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.

List of Dr. Avery's books donated to Harvard by Jasper Mauduit, Oct. 5, 1764

"Dr. Avery" is Benjamin Avery, chairman of the British Committee of Protestant Dissenters, who died in 1764. Mauduit took responsibility for shipping the books which Avery had bequeathed to Harvard.

Letter from Jasper Mauduit to Andrew Oliver, Oct. 10, 1764

In this letter, Mauduit informs Oliver that he is preparing to ship several cases of books to Harvard, and that they will contain books from the estate of Dr. Avery and from Mauduit himself. He enclosed lists of the books being shipped, and those lists (along with a bill of lading) are in the following folders.

"A Catalogue of Books Proposed for the New Hampshire donation," 1765

This catalog contains suggested purchases to be made with book purchasing funds provided by the Province of New Hampshire. Verso reads: "At a meeting of the President & Fellows of Harvard College – Voted that the above catalogue prepared by the Committee be accepted [signed] Edward Holyoke Presdt."

"A Catalogue of Books Proposed for the Hancock donation," 1765

This catalog contains suggested purchases to be made with book purchasing funds provided by John Hancock. Verso reads: "At a meeting of the President & Fellows of Harvard College – Voted that the above catalogue prepared by the Committee be accepted [signed] Edward Holyoke Presdt."

List of books donated by the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, added to catalog on Nov. 24, 1766

The document indicates that these books had been "presented" but "not consumed" at an earlier date; presumably this means that they were received at an earlier date but not formally accessioned into the library collection. Endorsed title is "Episcopal Society's present," which implies that the Episcopal Society and the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts are the same organization.

List of books which entered the library between March and November, 1766 and not accounted for previously

Includes a list of "books belonging to the Old Library sent in by Mr. Marsh, March 25, 1766."

Lists of books donated by individuals and organizations in Scotland, ca. 1766 (3 manuscript copies)

These lists include books donated by Anthony Ferguson, an Aberdeen merchant; the Society for Promoting Religious Knowledge; William Gray, bookseller; Mr. Hog, merchant; Messrs. Gray and Alston, printers; Mr. Miller, bookseller; John Erskine, who donated his own work, Theological Dissertations; the Reverend Mr. Randal; and the Reverend Walter Scot Baxter. The lists are almost identical, though there are several variations and discrepancies.