Schemes for printing the Hebrew Grammar, 1734 April 3

One octavo-sized leaf containing a handwritten financial plans for printing 500 copies of the Hebrew Grammar, and, on the verso, an outline for printing 1,000 copies, signed by Judah Monis.

The Hebrew Grammar Account, [1735]

A half-page handwritten statement compiled by Judah Monis for the Harvard Corporation listing costs between July 2, 1734 and February 17, 1734 related to the printing of the Hebrew Grammar.

Committee's report (fragment), 1734/5 March 14

A half-page handwritten report by a committee of the Corporation endorsing the Judah Monis's Hebrew Grammar following their revision of the work as recommended by a June 8, 1724 vote of the Board of Overseers. The document is signed by President Benjamin Wadsworth, Professor Edward Wigglesworth, Tutor Henry Flynt, and Rev. Nathaniel Appleton. The document is a fragment and some of the missing text transferred to the back of the Hebrew Grammar Account (HUG 1580.5 Box 1, Folder 8).

Overseers meeting at Boston, 1735 June 6

One-page handwritten notes from a June 5, 1735 Board of Overseer meeting, in President Wadsworth's hand, listing "hints" about the Corporation's actions towards the publication of the Hebrew Grammar.

Instructions for printing the Hebrew Grammar, [ca. 1735]

A one-page handwritten list of instructions, in President Benjamin Wadsworth's hand, for printing, distributing, and collecting revenue on the Hebrew Grammar.

Corporation votes about Hebrew, 1725-1728

One-and-a-half page handwritten copy of Corporation meeting minutes for April 14, 1725, May 6, 1728, June 17, 1728, and June 24, 1728, in President Benjamin Wadsworth's hand, related to the production of the Hebrew Grammar.

College Book 3, 1636-1779

This volume was begun by Thomas Danforth, most likely around 1687, and contains transcriptions of donation records, property inventories, College laws, Overseers and Corporation minutes, and other official documents dating from 1636 onwards. By copying these documents into one volume, Danforth brought together a chronicle of Harvard's early history. Some of its content duplicates that of College Book 1, and other entries were copied from sources which no longer exist, including College Book 2, which was destroyed by fire in 1764. Danforth, who served as College Treasurer from 1650 to 1668, as Steward from 1668 to 1682, and again as Treasurer from 1682 to 1683, is believed to have created this volume as a precautionary measure during the great upheaval surrounding the 1684 annulment of the Royal Charter of the Massachusetts Colony and consequent dissolution of the Harvard Corporation. Some scholars believe he created College Book 3 in fear that the College's original records, from which it was largely derived and copied, might be destroyed.

[Letter from Thomas Clap to Royal Tyler,] 1764 August 1

One-page handwritten letter from Thomas Clap to Royal Tyler acknowledging his return of "Mr. Sewals Hebrew Grammar" to Tyler and noting that the work is "best especially for beginners." The letter is torn into three pieces and some text is missing. A portion of the missing text can be found in Box 4.

"A list of the books belonging to the late Library of Harvard College that were in the hands of the Overseers, Governors, & Students of the College & escap'd the flames," ca. 1764

This list appears to be the most comprehensive in this series. Although its contents are very similar to those of the list in Folder 2, there are some discrepancies. Entries are arranged by format (folio, quarto, octavo) and include the date the book was "delivered" (loaned), the name of the individual who borrowed it, and its author, title, and volume number. Many of the books had been out of the library for decades prior to the fire, with some loaned out since as early as 1742.

Draft of "A list of the books belonging to the late Library of Harvard College [...]," ca. 1764

This list appears to be a draft of the list in Folder 1. Although most of the entries match, there are some discrepancies.

"An account of books belonging to the late library wch were in the hands of the senior sophisters when it was consumed by fire," ca. 1764

This list appears to be in the hand of Andrew Eliot, Librarian from 1763 to 1767. Books are listed according to format (folio, quarto, octavo) and entries indicate the surname of the student who checked the book out, its author and title, and whether or not the book had since been "returned and sent down." Some entries indicate unusual locations, including "says he returned it to the Pres[ident]" and "Dr. Marsh has it."

"Continuation of the acco[unt] of books saved from the Fire by being borrow'd," ca. 1764

Lists books borrowed by those with surnames Wyeth, Goodhue, Eliot, Langdon, Adams, Apthorp, Bowdoin, Chardon, and Mayhew. Entries include format, title, author, and volume number. Written in multiple hands.

Letter from Thomas Dawes of Boston to Thomas Hubbard, March 27, 1764

This letter to Harvard Treasurer Thomas Hubbard accompanied a gift of books from Dawes.

List of benefactors who contributed to replacement of books and philosophical apparatus, May 4, 1764

This document lists the names of subscribers who promised funds towards the rebuilding of the library and philosophical apparatus. Entries are divided among three columns, "Apparatus," "Library," and "At large," and include the donor's name and amount promised. Gifts to the library included actual books as well as funds for book purchases.

Letter from Dr. Nathaniel Lardner to Jasper Mauduit listing books donated to Harvard, July 12, 1764, and manuscript copy of the letter

A pencilled note in the hand of John Langdon Sibley reads: "Probably the handwriting of Dr. Lardner." Sibley based his attribution on a letter from Nathaniel Lardner to Edward Wigglesworth, also written July 12, 1764, in the Houghton Library's autograph file during the nineteenth century. Verso of letter contains list, in another hand, of books donated to Harvard by Joseph Jennings.