Calor est de essentia lucis. Probatur, 1759

Two-page handwritten copy of a thesis composed in Latin by graduate Paine Wingate for the 1759 Harvard Commencement.

Valedictory address of Stephen Hooper, 1761

Unattributed and undated handwritten Latin valedictory oration likely composed by graduate Stephen Hooper for the 1761 Harvard College Commencement. In the oration, Hooper praises Massachusetts Governor Francis Bernard, Thomas Hutchinson, Professor Edward Wigglesworth, and Tutor Belcher Hancock. The oration mentions classmate John Chipman (1745-1761) who died of illness on April 15, 1761.

Oratio salutatoria et oratio valedictoria, ca. 1763

Undated and unattributed handwritten Latin salutatory and valedictory orations composed for the Harvard College Commencement. A modern note with the materials suggests Nathaniel Sparhawk (Harvard AB 1765) as the author, but the author was more likely Joseph Hooper (Harvard AB 1763), who delivered the orations for the 1763 Harvard Commencement. While the documents are undated, textual clues include mention of the command of George III in recent war against France and Spain, suggesting the speech was written soon after the Treaty of Paris which was signed in February 1763 to end the Seven Years' War. The speech also celebrates Harvard Tutor William Kneeland, who resigned from his position in July 1763, and mentions the illness of Professor Edward Wigglesworth (who died before the 1765 Commencement). The text also mentions Professor John Winthrop and Massachusetts Governor Francis Bernard.

Salutatory address of Abiel Abbot, 1792

Six-unlined pages containing a handwritten copy of the salutatory address composed by Abiel Abbot in Latin for the 1792 Harvard College Commencement. The text includes edits and struck-through words. The first page includes the title "Autore Abiele Abbot" and has a penciled note: "This must be gr. grandfather's Latin oration when he graduated from Harvard, with honors, in 1792."

An English oration : 1783

Paper notebook containing a handwritten copy of an essay titled "An English Oration" composed by Harrison Gray Otis for the 1783 Harvard Commencement. The essay discusses the American Revolution and begins, “An Omission of the usual appeals..."

An oration upon genius : Commencement address, 1797

Sixteen-page paper notebook containing a handwritten copy of an essay titled "An Oration upon Genius" composed by AM candidate Joseph Perkins for the 1797 Harvard Commencement. The verso of the last page contains the handwritten title: "Oration on Genius first Copy. July 17th Commencement 1797." The essay discusses themes of republicanism and education and begins, "To mark the peculiar operation of liberty on mental exertion and improvement..."

The invention of letters annotated by Charles Pinckney Sumner, ca. 1795-1796

Interleaved second-edition copy of Robert Treat Paine's poem "The Invention of Letters" with handwritten excerpts of 18th century poetry copied by Charles Pinckney Sumner. The excerpts appear to be verses alluded to, or emulated, by Paine in the poem. For example, Paine's verse includes "Beneath the shade, which Freedom's oak displays" and Sumner on the opposite page quoted Alexander Pope's poetry, "Beneath the shade a spreading beech displays." The excerpts include poetry by Alexander Pope, James Thompson, Robert Dodsley, William Falconer, William Hayley, Samuel Rogers, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Thomas Gray, and John Denham.

Jingshi da xue shi fan sheng bi ye ji bie tu.

Mode of access: Internet.

Retrospection. A sermon, delivered in the collegiate institution at Amherst, at the close of the spring term, May 13, 1823. ...

Mode of access: Internet.

An address delivered at the commencement of the General Theological seminary of the Protestant Episcopal church in the United States, held in Christ church, New-york, on the twenty-ninth day of July, 1825;

Mode of access: Internet.

The influence of moral causes upon opinion, science, and literature : a discourse delivered on the day preceding the annual commencement of Amherst College, August 27th, 1834, at the request of the literary societies of that institution /

Mode of access: Internet.

Oration of William J. Onahan, LL. D., of Chicago, Illinois : delivered at the thirty-second annual commencement of the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, Wednesday, June 21, 1876.

Mode of access: Internet.

An oration on the relations of the Catholic Church to American jurisprudence /

Cover title.

The claims of the Negro, ethnologically considered. : An address before the literary societies of Western Reserve College, at commencement, July 12, 1854. /

Last page blank.

President's first baccalaureate sermon and Tenth annual report. 1882-83.

With this are bound: Baccalaureate sermon of Pres. G.A. Gates, 1889; The progress of educational development, by H.P. Tappan; Patriotism and international brotherhood, by J.B. Angell; Memorial addresses by W.H. Payne; The life spiritual, by H.E. Webster; Education and the state, by John Bascom; Truth and truthfulness, by John Bascom; The university and the state, by C.K. Adams.