.