Clerk's Book, A.D. 1742

Handwritten volume containing the Articles, weekly orations, and clerk's journal for the Harvard Latin Society recorded by the club's clerk, Jonathan Mayhew (Harvard AB 1744). The Articles define the Society's mission as to "improve ourselves in the knowledge of the Latin Tongue." The ten articles are signed to by ten members of the classes of 1743 and 1744. The journal which records the weekly meetings from April 14, 1742 through June 17, 1742 includes a transcription of the weekly oration in Latin; the first two entries are also translated into English. On the last page of the book, the "clerk's journal" provides a summary of each meeting with the date, the moderator, and the orators.

Letters from Jonathan Mason to William Tudor,

Two letters on topics such as Mason’s search for original documents relating to the Constitution and the admission of Missouri to the union as a slave state.

Letter from William Croswell to the Masters of Mason Street Schools, 1832 March 8

Draft of a brief letter complaining about students.

Letter from John Henry Tudor to his father, William Tudor, June 1, 1797

This letter was sent to Tudor's father in London, England in care of Thomas Dickason & Co.

Student essay attributed to William Ellery Channing, 1797 June 5

Three-page handwritten essay composed in English and attributed to Harvard undergraduate William Ellery Channing. The verso of the last page is inscribed "Channing 5 June 97." A quotation from Edward Young appears at the top of the first page: "A Competence is vital to content / Much wealth is corpulence, if not disease" and discusses the topic of affluence. The document includes edits and struck-through words.

Letter from John Collins Warren to William Tudor,

One letter inviting Tudor to his wedding to Susan Powell Mason, daughter of their mutual friend, Jonathan Mason.

Papers of William Merchant Richardson, 1797-1806

The collection contains a four-page handwritten poem titled "Invention" composed by graduate William Richardson for the 1797 Harvard College Commencement, and an 1806 letter of introduction written by Richardson. The rhyming poem begins, “Long had creations anthem peal been rung…” and contains classical references, and mentions scientists and philosophers including Voltaire, Franklin and Newton. The poem is accompanied by a one-page handwritten letter of introduction for lawyer Benjamin Ames (Harvard AB 1803) written by William M. Richardson to Reverend William Jenks (Harvard AB 1797). The letter is dated November 10, 1806.

Terms of partnership with Mr. S. Cheney, 1797 August 28

Two leaves containing a handwritten agreement between Samuel Cheney and William Croswell as partners in school-keeping.

Instructions to S.C., [1797?]

Undated, two-page list of instructions written by Croswell presumably to Samuel Cheney with directions for paying bills and delivering books.

Drafts of letter regarding a teaching position, [1797 August 3]

Two incomplete drafts of a letter to an unidentified recipient regarding the salary for a teaching position with the Academy at Jamaica in New York City.

Financial bills and receipts, 1797

This folder contains three receipts related to transactions with the Frobisher family.

1797, Catalogus eorum qui in Universitate Harvardiana, Cantabrigiae, in republica Massachusettensi, ab anno MDCXLII, ad annum MDCCXCVII, alicujus gradû laureâ donati sunt.

Hand-sewn binding with marbled paper cover. Annotated throughout with the number of members in each class, and through the 1660 class, with sporadic notes on residence. From 1732 until 1782, the age of entry as a Harvard freshman is noted next to each name. There are few biographical notes in this volume. Asterisks are added next to the names of alumni who died after the Catalogue's publication through approximately the late 1810s.

Letter from William Winthrop to Eliphalet Pearson, 1799 February 18

One octavo-sized leaf containing a handwritten letter from William Winthrop to Professor Pearson scheduling a meeting between the Committee of the town of Cambridge and Harvard administrators.